Tom's Place Back of the Yards
Last inspected: Jan 14, 2026
95
Score
Tom's Place Back of the Yards has been inspected seven times since 2021. The latest inspection on file is from Jan 14, 2026. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around four violations each, up from closer to one violation before.
The pattern that stands out is “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, which has been cited four times.
That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. Taken together, the history looks like that of a busy facility working through the usual inspection cycle.
7
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 14, 2026
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LOOSE DEBRIS, DIRT AND DUST BUILDUP ON THE FLOORS AND CORNERS IN REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND INCREASE CLEANING FREQUENCY OF FLOORS. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
95
Mar 26, 2025
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 15-20 VARIOUS DEAD INSECTS (CRICKETS, FLIES, CENTIPEDES) ON THE FLOOR AROUND THE PERIMETER OF THE BASEMENT AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DEAD INSECTS AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY THAT PREVENTS BUILD UP AND ATTRACTION OF OTHER PESTS AND MAINTAIN.
38
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED IN-USE UTENSILS (SPATULAS, SPOONS) STORED IN ROOM-TEMPERATURE SANITIZER SOLUTION AT THE MAIN COOK LINE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN-USE UTENSILS ON A CLEAN, SANTITIZED SURFACE OR SUBMERGED IN WATER AT 135.0F OR ABOVE BETWEEN USES AND MAINTAIN.
43
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FLOOR BENEATH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND BEHIND GREASE TRAP TO BE SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND OTHER SOILS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS BENEATH EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BUILD-UP OF GREASE DRIP ALONG TOP RIM OF VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM (DIRECTLY ABOVE FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF COOKING EQUIPMENT). INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM OF SUFFICIENT CAPACITY TO PREVENT GREASE OR CONDENSATION FROM COLLECTING ON WALLS, CEILINGS, AND PORTIONS OF VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM DIRECTLY ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT.
56
82
Mar 26, 2024
Routine
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE SCOOPER BEING STORED INSIDE THE ICE MACHINE WITH THE HANDLE IN CONTACT WITH THE ICE. INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO PROPERLY STORE ICE SCOOP BETWEEN USES.
16
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WET WIPING CLOTHS ON SEVERAL PREP SURFACE AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT & FOOD. MUST MAINTAIN
41
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AND SPLASH IN THE INTERIOR OF THE MICROWAVE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS IN THE BOTTOM INTERIOR OF 1-DOOR FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER-STAINED CEILING TILES THROUGHOUT THE GRILL/KITCHEN AND DISH WASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE THE STAINED CEILING TILES.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.
57
70
Mar 28, 2023
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LOOSE COLD-WATER HANDLE AT FRONT KITCHEN PREP AREA HANDWASH SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
95
Jun 14, 2022
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LIGHT DUST ON THE VENTS AND IN VENT SYSTEM ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT; CLEAN TO REMOVE.
56
95
Sep 29, 2021
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 3-307.11 Inspector Comments: MUST PROVIDE A SPLASHGUARD AT 1- COMPARTMENT SINK NEXT TO PREP TABLE.
39
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: Violation Codes: 2-102.13 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR FOOD MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
58
90
Sep 20, 2021
License
1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HOT HOLDING EQUIPMENT MUST PROVIDE AND HAVE AT 135.0F OR ABOVE.(PRIORITY 7-38-005)
33
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN OPENING INTO PREP AREA MUST PROVIDE A BARRIER TO PREVENT ENTRY INTO FOOD PREP AREA AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
39
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SIGNED EMPLOYEES HEALTH POLICIES.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010)
3
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED INCORRECT SANITIZING TEST KIT FOR CHECKING PPM'S SOLUTION AT 3- COMPARTMENT SINK.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
48
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP ITEMS FOR VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005)
5
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: OBSERVED AN APPX."1/2-3/4" GAP ALONG BOTTOM OF FRONT ENTRY DOOR. MUST MAKE DOOR TIGHT FITTING.
38
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE A SPLASHGUARD AT 1- COMPARTMENT SINK NEXT TO PREP TABLE.
39
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST CAULK UNDERSIDES OF COUNTERTOPS IN PREP AREA AND GAPS AT WINDOW FRAMES IN DINING AREA.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR FOOD MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
58
47
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Tom's Place Back of the Yards last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Tom's Place Back of the Yards on file is from Jan 14, 2026. The public record contains seven inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Tom's Place Back of the Yards?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Tom's Place Back of the Yards.
Has Tom's Place Back of the Yards' inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Tom's Place Back of the Yards have averaged around four violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Tom's Place Back of the Yards means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Tom's Place Back of the Yards inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Tom's Place Back of the Yards is inspected around two times per year on average.
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