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Grocery Store · Chicago, IL

Montrose Deli Inc

5407-5417 W Montrose Ave

Last inspected Feb 17, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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More issues recentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

3 inspections

Canvass

Feb 17, 2026

Pass w/ Conditions

8 recorded violations

notedCode 6Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED MALE EMPLOYEE DRINKING COFFEE ON THE PREP LINE WHILE CUTTING ONIONS. INSTRUCTED MUST PROVIDE DESIGNATED AREA FOR EMPLOYEES PERSONAL DRINKS. ALL OPEN DRINKS ARE PROHIBITED IN PREP AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues
notedCode 8Handwashing

Official wording

HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICIES BY MALE FOOD HANDLER. OBSERVED HIM COUGH INTO HIS HANDS AND AFTER WENT BACK STRAIGHT TO CUTTING ONIONS WITHOUT WASHING HIS HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO WASH HANDS AFTER EVERY POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.HANDS WERE WASHED DURING INSPECTION(COS)(PRIORITY 7-38-010)(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 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS OR SANITARY HAND DRYING DEVICES AT HAND WASHING SINKS IN BAKERY PREP AREA AND RECEIVING AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 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 28Chemicals

Official wording

TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED 3 COMPARTMENT SINK SETUP SANITIZING UTILIZING CHOLORINE SANITIZER CONCENTRATION OVER 200 PPM, EXCEEDING THE MAXIMUM CONCENTRATION LEVEL FOR CHOLORINE SANITIZER TO USE ON A FOOD-CONTACT SURFACE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER SAID SANITIZER MUST PROPERLY SANITIZE AT 50PPM-100PPM OF CHLORINE ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.

In plain English

Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely
notedCode 39Contamination

Official wording

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.

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
notedCode 41Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.

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 54Facility maintenance

Official wording

GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DEBRIS AROUND DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
notedCode 56Facility maintenance

Official wording

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED BUILD UP OF DUST IN THE PRODUCE WALK IN COOLER FANS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 17, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Jan 27, 2025

Pass

5 recorded violations

notedCode 28Chemicals

Official wording

TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED VARIOUS EMPLOYEE PERSONAL CARE ITEMS STORED ON TOP OF AND ABOVE FOOD CONTAINERS IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE EMPLOYEE PERSONAL CARE ITEMS TO DESIGNATED AREA THAT DOES NOT POSE RISK OF CONTAMINATION OF FOOD OR EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

Cleaning products, pesticides, or other chemicals were stored or labeled in a way that could let them get into food. This is serious because chemical contamination can make people sick quickly.

More about chemicals stored or used unsafely
notedCode 33Food temperature

Official wording

PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED TCS FOOD ITEMS IN THE WALK-IN COOLER (BEEF, PORK) STORED COVERED WITH FOOD-GRADE PLASTIC WRAP WHILE COOLING. INSTRUCTED TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS LOOSELY-COVERED OR UNCOVERED (IF PROTECTED FROM OVERHEAD CONTAMINATION) WHILE COOLING TO FACILITATE HEAT TRANSFER AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature
notedCode 39Contamination

Official wording

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED SINGLE-USE PLASTIC CUPS USED AS SCOOPS IN DRY AND COLD-HOLDING FOOD CONTAINERS THROUGHOUT KITCHEN AND DELI AREAS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE SINGLE-USE CUPS AND REPLACE WITH MULTI-USE UTENSILS WITH HANDLES TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION WHILE SCOOPING AND MAINTAIN.

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
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED SLICER IN MAIN DELI AREA NOT IN-USE AT TIME OF INSPECTION IN POOR REPAIR AND WITH GLOVE BOXES STORED ON TOP OF FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE SLICER AND CEASE USE OF EQUIPMENT IN POOR REPAIR TO STORE NON-FOOD ITEMS AND MAINTAIN ALL EQUIPMENT IN GOOD REPAIR AND PROPER ADJUSTMENT.

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 MANAGER TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE AT TIME OF INSPECTION MISSING ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE ON-SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS WITH ADDITIONAL ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND MAINTAIN CERTIFICATE(S) ON-SITE 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, Jan 27, 2025 · Original Source

Complaint

Jan 11, 2024

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 39Contamination

Official wording

CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED BOXED FOOD ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN COOLER IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES FROM FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNTIS AND MAINTAIN.

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
notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED UNFINISHED WOOD ON THE SHELVING UNIT IN REAR DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO FINISH THE WOOD ON THE SHELVING UNITS IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA, SO THAT ARE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE 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 56Facility maintenance

Official wording

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON CEILING AND WALL VENTS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN ALL CEILING AND WALL VENTS AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues
notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DIRT BUILDUP IN ALL CONERS AND ALONG WALLS UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND COOKING EQUIPMENT IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN ALL CORNERS, ALONG WALLS UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, AND BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT 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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jan 11, 2024 · Original Source

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