Merkle's Bar & Grill

May 16, 2025 · Fail

🪳cooked

official resultFail
resultFail
inspection typeCanvass
failed findings10
critical findings1

Failed findings

handwashing sink blocked or barecritical

Official wording: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied And Accessible
Inspector note: OBSERVED NO HOT RUNNING WATER AVAILABLE AT THE HAND WASHING SINK IN MENS WASHROOM. WATER TEMPERATURE WAS 62.2F AT THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AT THE MINIUM TEMPERATURE OF 100F FOR PROPER HAND WASHING. 2-DAY NOTICE WAS ISSUED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.
code 10Priority
surfaces not properly sanitized

Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
Inspector note: CHLORINE CHEMICAL DISHWASHING MACHINE NOT PROPERLY DISPENSING CHLORINE SANITIZER. NOTED 0 PPM CHLORINE AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS. MACHINE TAGGED HELD FOR INSPECTION AND MUST NOT USE UNTIL REPAIRED AND PROPERLY DISPENSES CHLORINE SANITIZER. DISHES WERE BEING WASHED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025 CITATION ISSUED.
code 16
grimy wiping cloths

Official wording: Wiping Cloths: Properly Used & Stored
Inspector note: OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES IN KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.
code 41
Single-Use/Single-Service Articles: Properly Stored & Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED LIQUOR AND ITEMS STORED INSIDE WALK-IN AND BASEMENT STORED ON FLOOR. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS OF THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.
code 45
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES FOR PRODUCT ELEVATION. MUST USE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ITEMS AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED RUSTY AND DIRTY FOOD STORAGE SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER. MUST CLEAN REPAINT WITH NON-TOXIC FOOD GRADE PAINT OR REPLACE.
code 47
plumbing acting up

Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED EXCESS ICE BUILD UP INSIDE CHEST FREEZER LOCATED IN THE BASEMNT. MUST REMOVE ICE CLEAN FREEZER AT ALL TIMES.
code 49
floors, walls, or ceilings grimy

Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOOR DRAINS IN KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND THROUGHOUT BASEMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF CLUTTER, CARDBOARD BOXES AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS IN REAR OF PREMISES AND THROUGHOUT BASEMENT. MUST REMOVE CLEAN AND ORGANIZE AREAS TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE • OBSERVED HEAVILY SOILED FLOOR WITH FOOD DEBRIS THROUGHOUT BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA ALONG THE WALL BASE UNDERNEATH 3-COMAPRTMENT SINK IN FRONT BAR AND REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED SEVERAL OPENINGS ABOVE ICE MACHINE SYRUP MACHINE AND REAR OF BASEMENT. ALSO NOTED WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES BEHIND ICE MACHINE. MUST REPAIR REPLACE CEILING TIMES AND SEAL ALL OPENINGS. OBSERVED DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS ON WALLS BEHIND DISHWASHING AREA AND UNDER AROUND AND BEHIND ALL COOKING EQUIPMENT AND BEHIND REFRIGERATION UNITS. MUST DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
code 55
Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED INADEQUATE LIGHTING IN REAR KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST PROVIDE INTENSITY LIGHTING AND MAINTAIN.
code 56
All Food Employees Have Food Handler Training

Inspector note: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR ALL THE REQUIRED EMPLOYEES.
code 57
Previous Core Violation Corrected

Inspector note: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2597191 ON 07/09/2024. #51. DISHWASH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK STOPPERS NOT WORKING. MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS FOR DISHWASH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. #58. CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.
code 60

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on July 9, 2024: 9 findings appeared for the first time. 1 finding recurred. 3 previous findings did not recur.

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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.