Cruz Blanca Brewery & Taqueria And Lena Brava

August 26, 2025 · Fail
🪳cooked
  • official resultFail
  • resultFail
  • inspection typeComplaint
  • failed findings8
  • critical findings0

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Failed findings

  • surfaces not properly sanitized
    Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
    Inspector note: OBSERVED MOLD-LIKE GROWTH ON INTERIOR CONTACT SURFACES INSIDE OF ALL 3 ICE MACHINES LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL THE ICE MACHINES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED. • OBSERVED NO CHLORINE SANITIZER DETECTED AT THE LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE BEHIND THE CRUZ BLANCA 1ST AND 2ND FLOOR BARS. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN THE DISH MACHINE AT A CONCENTRATION OF 100 PPM CHLORINE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
    code 16
  • pests in the house
    Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
    Inspector note: OBSERVED APPROX. 30 LIVE SMALL FLYING INSECTS AND 15 HOUSE FLIES ON THE WALL, CEILING AND FLYING AROUND IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS AND 1ST FLOOR LENA BRAVA FOOD PREP AREA. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 38
  • Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled
    Inspector note: OBSERVED CLEAN FOOD EQUIPMENT STORED IN AN OPEN ROOM IN THE WOMEN'S EMPLOYEE WASHROOM IN THE BASEMENT. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT CLEAN EQUIPMENT CANNOT BE STORED IN THE WASHROOMS.
    code 44
  • Toilet Facilities: Properly Constructed, Supplied, & Cleaned
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE BASEMENT WOMEN'S EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLES IN ALL FEMALE WASHROOMS. • OBSERVED NO SELF-CLOSING DOOR DEVICE ON THE WASHROOM DOOR IN THE BASEMENT WOMEN'S EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.
    code 53
  • Garbage & Refuse Properly Disposed; Facilities Maintained
    Inspector note: CLEAN THE TOP OF THE OUTSIDE GREASE DUMPSTER IN THE ALLEY.
    code 54
  • floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
    Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
    Inspector note: CLEAN THE FLOOR AND CEILING TILES IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS. • REPAIR THE WATER DAMAGED DRYWALL ON THE CEILING BEHIND THE VENTILATION HOOD IN THE CRUZ BLANCA TACO BAR.
    code 55
  • Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used
    Inspector note: OBSERVED INADEQUATE LIGHTING IN THE 2ND FLOOR DISHROOM LOCATED NEXT TO THE LENA CRUZA BAR. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING IN ALL AREAS WHERE DISHES ARE WASHED. • OBSERVED A MISSING LIGHT SHIELD ABOVE THE TORTILLA GRILL IN THE BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    code 56
  • Summary Report Displayed And Visible To The Public
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY POSTED IN THE PUBLIC VIEW. MANAGEMENT WAS GIVEN A COPY OF TODAY'S INSPECTION REPORT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO POST IT IN THE PUBLIC VIEW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010(B). CITATION ISSUED.
    code 61

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on August 16, 2024: 8 findings appeared for the first time.

Browse this restaurant's inspections

About this record

This record comes from Chicago Department of Public Health. Cooked keeps the official result and wording separate from its plain-English explanation so you can verify what the inspector actually published.

Source: Chicago Data Portal.

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