Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Whale Tale

Name: Whale Tale
Address: 2211 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago, IL

2211 N Clybourn Ave

Last inspected Jun 8, 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

6 inspections

Canvass

Jun 8, 2026

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED RAW WOOD AT THE BASEMENT WALL BY THE LOCKER AREA. ALSO OBSERVED RAW WOOD EXPOSED IN THE MAIN KITCHEN AREA REAR AND FRONT HOT HOLDING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PAINT OR SEAL WOOD AS A MEANS OF BEING ABLE TO CLEAN 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 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED THE SIDES OF THE COOKING AND NON COOKING EQUIPMENT IN NEED OF A DETAIL CLEANING FROM DUST AND GREASE BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.

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 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED THE FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT AREA WITH PEELING PAINT THROUGHOUT AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAINT OR SEAL FLOOR AS A MEANS OF BEING ABLE TO CLEAN 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 BOTH HOOD FILTERS IN NEED OF A DETAIL CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL FILTERS.

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, Jun 8, 2026 · Original Source

Non-Inspection

Jun 2, 2026

No Entry

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jun 2, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 13, 2025

Pass

6 recorded violations

notedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED UNIFINISHED WOOD USED TO PROP UP SHELF IN THE 1 DOOR SMALL REACH IN FREEZER NEXT TO THE FRYERS IN 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL/REPLACE WITH A SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE, AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL.

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 LEAK FROM DRAIN OF HAND SINK LOCATED AT FRONT OF UPSTAIRS PREP AREA, LEAKING INTO BASEMENT CEILING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE LEAKING HAND AND MAINTAIN 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 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED BOTH BATHROOMS (2) TO NOT HAVE SELF CLOSING DOORS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER THAT BOTH BATHROOMS MUST HAVE A SELF CLOSING DOOR.

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 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED THE WALL BUILT AROUND THE BATHROOMS NEXT TO THE FRONT PREP AREA IN 1ST FLOOR TO BE UNFINISHED AND ROUGH. RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE IN PREP AREAS.

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 2 MISSING FILTERS ABOVE THE PIZZA OVEN IN THE 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA, CREATING LARGE GAPS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND ENSURE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS IN ADEQUATE REPAIR.

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 57Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES FOR FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. ONLY MANAGER CERTIFICATE PROVIDED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO MAINTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ANY FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEES.

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 13, 2025 · Original Source

Non-Inspection

Feb 25, 2025

No Entry

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 25, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 8, 2024

Pass

3 recorded violations

notedCode 53Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE INSIDE WOMEN'S WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE 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 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED SMALL OPENINGS INTO CEILING ABOVE PREP TABLES IN BASEMENT ALSO OBSERVED LARGE OPENINGS INTO WALLS BEHIND FOOD PREP TABLES IN BASEMENT FOOD PREP AREA AND ON WALL LEADING TO BASEMENT MUST SEAL ALL OPENINGS TO BE SMOOTH AND EASY CLEANABLE.

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 47Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED RUSTY FOOD STORAGE SHELVING IN FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA IN THE BASEMENT. MUST REPAINT OR REPLACE SHELVING.

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 8, 2024 · Original Source

Non-Inspection