Pass

Sterling Food Hall

125 S Clark St, Chicago, IL 60603

Restaurant ZIP 60603 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Mar 23, 2026

Sterling Food Hall was last inspected on March 23, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 6 violations.

Latest inspection

March 23, 2026 · Canvass Re-Inspection

Pass

Result: Pass

6 general
  • GeneralFood handling

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

    Inspector’s note: 3-307.11 : observed no splash guard in between drain boards of basement and 20th fl. 2- compartment sink(vegetable wash) & 3- compartment sink (dish washing) next to each other must provide to prevent cross contamination.

    Official wording (code 39)

    Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

  • GeneralFood handling

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

    Inspector’s note: 4-903.11 (a;b;d) : must invert multi-use utensils on dish storage shelves in basement and 20th fl.

    Official wording (code 44)

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

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

    Inspector’s note: 4-601.11(c) : must clean grease and food debris build up from all reach in coolers,walk in cooler-shelving units.

    Official wording (code 49)

    Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

    Inspector’s note: 5-205.15 : must repair or replace far right urinal in customers men's toilet room to be in good repair.

    Official wording (code 51)

    Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: 6-501.13 Inspector Comments: MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FLOOR UNDER,AROUND,ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT 20TH FL. PREP AREA.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: 6-501.14 : must clean debris build up from filters at hood of cooking equipment on 20th fl.

    Official wording (code 56)

    Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspection history

4 inspections on record

  1. Fail

    Canvass · Fail

    3 critical11 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed no signed employees helath policies for employees must provide and maintain.(priority foundation 7-38-010)(citation issued)

      Official wording (code 3)

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

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed hot running water temperature at the only hand sink in last unisex staff toilet room at 79.0f.must have at 100.0f. Must repair and maintain.(priority 7-38-030(c)(citation issued)

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

      Inspector’s note: Must provide hand washing signs at hand sinks on 20th fl. Men's and women's toilet rooms.

      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: Observed evidence of appx. 50 or more live small flies on upper walls,pipes and ducting system in basement food prep/dish washing area,1st fl. Mopsink closet where there is a wet mop sitting inside of bucket in same area,rear hallway walls and on overhead ducting system adjacent to other restaurant storage areas.recommended to have a pest control operator to service premises on or after 3/12/26.(priority foundation 7-38-020(a)(citation issued)

      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: Observed no splash guard in between drain boards of basement and 20th fl. 2- compartment sink(vegetable wash) & 3- compartment sink (dish washing) next to each other must provide to prevent cross contamination.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Must invert multi-use utensils on dish storage shelves in basement and 20th fl.

      Official wording (code 44)

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

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed dish machine in use and no temperature measuring device for high temperature dish machine located in basement dish washing area.must provide an irreversible thermometer or at the plate measuring device and maintain.(priority foundation 7-38-005)(citation issued)

      Official wording (code 48)

      Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean grease and food debris build up from all cooking equipment,prep tables,rolling carts,reach in coolers,walk in cooler-shelving units in basement and 20th. Fl. Dust build up from window sills in 20th fl. Prep area and build up on dish racks.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Must repair or replace far right urinal in customers men's toilet room to be in good repair.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must scrape chipping paint from ceiling in basement prep/dish washing area and ceilings and pipes on the 20th fl. Prep area.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean dust build up from upper walls in basement prep/dish wahsing area and 20th fl.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean food debris build up from floor under,around,along wall bases throughout both prep/dish washing areas and floor drains at high temperature dish machine.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide light shields in dry food storage area.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean debris build up from filters at hood of cooking equipment on 20th fl.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no food handlers training for employees must provide and maintain.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical1 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed one of four metered handsinks in the womens customer restroom not working. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Must label all food storage containers in the basement prep area with the common name of food item(s).

      Official wording (code 37)

      Food properly labeled; original container

  3. Conditional

    License · Pass w/ Conditions

    2 critical1 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

      Inspector’s note: Must provide handwashing signage for handwashing sink in the coffee station.

      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: Observed low temperature dish machine in the bar area, lashuk, and fare not sanitizing. Chlorine reading 0 ppm. Priority violation, 7-38-025. Citation issued. Ecolab arrived during inspection to repair dish machines. Dish machines now sanitizing and chlorine reads 100 ppm.

      Official wording (code 16)

      Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean dust from fan guards in the common area walk-in cooler.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: All city of chicago food managers must complete allergen training and keep certificate on site.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

More in ZIP 60603

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 7 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.