Cescas Margarita Bar & Grill

No violations were recorded at this inspection.

1. Jan 13, 2025 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   1 critical4 general2 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to provide handwashing signage at handsink in (2) customer's washroom and in front bar handsink.

     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: Instructed to clean, repaint or replace rusty metal racks insidethe basement walk-in cooler. ----must repaint rusty metal cover/lid of grease box underneath the (basement) 3 compartment sink.

     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: Instructed to provide cover/lid for ice bin behind the bar.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to detail clean and maintain floors along the walls and in all corners in rear kitchen and in front bar area.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to replace cracked lightshield above kitchen.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Not all food employees had food-handler training.

     Inspector’s note: New food handlers with no proof of food handler training certificate. Instructed management, all food handlers that do not have city of chicago foodservice sanitation certificate shall complete an approved food handler training program.

     Official wording (code 57)

     All food employees have food handler training

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: Certified food manager without an allergen training certificate. Instructed management, any person with city of chicago food service sanitation certificate to comply with allergen training certification.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

2. Nov 26, 2024 No Entry

   Non-Inspection · No Entry

   No violations

3. Jul 27, 2023 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   1 critical1 general2 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed no handwashing signage at the exposed hand sink in the rear prep area. Instructed the person in charge to provide handwashing signage at all handwashing sinks used by food employees and maintain

     Official wording (code 10)

     Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

   • GeneralFood handling

     Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

     Inspector’s note: Observed overhead waste pipes not shielded in the basement food storage area. Instructed the person in charge to encase all waste lines to intercept potential drips. (food may not be stored under leaky water lines, sewer lines, mechanical rooms, toilet rooms, locker rooms, open stairwells, garbage rooms)

     Official wording (code 39)

     Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Not all food employees had food-handler training.

     Inspector’s note: Observed multiple employees with expired food handler certificates. Instructed the person in charge to renew expired food handler certificates to comply with idph food handler requirements.

     Official wording (code 57)

     All food employees have food handler training

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: Observed one certified food manager without allergen awareness training certificate. Instructed the person in charge to ensure that any individual that holds a city of chicago foodservice managers certificate obtains allergen awareness training and receives certificate.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

4. Jul 25, 2023 No Entry

   Non-Inspection · No Entry

   No violations

5. Jul 3, 2023 No Entry

   Non-Inspection · No Entry

   No violations

6. Nov 30, 2022 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   2 general Show violations

   • GeneralFood temperature

     Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

     Inspector’s note: No thermometer inside bar reach in cooler. Must provide a working thermometer inside said cooler.

     Official wording (code 36)

     Thermometers provided & accurate

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Bar handwash sink hot water leaking at faucet also prep area handwash sink drain pipe leaking. Must repair and maintain said sinks.

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

7. Nov 22, 2022 No Entry

   Non-Inspection · No Entry

   No violations

8. Nov 10, 2022 No Entry

   Non-Inspection · No Entry

   No violations

9. May 21, 2021 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   1 critical4 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalFood handling

     Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

     Inspector’s note: 4-501.114 (f: 3 & 4) noted low-temperature dishwashing machine in use not properly sanitizing. Sanitizing strength of sanitizer (chlorine) at the time of inspection was 00 ppm. Instructed not to use until equipment is properly sanitizing at a minimum of 50 ppm. Equipment not in use at this time of inspection. Priority violation #7-38-025. No citation was issued. Today unit still remains tagged. Not in use

     Official wording (code 16)

     Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed pot, dishes etc stored on prep table base is rusty unable to clean; surface must be smooth cleanable and non-absorbent surface. Must not use milk crates as a means of elevation for stored items.

