Duffy's Tavern & Grille

No violations were recorded at this inspection.

1. Jul 23, 2026 Fail

   Complaint · Fail

   2 critical7 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: Person in charge during the inspection does not have a city of chicago sanitation certificate. Priority foundation violation.

     Official wording (code 1)

     Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

   • CriticalFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted three gallons of pot and pan detergent being stored in plastic bus pans on the floor inside the walk-in cooler. One container leaking out into the pan. Reviewed with person in charge the proper storage of chemicals away from foods, not inside food coolers. P.i.c removed all chemicals. Priority violation 7-38-005 citation issued.

     Official wording (code 28)

     Toxic substances properly identified, stored, & used

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: All bulk food containers including spice containers not in the original container must be labeled with the product common name.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: All bulk food containers including spice containers not in the original container must be labeled with the product common name.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed approximately 50 small flies throughout the rear bar swarming around drains, sinks and on walls and shelving. 10 to 15 flies in the small middle bar and 30 to 40 flies throughout the front bar. Instructed to have the licensed pest control co. Service establishment for flies and eliminate all fly activity. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a) citation issued.

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: All clean stored pots in the dish room must be stored inverted.

     Official wording (code 44)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Large leak under the dish room hand washing sink onto the floor. Instructed to repair.

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Floors in the following areas with dirt, debris, food debris: throughout the walk-in cooler, throughout the electrical room, throughout all bars. Pooling liquid and slime substance on the floor of the keg cooler.instructed to clean and maintain all.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralRepeat violation

     A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

     Inspector’s note: Previous core violations from report #2635000 on 4-14-26. #16- upper ice shoot in the ice machine in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.#47- noted a broken metal door handle repaired with tape on the lid of the cooks line three door cooler. Instructed to replace.#55-noted water damaged ceiling tiles in the hallway to the walk-in cooler. Instructed to replace.#55- missing baseboard coving at the entrance to the kitchen. Instructed to replace.#58- no proof of allergen training or certificates for all the city of chicago certified food managers. Must provide. Priority foundation violation 7-42-090 citation issued.

     Official wording (code 60)

     Previous core violation corrected

   • PaperworkManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: No city of chicago certified food manager on site during the initial inspection while tcs foods are being prepared and served. Manager arrived during the inspection after being telephoned. Reviewed, a city of chicago certified food manager must be on site at all time while 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. Apr 14, 2026 Pass

   Complaint · Pass

   1 critical6 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalFood handling

     Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.

     Inspector’s note: Upper ice shoot in the ice machine in need of cleaning. Instructed to clean and maintain.

     Official wording (code 16)

     Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: All stored items in the rear hallway storage must be elevated from the floors.

     Official wording (code 45)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted a torn rubber door gasket on the middle door of the three door cooks line cooler. Instructed to 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: Noted a broken metal door handle repaired with tape on the lid of the cooks line three door cooler. Instructed to replace.

     Official wording (code 47)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Must not use cardboard as liner for shelving in the rear hallway storage. Must use a smooth cleanable material for liner shelving.

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Missing baseboard coving at the entrance to the kitchen. Instructed to replace.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Noted water damaged ceiling tiles in the hallway to the walk-in cooler. Instructed to replace.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: No proof of allergen training or certificates for all the city of chicago certified food managers. Must provide.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

3. Sep 4, 2025 Pass

   Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass

   No violations

4. Aug 26, 2025 Fail

   Canvass · Fail

   1 critical4 general Show violations

   • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted no hand washing signage at the bar hand washing sink. Instructed to have the hand washing signs at all hand washing sinks.

     Official wording (code 10)

     Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted over 30 rat droppings on floor along corner wall base of the rear bar and along wallbase of the rear bar. Instructed to detail clean and sanitize affected areas, eliminate pest activity. Instructed to consult with pest control company and have premises treated. Priority foundation violation#7-38-020(a). Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralFood handling

     In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

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

     Official wording (code 43)

     In-use utensils: properly stored

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Noted leakage at the bottom pipe underneath the 3 compartment sink at the bar. Instructed to repair and maintain.also noted water leaking from the ice bin onto the floor. Must 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: Instructed to clean and maintain floors along wallbase and underneath equipment especially at the bars and where the rat droppings were found. Must also maintain floors dry at all times.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

5. Jun 13, 2024 Pass

   License · Pass

   8 general Show violations

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted gap at front outtermost door. Instructed to provide and maintain a tight seal to prevent pest entry

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: Noted exposed pipe above kitchen prep area and no splash guard between handsink and 3 compartment sink in dishroom. Instructed to provide proper encasement for pipe and splash guard at sink and maintain at all times.

     Official wording (code 39)

     Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Noted no backflow prevention device at dishroom mop sink. Instructed to provide and maintain

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Noted leak at "back bar" handwash sink. And slow drain at "front bar" handwash sink. 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: Noted floors and walls in dishroom, kitchen, front, back and side bar, beer coolers and under and behind ice maker with grease, grime and food debris. Instructed to deep 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: Noted unnecessary items stored between wall and ice machine. Instructed to remove and clean and sanitize where items were. Also noted clutter and unnecessary items in liquor room and crates underneath "beer cooling control system", and stacked boxes stored on the floor in dry nonfood storage room to dj booth. Instructed to use proper smooth and cleanable shelving with a minimum of 6 inches off the ground.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Noted cracked flooring and concave dip in floor at front beer walk-in cooler. Instructed to repair and maintaint an even smooth and cleanable surface.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

     Inspector’s note: Noted rear dining area with inadequate lighting on west side of room. Instructed to provide additional and maintain

     Official wording (code 56)

     Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

6. Jun 11, 2024 Not Ready

   License · Not Ready

   No violations