Gayle's Best Ever Grlled Cheese
108 N State St, Chicago, IL 60602
Restaurant ZIP 60602 Risk 1 (High)
Passed · as of Jan 21, 2026
Gayle's Best Ever Grlled Cheese was last inspected on January 21, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 4 violations.
Latest inspection
January 21, 2026 · Canvass Re-Inspection
Result: Pass
4 general-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: 4-101.19 : observed crates being used for food storage in prep/dish washing area must eliminate and provide adequate shelving units for food storage to be smooth and easily cleanable.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(C) Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM WALK IN COOLER FAN GUARD COVERS,DUST BUILD UP ON FRONT PREP AREA SHELVING UNITS.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: 6-201.13 : must repair or replace stained ceiling tiles in dining area.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: 4-301.14 : observed table top deep fryers on rear prep table and no ventilation hood above must provide underneath ventilation and maintain.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspection history
11 inspections on record
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
3 critical10 general2 paperwork Show violations
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CriticalManagement & training
No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.
Inspector’s note: Pic dosen't have a food managers certificate.must provide and maintain.(priority foundation 7-38-012)
Official wording (code 1)
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hands weren’t washed properly or when required.
Inspector’s note: Observed poor hygienic practices by food handler observed her touch screen order at register put on plastic gloves retrieved wrapped sandwich from reach in cooler and placed on grill without washing hands,as well another employee did the same.instructed to wash hands after every possible contamination.(priority 7-38-010)(citation issued)(cos)
Official wording (code 8)
Hands clean & properly washed
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CriticalFood handling
Specialized processes (curing, vacuum-packing, etc.) didn’t follow the approved plan.
Inspector’s note: Observed vacuum packaged foods on site without an cdph-approved haccp plan.must be approved before food can be vacuum packaged on premises.appx.56lbs. Macaroni & cheese $324. Product was discarded by pic.a held for inspection tag placed on vacuum package sealer. (priority foundation 7-38-005)(citation issued)(cos)
Official wording (code 29)
Compliance with variance/specialized process/haccp
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GeneralFood handling
No approval obtained for a specialized processing method.
Inspector’s note: See violation #29.
Official wording (code 32)
Variance obtained for specialized processing methods
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GeneralFood handling
Clean utensils, equipment, or linens weren’t stored and handled properly.
Inspector’s note: Must invert multi-use utensils on storage shelves.
Official wording (code 44)
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
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GeneralHygiene & sanitation
Gloves weren’t used properly.
Inspector’s note: Observed food handler miusage of plastic gloves.
Official wording (code 46)
Gloves used properly
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Observed crates being used for food storage in front prep area must eliminate and provide adequate shelving units for food storage.must eliminate cardboard lined on lower shelf of prep table to be smooth and easily cleanable.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must clean debris build up from walk in cooler fan guard covers & shelving units,dust build up on front prep area shelving units.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must repair or replace stained ceiling tiles & missing wall base in dining area,missing ceiling tile in rear prep area,hole in wall in front prep area.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must remove cardboard from walk in cooler floor to be smooth and easily cleanable.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Must clean debris and dust build up from floor under,around,along wall bases throughout premises.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Observed table top deep fryers on rear prep table and no ventilation hood above must provide underneath ventilation and maintain.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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GeneralRepeat violation
A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.
Inspector’s note: Previous core violations from report #2616737 5/1/25 not corrected-#47-4-101.19 : observed boxes stored on milk crates in freezer. Observed non food items stored on floor underneath shelving units in rear storage(where utility sink is located). Instructed to provide adequate shelving to elevate all food and nonfood items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability.#55- 6-501.12 : observed ice buildup on right condensor line in walk in freezer. Instructed to remove ice buildup from condensor line in walk in freezer and maintain. Observed dust on walls above clean equipment on shelves above three compartment sink. Observed dust on ceiling vent cover above prep table in rear prep(across from walk in cooler). Observed dust on ceiling around ceiling vent cover in middle prep area. Instructed to clean walls, ceiling vent cover and ceiling in said areas and maintain. Observed…
Official wording (code 60)
Previous core violation corrected
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PaperworkManagement & training
No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.
