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Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Kindling-Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

202 S Franklin St

Last inspected Jul 6, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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ImprovingThe latest inspection recorded fewer violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

5 inspections

Canvass Re-Inspection

Jul 6, 2026

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 41Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DAMP WIPING CLOTHS LEFT OUT OF SANITIZER SOLUTION AT SEVERAL FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN WIPING CLOTHS USED FOR WIPING SPILLS DRY OR WIPING CLOTHS USED FOR WIPING EQUIPMENT SURFACES IN AN ADEQUATE SANITIZER SOLUTION AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PLUMBING IN THE 2ND FLOOR UTILITY SINK CLOSET TO BE IN POOR REPAIR, SMALL CLEAN WATER LEAK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE 2ND FLOOR UTILITY SINK CLOSET PLUMBING TO ELIMINATE LEAK AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FLOORS BENEATH EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR KITCHEN COOK LINE AREA AND WAREWASHING AREA TO BE SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE SOIL, AND OTHER SOILS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS BENEATH EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE SOIL, AND OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PERSON-IN-CHARGE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE MISSING ALLERGEN AWARNESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 6, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Jun 29, 2026

Fail

6 recorded violations

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING HANDWASHING SINKS TO BE INACCESSIBLE: LEFT-HAND MAIN COOK LINE HANDWASHING SINK OBSTRUCTED BY SOILED EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS, LEFT-HAND REAR COOK LINE HANDWASHING SINK (NEAR UPRIGHT FREEZER) OBSTRUCTED BY STATIC EQUIPMENT STORAGE CABINET AND COOKING EQUIPMENT. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE ALL EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS FROM HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN ALL HANDWASHING SINKS UNOBSTRUCTED ACCESSIBLE FOR USE IN HANDWASHING AT ALL TIMES. PERSON-IN-CHARGE REMOVED ALL OBSTRUCTIONS FROM ALL LISTED HANDWASHING SINKS ON-SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

More about handwashing problems
notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 40-50 SMALL FLYING INSECTS IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS OF THE FACILITY: APPROXIMATELY 10 BENEATH EQUIPMENT IN THE 1ST FLOOR BAR AREA, APPROXIMATELY 10 IN THE REAR 1ST FLOOR WAREWASHING AREA, APPROXIMATELY IN THE 2ND FLOOR BAR PREPARATION AREA, APPROXIMATELY 20 IN THE MAIN KITCHEN AREA STAIRWELL. INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT PEST CONTROL FOR ABATEMENT OF SMALL FLYING INSECTS AND ELIMINATE ALL SMALL FLYING INSECT ACTIVITY THROUGHOUT FACILITY AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREA(S). PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects
notedCode 41Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DAMP WIPING CLOTHS LEFT OUT OF SANITIZER SOLUTION AT SEVERAL FOOD PREPARATION AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN WIPING CLOTHS USED FOR WIPING SPILLS DRY OR WIPING CLOTHS USED FOR WIPING EQUIPMENT SURFACES IN AN ADEQUATE SANITIZER SOLUTION AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PLUMBING IN THE 2ND FLOOR UTILITY SINK CLOSET TO BE IN POOR REPAIR, SMALL CLEAN WATER LEAK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE 2ND FLOOR UTILITY SINK CLOSET PLUMBING TO ELIMINATE LEAK AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FLOORS BENEATH EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR KITCHEN COOK LINE AREA AND WAREWASHING AREA TO BE SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE SOIL, AND OTHER SOILS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS BENEATH EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, GREASE SOIL, AND OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED PERSON-IN-CHARGE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE MISSING ALLERGEN AWARNESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE AND AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTOR REVIEW AT ALL TIMES.

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jun 29, 2026 · Original Source

Complaint

Jan 28, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

2 recorded violations

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

Obstructed hand wash sinks at prep and bar areas, noted food handler rinsing utensils in hand wash sink, placing strainers in hand sink basin. Instructed not to use hand wash sinks for other than hands washing. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c).

In plain English

Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.

More about handwashing problems
notedCode 60Other

Official wording

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

Inspector’s notes

Previous core violation #44 not corrected from report #2597549 date 7-16-24 (Deli cups not air dried after washing, instructed to air dry all multi-use utensils) instructed manager to correct violations within given time frame. Priority foundation violation 7-42.090.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jan 28, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Jul 16, 2024

Pass w/ Conditions

5 recorded violations

notedCode 44Equipment and utensils

Official wording

UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED

Inspector’s notes

Deli cups not air dried after washing, instructed to air dry all multi-use utensils.

In plain English

Equipment, utensils, thermometers, cutting boards, or single-use items were not in good condition, not the right type, or not stored properly.

More about equipment or utensil issues
notedCode 16Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

Inspector’s notes

High temp conveyor dish washing machine not sanitizing at final rinse, max temp reached is 137f. instructed manager to provide proper final rinse temperature. Machine being used during inspection. Machine tagged not allowed to use. Must contact the office of CDPH for tag removal request. Priority violation 7-38-025.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems
notedCode 29Other

Official wording

COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS/HACCP

Inspector’s notes

Refer to violation #32.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode 32Other

Official wording

VARIANCE OBTAINED FOR SPECIALIZED PROCESSING METHODS

Inspector’s notes

No approved variance letter on site for vacuum packaging machine, instructed to obtain, Machine is tagged. No food found that was package during inspection Priority foundation violation 7-38-005.

In plain English

An issue that does not fit the common categories. Check the official wording for details.

More about other finding
notedCode 39Contamination

Official wording

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

Inspector’s notes

Observe a food handler scooping ice from main ice maker with glass cup, instructed manager not to use glass cup as an ice scoop to prevent physical contamination of ice. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005.

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 16, 2024 · Original Source

License

Jul 16, 2024

Pass w/ Conditions

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 16, 2024 · Original Source

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