Will's Northwoods Inn

No violations were recorded at this inspection.

1. Jul 1, 2025 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   3 critical6 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

     No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

     Inspector’s note: Person in charge does not have city of chicago food service sanitation certificate.

     Official wording (code 1)

     Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

   • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed no hand washing signs or posters near hand washing sinks in front and outside bar areas and inside the unisex customers/emplyees washrooms. Must provide signs or posters.

     Official wording (code 10)

     Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

   • CriticalFood temperature

     Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

     Inspector’s note: Observed cold tcs foods stored at improper cold holding temperature inside walk-in cooler located on the basement. Observed raw burgers at internal temperature ranging between 51.2f to 52.7f and raw chicken at temperature of 49.9f to 52.6f. Instructed to maintain all cold tcs foods at temperature of 41.00f or below. Manager immediately and voluntarily discarded 90# of food value of $316. Priority violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 22)

     Proper cold holding temperatures

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Outer openings not protected observed front entrance door with a gap between door and frame. Must make door rodent proof to prevent pest entry.

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralFood handling

     Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Observed wiping cloths stored on top of sinks in front bar areas and on prep tables in the kitchen food prep area. Must properly store wiping cloths in a sanitizing solution when not in use.

     Official wording (code 41)

     Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Observed ice scoops stored inside ice bins in front bar area and outside bar area. Must properly store ice scoops in a clean container to prevent contamination.

     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: Observed rusty food storage shelving inside walk-in cooler located in the basement. Must repaint or replace shelving.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no covered waste receptacle provide inside the unisex customers/emplyees washrooms. Must provide a covered waste receptacle and maintain.

     Official wording (code 53)

     Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

     Inspector’s note: Observed grease build up on ventilation vents and filters above cooking equipment. Must clean and maintain.

     Official wording (code 56)

     Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no city of chicago certified food service manager on site nor city of chicago food servie sanitation certificate posted on premises while tcs foods are being prepared and served such as hamburgers, chicken wings etc. Instructed above to operate with a certified food manager and provide a city of chicago food service saniation certificate at all times tcs foods are being prepared and served. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012. Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 2)

     City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

2. Aug 28, 2024 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   1 critical1 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalFood temperature

     Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

     Inspector’s note: Observed the following tcs foods at improper cold holding temperatures in preparation cooler in rear kitchen: burgers at 50.1f, chicken at 48.9f, msausage at 50.1f, and eggs at 52.3f. Manager voluntarily discarded and denatured all items at time of inspection. Approx. 15 lbs with a $75 value. Priority violation 7-38-005, citation issued. Instructed to maintain all tcs cold foods at 41f or below at all times.

     Official wording (code 22)

     Proper cold holding temperatures

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed no splash guard at the hand sink in the rear preparation area. Instructed to provide splash guard on left side to prevent against potential sources of contamination.

     Official wording (code 39)

     Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: Observed missing allergen training for each certified manager on site. Instructed to provide allergen training for each certified manager on premises.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

3. Aug 29, 2023 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   4 general Show violations

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: 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 and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Accumulated grease and food debris on walls, utility connections and equipment surfaces behind cooking line.must clean and maintain. Grease inside the cabinet of deep fryers.detail cleaninig is required.

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: (facilities not in good repair) replace /repair cement floor in basement liquor room

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Observed holes on wall in basement area. On top shelves of storage area.repair issue with a smooth cleanable and n on-absorbent material

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

4. Aug 22, 2022 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   2 general Show violations

   • GeneralFood handling

     Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

     Inspector’s note: Noted bulk food items stored inside containers at the basement food prep/dry storage not properly labeled. Instructed management that all bulk and working food ingredient containers must be labeled with contents name.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Noted holes and opening at the corner wall base of the bar at the first floor. Instructed to seal all holes and opening where ever necessary to prevent entry points for pests

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

5. May 6, 2021 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   No violations

6. Sep 4, 2019 Pass

   Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

   5 general Show violations

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Noted serving plates on shelves at the kitchen prep area not properly stored. Instructed to invert all serving plates at the dinning tables to prevent dust accumulation.

     Official wording (code 43)

     In-use utensils: properly stored

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted utensil rack and ice machine stored underneath the waste water pipe lines at the basement food/dry storage area. Instructed to remove or relocate utensil rack and ice machine.

     Official wording (code 44)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

     Inspector’s note: Noted wash rooms on premise with garbage receptacles and no lids. Instructed to provide trash cans with lids at all women wash rooms and unisex wash rooms.

     Official wording (code 53)

     Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Noted rough and unfinished brick walls behind the shelves, ice machine at the basement dry storage area. Instructed to refinish walls to be smooth and easily cleanable.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Noted a multiple holes and openings on walls and ceiling of the basement food.dry storage area. Instructed to repair and maintain, seal all holes and openings to prevent hiding places for pest.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

7. Aug 30, 2019 Fail

   Canvass · Fail

   1 critical5 general Show violations

   • CriticalFood handling

     No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.

