Congress Pizza Passes Inspection After Roaches, Mouse Droppings Found

Patch examined inspection reports in Bucktown and Wicker Park during March. Information has been compiled using publicly available data published to the website of the Chicago Department of Public Health's Food Protection Program.

Restaurants can pass, pass with conditions or fail using a standardized procedure. Establishments that pass don't have any critical or serious violations. Those that receive 'pass with conditions' had serious violations, but the violations were corrected during the inspection. Failed establishments had serious violations that weren't correctable during the inspection. A fail rating does not mean the business's license is automatically suspended.

All inspections are done on a routine canvass, unless otherwise noted.

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Congress Pizza, 2033 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Inspection date: March 7, March 13
Results: Fail, Pass
Violations: This visit was a follow-up from Feb. 19 where the inspector found more than 400 mouse droppings. The inspector found droppings again on this inspection in the bar, dining room, dish machine area, laundry room and storage areas. Another dead mouse was found along with two live roaches by the pizza prep station. All doors must be tight-fitting and rodent-proofed.

Cooking equipment, vents, walls and floors still need to be detail-cleaned and items need to be stored at least 6 inches of the floor and away from the walls.

On a March 13 inspection, the restaurant passed when the inspector didn’t find any evidence of rodent or insect infestation.  All other violations were corrected.

Congress Theater, 3125 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Inspection date: March 7
Results: Fail
Violations: No information provided.

Chipotle Mexican Grill, 2742 N. Elston Ave.
Inspection date: March 11
Results: Pass
Violations: This visit was the result of a complaint. Cutting boards with deep grooves must be bleached or replaced. Management also needs to repair the water leak beneath the three-compartment sink, provide signage for consumer advisory and label large bulk food containers. The inspector found a broken thermometer inside the two-door food prep cooler, which must be replaced.

Red Hot Ranch, 2072 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Inspection date: March 13
Results: Pass
Violations: All violations from a Jan. 4 inspection were corrected. Those included properly-designed food and non-food contact surfaces, clean equipment and lighting requirements. On this inspection, the hood and filters over the cooking equipment need to be cleaned, along with the upper panel of the ice machine. Management must repair the water leak beneath the three-compartment sink and provide sink stoppers. Also, the inspector found dust on the ceiling fan in the customer area.

Dunkin’ Donuts, 2565 W. Fullerton Ave.
Inspection date: March 18
Results: Fail
Violations: This visit was the result of a complaint. There was no certified food manager present at the time of inspection, earning a serious violation. The light bulbs need to have shielding and visible thermometers need to be in all refrigeration units. Management needs to remove clutter from the closet, repair the water leak in the three-compartment sink and re-grout floor tile. The pest control log book was incomplete, earning another serious violation.