Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

No violations were recorded at this inspection.

1. Jun 26, 2026 Fail

   Canvass · Fail

   1 critical1 general Show violations

   • CriticalFood handling

     Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

     Inspector’s note: Observed mold like substance on interior of ice machine dripping onto ice in bin (ice is used for human consumption). Instructed person in charge to discard ice, clean and sanitize machine and maintain. Priority foundation #7-38-005. Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 16)

     Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed drains throughout prep area and bar area in need of cleaning. Instructed person in charge to detail clean and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

2. May 12, 2025 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   4 general Show violations

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: Liquor stored underneath sewer lines that are not shielded in basement storage closet. Instd to store properly and maintain

     Official wording (code 39)

     Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

   • GeneralFood handling

     Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

     Inspector’s note: Single-service and single use articles stored underneath sewer lines that are not shielded in basement storage closet. Instd to store properly and maintain

     Official wording (code 45)

     Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Low water pressure at handwash sink at main cook line. Instd to repair and maintain

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Floor drain underneath scrape sink in warewashing area not clean, debris build up. Instd to detail clean aand maintain

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

3. Jun 6, 2024 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   No violations

4. Jun 5, 2023 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   3 general Show violations

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed dust build up on the fan guards in the upstairs walk-in cooler and downstairs produce cooler. Instructed to clean and maintain.

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Observed low pressure at the handwashing sink in the prep area next to side door. Instructed to repair and maintain.

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed dust and dirt build up on floors in the downstairs area underneath shelving. Instructed to clean and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

5. Jul 8, 2022 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   2 general Show violations

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Excessive black substance on caulking along perimeter of warewashing unit. Faucet base of all handwash sinks not clean, excessive debris/build up. Instd to clean and maintain same

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Floor drain in warewashing area near dishmachine not clean, debris accumulation. Instd to clean and maintain same

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

6. Mar 15, 2021 Pass

   Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

   No violations

7. Mar 8, 2021 Fail

   Canvass · Fail

   3 general Show violations

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed fruit fly activity is dish room area. Observed approx. 10-15 live flies in area. Instructed manager to clean, sanitize and contact pest control for service. Priority foundation 7-38-020(a) citation issued.

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

     Inspector’s note: No high temp dish machine measuring device on site. Instructed manager to provide and maintain. Priority foundation 4-302.13 citation issued

     Official wording (code 48)

     Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Floor under dish machine in need of detail cleaning to remove all stagnate water. Instructed to clean and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

8. Jan 16, 2020 Conditional

   Complaint · Pass w/ Conditions

   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: Observed the #10 can opener not clean, instructed to clean and sanitize.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no test strips for the high temperature dish machine at this time, instructed to provide. Priority foundation 7-38-005, no citation issued.

     Official wording (code 48)

     Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed the wall at the 1 compartment sink with a black/brown substance on the caulk, instructed to clean/remove or replace the caulk.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

9. Jun 26, 2019 Pass

   Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

   3 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: 4-101.11(b, c, d, e): using large 30-gallon gray garbage containers to store lettuce. Instd to use proper food grade containers.

     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: 4-501.12: small cutting board at salad prep line stained with deep, dark grooves. Instd to replace and maintain all cutting boards.

     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: 6-501.12 all floor drains and walls through out warewashing area (warewash machine and 3-compartment sink) not clean, excessive debris and stained surfaces. Instd to detail clean and maintain surface. Walk in freezer floor with excessive ice accumulation. Instd to clean and maintain same. Walls

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: 2-102.13: no allergen training as required. Instd to obtain and maintain verification for all city of chicago certified food managers.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

10. Jun 17, 2019 Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    1 critical4 general1 paperwork Show violations

    • CriticalFood handling

      Toxic chemicals weren’t labeled, stored, or used safely.

      Inspector’s note: Employee personal belongings improperly stored. Instd to store in designated area.

      Official wording (code 28)

      Toxic substances properly identified, stored, & used

    • GeneralPests

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

      Inspector’s note: Over 15 live fruit flies noted on ceilings and walls in warewashing area and wait station. Instd to remove all flies, clean and sanitize affected areas, and contact pest control for service. Priority foundation 7-38-020(a).

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Using large 30-gallon gray garbage containers to store lettuce. Instd to use proper food grade containers.

      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: Small cutting board at salad prep line stained with deep, dark grooves. Instd to replace and maintain all cutting boards.

      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: All floor drains and walls through out warewashing area (warewash machine and 3-compartment sink) not clean, excessive debris and stained surfaces. Instd to detail clean and maintain surface. Walk in freezer floor with excessive ice accumulation. Instd to clean and maintain same. Walls

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: No allergen training as required. Instd to obtain and maintain verification for all city of chicago certified food managers.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

11. Jul 27, 2018 Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical2 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 on premises at this time. Instructed to provide. Priority foundation 7-38-012. No citation issued.

      Official wording (code 3)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed the piercing part of the can opener not clean, instructed to clean and sanitize. Core violation.

      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: Observed standing water under the prep hand sink, instructed to clean/dry mop. Core violation.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

12. Apr 25, 2017 Pass

    License · Pass

    No violations