     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: Broken rubber gasket inside two-door reach-in cooler across from cooking equipment. Repair/replace

     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: Broken handles at reach-in cooler in prep area/kitchen. Instructed to replace broken handles. Must not use plastic grocery bags as food containers(cooked rice) inside the reach-in cooler. Must use washable containers with lids or food-grade disposable plastic bags

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Grease on filters above cooking equipment,clean and maintain

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: Additional allergen training certificate is required for certified food handler/manager

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

10. Dec 8, 2020 Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    3 critical5 general Show violations

    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: Found no vomit and diarrhea clean up policy. Priority foundation. Citation issued.7-38-005. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

      Inspector’s note: Noted no hand washing signage at the hand washing sinks. Instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalFood handling

      Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

      Inspector’s note: Noted low temperature dish washing machine in use not properly sanitizing. Sanitizing strength of sanitizer (chlorine) at the time of inspection was 00 ppm. Instructed not to use until equipment is properly sanitizing at minimum of 50 ppm. Equipment not in use at this time of inspection. Priority violation #7-38-025. No citation issued.

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

      Inspector’s note: Noted missing lids at the ice bins at the bar. Instructed to provide ice bin cover.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFood handling

      In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Noted serving plates on shelves at the kitchen prep area and on shelves at the basement food prep/dry storage area not properly stored. Instructed to invert all serving plates during storage to prevent dust accumulation.

      Official wording (code 43)

      In-use utensils: properly stored

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Noted torn rubber gasket at 2 door refrigeration unit at the first floor kitchen prep area. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 47)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Noted heavy dirt and grease accumulation inside, on pipes/conduits and on edges of the exhaust hood and filters above cooking equipment. Instructed to detail clean and maintain hood, filters and pipes/conduits.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Noted heavy clutter at the waiters station at the rear sitting area. Instructed to clean, organize and/or remove all unnecessary articles to prevent hiding places for pest.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

11. Aug 16, 2019 Conditional

    Complaint Re-Inspection · Pass w/ Conditions

    4 critical2 general1 paperwork Show violations

    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: Found no employee health policy at premises. Priority foundation. No citation issued. 7-38-010. Must provide

      Official wording (code 3)

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

    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: Found no vomit and diarrhea clean up policy. Priority foundation. No citation issued.7-38-005. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalFood temperature

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

      Inspector’s note: Found ready to eat food stored in coolers not propelry labeled with seven day consume by date.priority foundation. No citation issued.7-38-005. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 23)

      Proper date marking and disposition

    • CriticalFood handling

      No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.

      Inspector’s note: Found no reminder disclosure statement inside menu for undercooked items sold.(steak).priority foundation. No citation issued. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 25)

      Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found floors not clean at hallway areas and basement dishwasing areas. Must clean and sanitize.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found unnecessary items at outside bar areas. (grill, cooler, boxes, etc.) must remove and relocate.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Food sanitation managers with no allergen training. Must obtain.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

12. Aug 9, 2019 Fail

    Complaint · Fail

    4 critical3 general1 paperwork Show violations

    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: Found no employee health policy at premises. Priority foundation. No citation issued. 7-38-010. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 3)

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

    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: Found no vomit and diarrhea clean up policy. Priority foundation. No citation issued.7-38-005. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalFood temperature

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

      Inspector’s note: Found ready to eat food stored in coolers not propelry labeled with seven day consume by date.priority foundation. No citation issued.7-38-005. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 23)

      Proper date marking and disposition

    • CriticalFood handling

      No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.

      Inspector’s note: Found no reminder disclosure statement inside menu for undercooked items sold.(steak).priority foundation. No citation issued. Must provide.

      Official wording (code 25)

      Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Found friut fly activity at basememnt dishwasing room. Observed about 50 fruit flies on walls. Priority foundation. Citation issued. 7-38-020a. Must eliminate fruit fly activity and notify pest control operator.

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found floors not clean at hallway areas and basement dishwasing areas. Must clean and sanitize.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Found unnecessary items at outside bar areas. (grill, cooler, boxes, etc.) must remove and relocate.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Food sanitation managers with no allergen training. Must obtain.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

13. Feb 22, 2018 Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    4 general Show violations

    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      * certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served

      Inspector’s note: Noted no city of chicago food service certificate posted on site at the time of inspection. Instructed to have a have a certified food manager with the city of chicago sanitation certificate and must be posted. Serious violation #7-38-012

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed

      Inspector’s note: Noted assorted food items stored in grocery bags inside coolers and refrigeration units. Instructed to store all food items inside approved food grade containers with tight fitting lids.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Noted open waste water pipe by the basement prep area. Instructed to encase all the waste water pipes or remove the prep table to another location of the basement.....noted an ice scoop inside ice container at the bar. Instructed to proveide an ice scoop holder.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Noted dirty and dusty vents inside 2 door refrigeration unit at the 1st floor prep area. Instructed to clean and maintain.