     Inspector’s note: Noted establishment serving undercooked food items (hamburgers/eggs) with no consumer advisory, disclosure or reminders to the customers. Instructed to have a consumer advisory on the menu with a disclosure notice and reminder statement. Priority foundation #7-38-005. Citation issued today.

     Official wording (code 25)

     Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Noted serving plates on shelves at the kitchen prep area not properly stored. Instructed to invert all serving plates at the dinning tables to prevent dust accumulation.

     Official wording (code 43)

     In-use utensils: properly stored

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted utensil rack and ice machine stored underneath the waste water pipe lines at the basement food/dry storage area. Instructed to remove or relocate utensil rack and ice machine.

     Official wording (code 44)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

     Inspector’s note: Noted wash rooms on premise with garbage receptacles and no lids. Instructed to provide trash cans with lids at all women wash rooms and unisex wash rooms

     Official wording (code 53)

     Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Noted rough and unfinished brick walls behind the shelves, ice machine at the basement dry storage area. Instructed to refinish walls to be smooth and easily cleanable.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Noted a multiple holes and openings on walls and ceiling of the basement food.dry storage area. Instructed to repair and maintain, seal all holes and openings to prevent hiding places for pest.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

8. Sep 7, 2018 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   4 critical1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: 2-102.14(a) no written employee health policy on site. Must provide. Priority foundation violation. No citation issued.

     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: 2-501.11 no written procedure on site for a vomiting or diarrhea event. Must provide. Priority foundation violation. No citation issued.

     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: 3-501.17(a-b)(e-g)(a)all prepared foods held longer than 24 hours must be properly labeled of product, prepared date and expiration date within 7 days. Priority foundation violation. No citation issued.

     Official wording (code 23)

     Proper date marking and disposition

   • CriticalFood handling

     No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.

     Inspector’s note: 3-603.11(a) a consumer advisory must be available to customers. Menu does not disclose and inform consumers the specific menu items that are raw or under cooked and a potential hazard of consuming such foods. Priority foundation violation. No citation issued

     Official wording (code 25)

     Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: Pa 100-0367 no proof of allergen training for all city of chicago certified food managers.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

9. Jul 31, 2017 Conditional

   Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

   3 general Show violations

   • GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)

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

     Inspector’s note: No city of chicago certified food manager on site while potentially hazardous foods (beans, chicken) prepared. Instructed that a city of chicago certified food manager must be on site with original certificate posted, at all times while potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served. Serious violation: 7-38-012

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

     Inspector’s note: Must provide a splash guard on the left side of the main bar handsink to protect liquor bottles stored next to sink.

   • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

     Inspector’s note: Must clean grayish residue from upper gray panel in ice machine.

10. Aug 18, 2016 Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    No violations

11. Aug 27, 2015 Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed torn gaskets on the 2 door prep coolers in the kitchen. Instructed facility to replace and maintain.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed slight dirt accumulation on the upper interior portion of the ice machines in the basement. Instructed facility to clean, sanitize, and maintain.

12. Aug 8, 2014 Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Detail clean interior panels of ice machine in basement.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Exposed handwash sink by patio area is draining slow. Must repair/maintain.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Ice scoops stored on top of ice bins at the front bar. Must properly store ice scoops in a clean container.

13. Sep 3, 2013 Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Cutting boards with deep, dark grooves must be sanded/bleached or replaced.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Fan covers inside the walk-in-cooler,bar guns and housings attached require a detail cleaning.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Exposed brick walls behind dry storage shelvings in basement must be smooth,easily cleanable surfaces.

14. Sep 4, 2012 Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    No violations

15. Sep 7, 2011 Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    2 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily.REMOVE MINERAL BUILD UP FROM INSIDE THE GUN POP HOLDER FROM SMALL BAR.

    • 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.REMOVE WHITE SLIMING SUBSTANCE FROM FLOOR DRAIN AT MAIN BAR AREA.

16. Jul 28, 2010 Pass

    Short Form Complaint · Pass

    4 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Must provide covers for the ice bins at all bars.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily. DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

      Inspector’s note: Shielding to protect against broken glass falling into food shall be provided for all artificial lighting sources in preparation, service, and display facilities. MUST PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELDS OR SHATTERPROOF LIGHT BULBS FOR THE WALK-IN COOLER.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

      Inspector’s note: Observed chest freezer that is stored outside of the back door to the kitchen. Must remove from the premises.

17. Jul 12, 2010 Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: Must provide covers for the ice bins at all bars.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

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

      Inspector’s note: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily. DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE.

    • GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)

      Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded

      Inspector’s note: Shielding to protect against broken glass falling into food shall be provided for all artificial lighting sources in preparation, service, and display facilities. MUST PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELDS OR SHATTERPROOF LIGHT BULBS FOR THE WALK-IN COOLER.