Cooked?
Blue Food Co.
- resultPass w/ Conditions
- critical violations2
- last inspectedSeptember 13, 2022
- address3288 N Elston Ave, Chicago 60618
Is Blue Food Co. clean?
Blue Food Co. is currently Pass w/ Conditions from Chicago Department of Public Health, from an inspection on September 13, 2022. Inspectors wrote up 2 critical violations — the kind most directly linked to foodborne illness. On Cooked's ladder that reads mid 😬.
What did inspectors find at Blue Food Co.?
These are the violations recorded at the most recent inspection on September 13, 2022, in plain English, with the city's own wording underneath.
- 📋no certified food manager on dutycriticalPerson In Charge Present, Demonstrates Knowledge, And Performs Duties • OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
- 📋certified manager paperwork missingcriticalCity Of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate • OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE DURING THE INSPECTION WHILE THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (PREPARING SALADS,PORK,CHICKEN ETC.) ARE PREPARED AND SERVED TO CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTED A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES FOODS WHILE (TCS FOODS) ARE BEING HANDLED PREPARED AND SERVED.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012,CITATION ISSUED.
- ⚠️Approved Thawing Methods Used • OBSERVED FROZEN MEAT CHICKEN THAWING IN A PLASTIC BAG IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO THAW (TCS FOODS) UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER,OR IN REFRIGERATION UNIT OR IN THE MICROWAVE AS PART OF A CONTINUOUS COOKING PROCESS.Approved Thawing Methods Used • OBSERVED FROZEN MEAT CHICKEN THAWING IN A PLASTIC BAG IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO THAW (TCS FOODS) UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER,OR IN REFRIGERATION UNIT OR IN THE MICROWAVE AS PART OF A CONTINUOUS COOKING PROCESS.
- 🛠️surfaces / setup not up to codeFood & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used • OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE FOOD PREP AREA.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.
- ⚠️Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON THE UNISEX WASHROOM DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON BOTH WASHROOM DOORS.Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned • OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON THE UNISEX WASHROOM DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON BOTH WASHROOM DOORS.
- ⚠️Previous Core Violation Corrected • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2500466 DATED:04/20/2021 #57--OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR EMPLOYEES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ON FILE. #58--OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLY WITH NOTED VIOLATIONS AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090,CITATION ISSUED.Previous Core Violation Corrected • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2500466 DATED:04/20/2021 #57--OBSERVED NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR EMPLOYEES ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ON FILE. #58--OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLY WITH NOTED VIOLATIONS AND MAINTAIN AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090,CITATION ISSUED.
When was Blue Food Co. last inspected?
Blue Food Co. has 5 inspections on record going back to December 12, 2019.
| date | result | score |
|---|---|---|
| September 1, 2023 | closed by the city | |
| September 13, 2022 | Pass w/ Conditions | |
| April 20, 2021 | Pass | |
| March 10, 2021 | — | |
| December 12, 2019 | Pass w/ Conditions |
Blue Food Co. vs Avondale
Avondale runs 64% clean across 679 tracked restaurants — 432 clean, 111 mid, 133 cooked.
Against the 679 spots Cooked tracks in Avondale, this one comes out cleaner than 20% of them.
Other spots in Avondale
How Chicago grades restaurants
Chicago does not use letter grades. Every inspection ends in one of three official results: Pass, Pass with Conditions, or Fail. Pass with Conditions means violations were found but corrected on the spot or under a deadline — the restaurant is open, with homework. A Fail means serious violations went uncorrected, and it usually brings a re-inspection within days. Chicago also flags “priority” violations, the ones most likely to actually make someone sick. Cooked reads Pass as clean, Pass with Conditions as mid, and Fail as cooked, and shows the itemized violations behind each result.
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health via Chicago Data Portal. Cooked refreshes this data daily — this listing's most recent inspection is dated September 13, 2022. Inspection results describe one moment in a kitchen's life, not a permanent verdict.