Cupcake Company Caught with Flies, Mouse Droppings

Patch examined inspection reports in North Center. Information has been compiled using publicly available data published to the website of the Chicago Department of Public Health's Food Protection Program.

Restaurants and businesses can pass, pass with conditions or fail using a standardized procedure. Establishments that pass don't have any critical or serious violations. 

Those that receive 'pass with conditions' had serious violations, but the violations were corrected during the inspection. Failed establishments had serious violations that weren't correctable during the inspection. A fail rating does not mean the business's license is automatically suspended. All inspections are done on a routine canvass, unless otherwise noted.

Dunkin’ Donuts, 3535 N. Western Ave.
Inspection date: July 1
Results: Pass
Violations: After failing an inspection on June 24 because of dead flies and mosquitoes, inspectors returned and didn’t find any dead bugs.

The coffee shop was still missing grout in between the floor tiles, which are cracked and the sink still had a black, moldy substance on it. 

Johnny Casserole, 4019 N. Damen Ave.
Inspection date: July 5
Results: Pass
Violations: Inspectors found clutter in the basement like pieces of wood and personal items from the landlord. Those need to be organized and stored at least 6 inches off the floor.

Management also needs to install a self-closing device on the employee bathroom. 

Orange Garden Restaurant, 1942 W. Irving Park Rd.
Inspection date: July 12
Results: Pass with conditions
Violations: The inspector found potentially hazardous food at the restaurant; raw chicken was stored with marinating sauce at a temperature of 53 degrees and cooked broccoli at 71 degrees. Both products were stored in the cooler, which is supposed to be at 38 degrees. About 55 pounds of food were thrown away.

Management needs to detail clean fans and coolers of all food and debris build-up ad repair the leaky ceiling above the kitchen area. 

Missing from the restaurant was a light shield and backflow preventer for the mop sink. 

Little Miss Muffin, 4014 N. Rockwell St.
Inspection date: July 16 and July 23
Results: Fail, Pass
Violations: On the first visit, inspectors found more than 40 mice droppings and fruit flies under the pallets, dry storage shelves, bathroom and freezer. That earned the business a serious citation.

The following needed to be cleaned and sanitized: all bulk containers, prep tables, microwave, coolers, trays and floors. A black, moldy substance was found on the shelving along with damaged floors in front of the dish machine. The ceiling was also stained and damaged.

Management needs to seal the gap around the pop beside the lockers in the men’s’ bathroom and provide light shields for the cooking area along with thermometers in the walk-in cooler. 

On a return visit, inspectors didn’t find any evidence of insects and most other violations were corrected. 

Management still needs to repair the damaged floor in front of the dish machine and replace ceiling tiles.