Restaurant · Chicago, IL

The Wit

Name: The Wit
Address: 201 N State St, Chicago, IL

201 N State St

Last inspected Jul 24, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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Pass w/ Conditions

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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

6 inspections

Canvass

Jul 24, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

3 recorded violations

notedCode 25Food temperature

Official wording

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO DISCLOSURE ON MENU STATING THAT ASTERISKED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS ARE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED OR COOKED TO ORDER. INSTRUCTED TO ADD DISCLOSURE STATING THAT ASTERISKED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS CAN BE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED OR COOKED TO ORDER TO MENU. CORRECTED ON SITE, DISCLOSURE STATING THAT ASTERISKED ANIMAL FOODS ARE SERVED RAW, UNDERCOOKED OR COOKED TO ORDER ADDED TO MENU BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED

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 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED LEFT HANDWASHING SINK IN MEN'S WASHROOM AT IMPROPER MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 79.3F. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEFT HANDWASHING SINK IN MEN'S WASHROOM, INSTRUCTED A HANDWASHING SINK SHALL BE EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE WATER AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 100F THROUGH A MIXING VALVE OR COMBINATION FAUCET(NOTE: OBSERVED THE RIGHT AND MIDDLE HANDWASHING SINKS IN THE MEN'S WASHROOM AT PROPER TEMPERATURE.)

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 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED COVERED RECEPTACLE MISSING LID IN WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE STALL IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WHEEL CHAIR ACCESSIBLE STALL IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM.

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, Jul 24, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Jul 24, 2025

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 56Facility maintenance

Official wording

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED DUST ON FILTERS IN HOODS ON SECOND FLOOR ABOVE COOKLINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FILTERS IN HOODS ON SECOND FLOOR ABOVE COOKLINE 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, Jul 24, 2025 · Original Source

Complaint

Jul 24, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

4 recorded violations

notedCode 25Food temperature

Official wording

CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD

Inspector’s notes

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED OPENING AT LEFT CORNER BASE OF HADDOX EXIT DOOR(STAIRWELL). INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.

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 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED BOXES OF LIQUOR STORED ON MILK CRATES IN DOCK AREA LIQUOR STORAGE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

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 LOWER BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE(RPZ) UNSCREWED AND OBSERVED UPPER BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE LEAKING(CLOSER TO CEILING) AT FIRST FLOOR UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LOWER BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE(RPZ) AND UPPER BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE(CLOSER TO CEILING) AT FIRST FLOOR UTILITY SINK AND MAINTAIN.

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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jul 24, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Jul 29, 2024

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE (WASTE CAN WITH LID) INSIDE WOMENS WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE FOR FEMININE HYGIENE PRODUCTS.

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, Jul 29, 2024 · Original Source

Canvass

Dec 12, 2023

Pass

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Dec 12, 2023 · Original Source

Canvass

Dec 11, 2023

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 40Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

Inspector’s notes

2-402.11 OBSERVED SOME MALE FOOD HANDLERS WITH BEARDS AND WITHOUT BEARD GUARDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

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 45Equipment and utensils

Official wording

SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED

Inspector’s notes

4-904.11 OBSERVED TABLEWARE BEING PRE-SET ON CUSTOMER DINING TABLES IN THE STATE & LAKE RESTAURANT. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS PROTECT TABLEWARE BY PROTECTING THE MOUTHPIECE OF THE UTENSILS AND INVERTING THE COFFEE CUPS OR DO NOT PRE-SET CUSTOMER DINING TABLES OR SET THE CUSTOMER DINING TABLES UPON ARRIVAL.

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 51Water, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

Inspector’s notes

5-205.15 OBSERVED A COLD-WATER KNOB NOT TURNING ON AT THE HAND WASHING SINK IN THE BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO 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 58Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

Inspector’s notes

2-102.13 OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE FOR THE MANAGER ON DUTY. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT WITH ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS.

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, Dec 11, 2023 · Original Source