Inspector’s note: Observed no certified food manager on duty while tcs foods are being prepared,handled and served such as (turkey,sausage,ham sandwiches) must be on site at all times.(priority foundation 7-38-012)(citation issued)
Official wording (code 2)
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
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PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: Observed expired and missing food handlers training for employees must provide and maintain.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
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Conditional
Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions
2 critical3 general Show violations
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CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: Observed no disinfectant effective against norovirus for complying with procedure available on site when responding to vomitting or diarrheal events. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 citation issued
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
Inspector’s note: Observed no handwashing soap at handwashing sink in rear prep area. Instructed to provide handwashing soap at handwashing sinks at all times. Corrected on site handwashing soap provided at handwashing sink in rear prep area before conclusion of inspection. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c) citation issued.
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
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GeneralHygiene & sanitation
Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Observed food handler not wearing hair restraint while preparing food. Instructed food handlers shall wear hair restraints such as hats, hair coverings , beard restraints and clothing that covers body hair that are designed and worn to effectively keep their hair from contacting exposed food, clean equipment,utensils and linens and unwrapped single service and single use articles.
Official wording (code 40)
Personal cleanliness
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Observed boxes stored on milk crates in freezer. Observed non food items stored on floor underneath shelving units in rear storage(where utility sink is located). Instructed to provide adequate shelving to elevate all food and nonfood items at least six inches off of floor for ease of cleanability.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed ice buildup on right condensor line in walk in freezer. Instructed to remove ice buildup from condensor line in walk in freezer and maintain. Observed dust on walls above clean equipment on shelves above three compartment sink. Observed dust on ceiling vent cover above prep table in rear prep(across from walk in cooler). Observed dust on ceiling around ceiling vent cover in middle prep area. Instructed to clean walls, ceiling vent cover and ceiling in said areas and maintain. Observed buildup along base of wall underneath three compartment sink and behind grease trap. Instructed to clean along base of wall underneath three compartment sink and behind grease trap.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
Short Form Complaint · Pass
No violations
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Pass
Complaint · Pass
No violations
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
2 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Observed facility using cardboard as a liner under walk-in cooler shelving and on the shelving below grease containers. Instructed to remove cardboard or replace with a material that is smooth and easily cleanable.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed missing ceiling tiles above walk-in cooler and walk-in freezer entrance. Instructed to replace or provide missing ceiling tiles.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass
No violations
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
3 general Show violations
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GeneralFood temperature
Frozen food was thawed the wrong way.
Inspector’s note: 3-501.13 observed facility inadequately thawing tcs food (soup) in the one compartment sink in stagnet water. Instructed to always properly thaw all tcs foods in cold running water (not exceeding 70f) at all times.
Official wording (code 35)
Approved thawing methods used
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: 6-501.111 observed evidence of live insect activity on site, observed about 5 large flies flying around the rear food prep areas, observed a fly land on a piece of bread at a prep table in the rear. Instructed to discard the piece of bread, clean and sanitize affected areas, eliminate large flies activity and recommended contacting pest control for a service. Priority foundation. Citation issued 7-38-020(c).
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralFood handling
Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.
Inspector’s note: 3-307.11 observed an inadequate splash guard on the hand washing sink located directly next to the panini grill and inadequate in height and not properly protecting the panini grill from possible contamination. Instructed to provide an adequate splash guard at the hand washing sink directly next to the panini grill or move the panini grill that is directly next to said hand washing sink.
Official wording (code 39)
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
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Pass
Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass
1 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: 4-201.11 found handwashing sink located in rear prep across from walk in cooler detached (hanging) from wall instructed manager to repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
-
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
1 critical2 general1 paperwork Show violations
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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 site. Instructed to provide an employee health policy that includes a signed acknowledgement from each employee. Priority foundation. 7.38.010. Citation issued.
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Found approx. 7 large flies in rear food prep area. Also noted approx 6 small flies located in dry storage area. And 4 small flies located in front prep area/ dining area. Instructed manager to minimize all fly activity. Recommended contacting pest control. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-020(a). Citation issued.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Found handwashing sink located in rear prep across from walk in cooler detached (hanging) from wall instructed manager to repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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PaperworkManagement & training
Required allergen training was missing.
Inspector’s note: Found city of chicago food service manager (pic) without proof of allergen training on site at time of inspection. Instructed to provide proof of allergen training for all city of chicago food service managers.
Official wording (code 58)
Allergen training as required
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Pass
License · Pass
1 general Show violations
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GeneralFood temperature
Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.
Inspector’s note: Visible and working thermometer needed in front reach-in cheese refrigerator. Must provide and maintain.
Official wording (code 36)
Thermometers provided & accurate
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More in ZIP 60602
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 9 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.