Pass

Big Bar

151 E Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60601

Restaurant ZIP 60601 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Jun 10, 2026

Big Bar was last inspected on June 10, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 1 violation.

Latest inspection

June 10, 2026 · Canvass

Pass

Result: Pass

1 paperwork
  • PaperworkManagement & training

    Not all food employees had food-handler training.

    Inspector’s note: Observed some missing food handlers training for some employees must provide and maintain.

    Official wording (code 57)

    All food employees have food handler training

Inspection history

19 inspections on record

  1. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    No violations

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed expsosed insulation above ovens in prep area. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed dust build up on walls, ceilings, and duct equipment in prep area. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  3. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Hand wash sink faucet handles are hard to turn, instructed to provide easy-to-use faucets.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

  4. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Noted some use of milk crates for elevation at the kitchen area. Instructed not to use milk crates for elevation to prevent hiding places for pest. Must provide appropriate shelving for storage. All food items must also be stored 6" away from the wall

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Observed cutting board on main cook line covered with deep grooves and dark stains. Instructed to repair or replace and maintain smooth, cleanable surfaces.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed residue on interior surfaces of ice machine. Instructed manager to clean and maintain

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

  5. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Standing water under 3-comp sink. Instructed to keep floor dry and maintain to prevent insects breeding.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  6. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: Must post hand washing signs at all handwashing sinks behind bar. Instructed to post and maintain.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Must install splash guard at handwashing sink between the coffee maker and the food storage rack adjacent to the big bar, or remove items from around the sink. Instructed to install or remove and maintain.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found rust on storage racks in the 1-door reach in cooler in the prep area, instructed to remove rust, surface must be smooth and easily cleanable, and maintain.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

  7. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    2 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no employee health policy/training on site. Instructed facility to establish an appropriate employee health policy/training system and maintain with verifiable documents on site. Priority foundation violation #7-38-010. No citation issued

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Prepared food wasn’t date-marked, or was kept past its discard date.

      Inspector’s note: Observed ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety (tcs) foods not date marked to indicate the product's name and date in which the food must be sold, discarded or consumed within 7 days. Instructed to provide proper labels for date marking and discard date for refrigerated, ready-to-eat, tcs foods held over 24hrs placed in all cold-holding units. Priority foundation violation #7-38-005. No citation issued.

      Official wording (code 23)

      Proper date marking and disposition

    • GeneralFood handling

      Clean utensils, equipment, or linens weren’t stored and handled properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed exposed utensils in a bin. Person in charge was instructed to rewash, sanitize and air dry the utensils prior to them being rolled for consumers. Advised to properly cover utensils while in bin.

      Official wording (code 44)

      Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled

  8. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

      Inspector’s note: Peeling paint noted on ceiling ducts, instructed to remove and maintain.

  9. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    No violations

  10. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical Show violations
    • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

      Adequate number, convenient, accessible, designed, and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Observed no cold water at exposed hand sink in kitchen area. Maintenance staff fixed the issued and provided cold water. Citation issued 7-38-030 Critical violation.

  11. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food handler requirements met

      Inspector’s note: Must provide all food handler's with their illinois food handler's certification at all times. Must provide for the next routine inspection.

  12. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Standing water behind ice maker, instructed to eliminate and maintain.

  13. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles

      Inspector’s note: Ice bins stored on floor, instructed to store 6" off floor or higher

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn

      Inspector’s note: Ice scoops stored on cubes, instructed to store off cubes in a clean container.

  14. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Must keep floors dry under the dish washer (3rd dishwasher from the right).

  15. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: Must maintain floors dry at all times to prevent pest breeding at back of bar area and behind ice machine.observed pooling water.

  16. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

      Inspector’s note: Must clean and maintain the interior of the ice machine.

  17. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

      Inspector’s note: The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. FLOOR NOT CLEAN UNDER COUNTER TOPS, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

  18. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 general Show violations
    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

      Inspector’s note: All utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage. UPPER PANEL OF INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MAKER NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED MGR TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

More in ZIP 60601

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 5 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.