14. Feb 7, 2018 No Entry

    Canvass · No Entry

    No violations

15. Mar 10, 2017 Pass

    Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

    No violations

16. Mar 3, 2017 Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical7 general Show violations

    • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

      Hand washing facilities: with soap and sanitary hand drying devices, convenient and accessible to food prep area

      Inspector’s note: No soap or paper towels at the basement prep exposed hand washing sink. No accessible paper towels at the bar exposed hand sink and pump hand soap dispenser found inside floor drain under sink. Instructed to provide soap and paper towels at all times at all hand sinks and reviewed that hand sinks are for hand washing purposes only. Critical violation 7-38-030.

    • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

      Dish machines: provided with accurate thermometers, chemical test kits and suitable gauge cock

      Inspector’s note: No quaternary chemical test strips on site to check sanitizing concentration at the bar and basement dish three compartment sinks. Must provide. Serious violation 7-38-030.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Must not store knives and utensils between walls and electrical piping and walls and sinks.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Must not use and must remove from the premises porous, stone mortars used as food containers that are unable to be properly washed, rinsed and sanitized.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Broken floor tiles at the entrance of the walk-in cooler. Must replace.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Dirty wall with food splatter under the bar three compartment sink. Must clean and maintain. Water damaged ceiling tiles in the west side washroom. Must replace.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored

      Inspector’s note: Wiping cloths throughout must be stored in a container with a sanitizing solution until needed for use.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Only authorized personnel in the food-prep area

      Inspector’s note: Unauthorized persons are not allowed in the food preparation area ie: employees family.

17. Mar 17, 2016 Conditional

    Recent Inspection · Pass w/ Conditions

    3 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed

      Inspector’s note: Label all bulk food containers and maintain.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Must seal all the gap between the ceiling and walls in the kitchen cook line and in the basement prep area and storage room and maintain. Must replace stained ceiling panels in the cook line ist floor. And maintain

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Hot handle of the faucet of the exposed hand sink in the basement prep area not in good repair. Water pressure is very low. Must increase hot water pressure.

18. Feb 24, 2016 Conditional

    Complaint · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical3 general Show violations

    • CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)

      Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service

      Inspector’s note: Potentially hazardous foods at improper temperature inside the walk in cooler. Such as x1 container of cooked pork at 45.8f, x2 containers of mexican rice at 45.4f, x2 containers of baked beans at 44.7f, x2 containers of soup at 44.8f. Critical violation 7-38-005(a). Walk in cooler temperature at 40.0f. Managers discarded the said products worth $300.00, 20 lbs total.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed

      Inspector’s note: Label all bulk food containers and maintain.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Must seal all the gap between the ceiling and walls in the kitchen cook line and in the basement prep area and storage room and maintain. Must replace stained ceiling panels in the cook line ist floor. And maintain.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Hot handle of the faucet of the exposed hand sink in the basement prep area not in good repair. Water pressure is very low. Must increase hot water pressure.

19. Feb 19, 2016 No Entry

    Complaint · No Entry

    No violations

20. Jun 23, 2015 Pass

    License · Pass

    4 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: Found mesh liners on the bar shelf used to store clean mugs and wine glasses. Instructed to use non-absorbent materials only to allow proper cleaning with flat, smooth, easily cleanable surfaces.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

      Inspector’s note: Found a broken handle on the microwave in the kitchen. Instructed to repair handle and maintain.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed discoloration buildup in the soda gun nozzles at the bar. Instructed to detail clean, rather than soak guns in sanitizer and maintain.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Replace missing ceiling tile above the women's washroom on the 1st floor to provide a smooth, easily cleanable surface.

21. Jan 27, 2015 Pass

    License · Pass

    No violations