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Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Tortoise Club

350 N State St

Last inspected Aug 25, 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

7 inspections

Suspected Food Poisoning

Aug 25, 2026

Pass

2 recorded violations

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED TORN GASKET ON INTERIOR OF WALK-IN COOLER LOCATED IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.

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 1 OF 2 CERTIFIED MANAGERS WITHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES HOLDING CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF 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, Aug 25, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

May 13, 2026

Pass

1 recorded violation

notedCode 10Handwashing

Official wording

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN BAR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

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

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, May 13, 2026 · Original Source

Non-Inspection

Mar 24, 2026

No Entry

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 24, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 19, 2025

Pass w/ Conditions

6 recorded violations

notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED OPENING IN MIDDLE OF FRONT ENTRANCE OUTER DOUBLE DOORS. 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 48Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO IRREVERSIBLE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR FOR MEASURING SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF UTENSILS AND OTHER DISHES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. CORRECTED ON SITE IRREVERSIBLE TEMPERATURE INDICATOR FOR MEASURING SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF UTENSILS AND OTHER DISHES DELIVERED TO FACILITY BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.

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 LEAKING FAUCET AT HANDWASHING SINK IN BAR. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING FAUCET AT HANDWASHING SINK IN BAR.

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 54Facility maintenance

Official wording

GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED CARDBOARD ON GROUND OUTSIDE OF DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN DUMPSTER AREA.

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 SPLASHES AND SPILLAGE FLOORS AND ALONG BASES OF WALLS UNDERNEATH EQUIPMENT AND SINKS IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN BASES OF WALLS AND FLOORS UNDERNEATH EQUIPMENT AND SINKS IN BAR AREA AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AT BASE OF WALLS, CORNERS AND FLOOR IN SMALL DRY STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT(NEXT TO LIQUOR ROOM). INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN BASE OF WALLS, CORNERS AND FLOOR IN SMALL DRY STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT(NEXT TO LIQUOR ROOM) 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 ONE EMPLOYEE WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE WITH NO ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES.

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, Mar 19, 2025 · Original Source

Non-Inspection

Feb 10, 2025

No Entry

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 10, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 13, 2024

Pass w/ Conditions

2 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 OR COOKED TO ORDER. INSTRUCTED TO ADD DISCLOSURE STATEMENT TO MENU STATING THAT ASTERISKED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS ARE SERVED RAW OR COOKED TO ORDER. CORRECTED ON SITE DISCLOSURE WAS ADDED TO MENU STATING THAT ASTERISKED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS ARE SERVED RAW OR COOKED TO ORDER BEFORE COMPLETION 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 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED SPLASHES AND SPILLAGE ON WALLS AND FLOORS UNDERNEATH EQUIPMENT AND SINKS IN BAR AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN WALLS AND FLOORS UNDERNEATH EQUIPMENT AND SINKS IN BAR AREA AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AT BASE OF WALLS, CORNERS AND FLOOR IN SMALL DRY STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN BASE OF WALLS, CORNERS AND FLOOR IN SMALL DRY STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT 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, Mar 13, 2024 · Original Source

Non-Inspection

Feb 22, 2024

No Entry

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 22, 2024 · Original Source

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