CHICAGO, IL - DAWSON received citations for health code violations during an inspection on 04/17/2023.
Situated at 730-736 W GRAND AVE, the establishment is part of River West's active food service sector. The River West area undergoes regular health inspections as part of the city's comprehensive food safety monitoring program.
The inspection identified 3 distinct violations requiring correction. These findings represent specific conditions observed during the inspection that must be addressed to meet health code requirements.
The first violation related to handwashing procedures. Inspectors documented: Hands Clean & Properly Washed - Comments: Observed Employee Switched From Handling Dirty Dishes to Clean Dishes Without Washing Hands and Changing Gloves Between Tasks. Food Employee Must Practive Good Hygiene By Properly Washing Hands When Changing Tasks. Discussed Proper Hand Washing with Employee and Managers on Site. Priority Violation 7-38-010 Citation Issued.. According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. The CDC identifies poor hand hygiene as a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks.
The second violation concerned hand hygiene and handwashing facilities. Inspectors documented: No Bare Hand Contact with Rte Food or a Pre-approved Alternative Procedure Properly Allowed - Comments: Observe Bartender Employee Used Bare Hands to Handle Drink Toppings Such As Sliced Oranges. Food Employees Shall Use Suitable Utensils Such As Deli Tissue, Spatulas/tongs, Dispensing Equipment or Single Use Gloves When Handling Ready to Eat Foods. Discussed Importance of Wearing Gloves When Handling Ready to Eat Foods with Employee and Manager. Priority Violation 7-38-010 Citation Issued.. According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. Inadequate handwashing can transmit Norovirus, Hepatitis A, and other pathogens directly to food.
The third violation related to hand hygiene and handwashing facilities. Inspectors documented: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied and Accessible - Comments: a Sign or Poster That Notifies Food Employees to Wash Their Hands Is Not Provided at. According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. Fecal-oral transmission of pathogens occurs when hands are not properly washed after restroom use.
Establishments receiving violations must submit correction plans and may face additional inspections. Failure to address violations can result in fines, permit suspension, or closure.
This inspection data is provided by Chicago Department of Public Health. The establishment had violations identified during the 04/17/2023 inspection. Conditions may have changed since this inspection. For current compliance status, consult the Chicago Department of Public Health. For more information about restaurant inspection regulations in this area, visit the Chicago Food Service Sanitation Rules. Learn more about food safety at FDA.gov and CDC.gov.
This inspection was conducted on August 21, 2025.
Chicago Department of Public Health
The following violations were documented: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT HANDWASHING SINKS IN FIRST FLOOR BAR, MIDDLE COOKLINE AND SECOND FLOOR STAGING AREA. CORRECTED ON SITE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE POSTED IN SAID AREAS BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION.; REQUIRED RECORDS AVAILABLE: SHELLSTOCK TAGS, PARASITE DESTRUCTION - Comments: OBSERVED MULTIPLE SHELLSTOCK TAGS FROM JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH AND APRIL IN FOLDERS WITH NO DATE WHEN THE LAST SHELLSTOCK FROM THE CONTAINER IS SOLD OR SERVED. INSTRUCTED THE DATE WHEN THE LAST SHELLSTOCK FROM THE CONTAINER IS SOLD OR SERVED SHALL BE RECORDED ON THE TAG OR LABEL. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.; CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD - Comments: OBSERVED ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS THAT CAN BE SERVED RAW OR COOKED TO ORDER WITH NO ASTERISK IDENTIFYING AND NO DISCLOSURE STATING THAT SAID FOODS CAN BE SERVED RAW OR COOKED TO ORDER. CORRECTED ON SITE ASTERISK IDENTIFYING AND DISCLOSURE STATING WHICH ANIMAL DERIVED FOODS CAN BE SERVED RAW OR COOKED TO ORDER ADDED TO MENU BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.; INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED OPENING AT BASE IN MIDDLE OF DOUBLE ENTRANCE FRONT DOORS. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.; UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: OBSERVED KNIVES, FORKS AND SPOONS STORED IN CONTAINERS ON UPPER SHELVES IN BUSSING AREA WITH HANDLES DOWN. INSTRUCTED TO STORE UTENSILS WITH HANDLES UP TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.; WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS - Comments: OBSERVED TEMPERATURE OF THE WASH SOLUTION IN HIGH TEMPERATURE DISHMACHINE AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF 142F. CORRECTED ON SITE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE REPAIRED BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION WASH SOLUTION IN HIGH TEMPERATURE DISHMACHINE AT PROPER TEMPERATURE OF 160F. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-025; NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED BIG AND SMALL ICE MACHINES IN BASEMENT WITH A PINK AND BLACK MOLDLIKE SUBSTANCE ON SHIELDS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN SHIELDS AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF ICE.; PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED LEAKING DRAIN PIPE OF MIDDLE COMPARTMENT OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR DRAIN PIPE.; PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED - Comments: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2574395 DATED 04/17/2023 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED. OBSERVED CLEAN UTENSILS SUCH AS FORKS AND KNIVES OUT ON AT CUSTOMER TABLES WHICH IS NOT PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION. UTENSILS MUST BE COVERED AND/OR WRAPED CLEAN UTENSILS SHALL BE HANDLED, DISPLAYED, AND DISPENSED SO THAT FOOD AND LIP CONTACT SURFACES ARE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION. THE 2ND FLOOR RESTROOMS DO NOT HAVE A TIGHT-FITTING AND SELF-CLOSING DOOR. ALL TOILET ROOMS LOCATED WITHIN A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT MUST BE ENCLOSED WITH A TIGHT-FITTING AND SELF-CLOSING DOOR.; HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED - Comments: OBSERVED EMPLOYEE SWITCHED FROM HANDLING DIRTY DISHES TO CLEAN DISHES WITHOUT WASHING HANDS AND CHANGING GLOVES BETWEEN TASKS. FOOD EMPLOYEE MUST PRACTIVE GOOD HYGIENE BY PROPERLY WASHING HANDS WHEN CHANGING TASKS. DISCUSSED PROPER HAND WASHING WITH EMPLOYEE AND MANAGERS ON SITE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH RTE FOOD OR A PRE-APPROVED ALTERNATIVE PROCEDURE PROPERLY ALLOWED - Comments: OBSERVE BARTENDER EMPLOYEE USED BARE HANDS TO HANDLE DRINK TOPPINGS SUCH AS SLICED ORANGES. FOOD EMPLOYEES SHALL USE SUITABLE UTENSILS SUCH AS DELI TISSUE, SPATULAS/TONGS, DISPENSING EQUIPMENT OR SINGLE USE GLOVES WHEN HANDLING READY TO EAT FOODS. DISCUSSED IMPORTANCE OF WEARING GLOVES WHEN HANDLING READY TO EAT FOODS WITH EMPLOYEE AND MANAGER. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.; ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: A SIGN OR POSTER THAT NOTIFIES FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS IS NOT PROVIDED AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES ON 2ND FLOOR AND RESTROOMS ON BASEMENT FLOOR. PROVIDE A CLEARLY VISIBLE HANDWASHING SIGN AT EACH HAND SINK.; CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY - Comments: BOXES/CONTAINERS OF FOOD STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK-IN FREEZER. ITEMS MUST BE: 1) IN A CLEAN, DRY LOCATION; 2) WHERE IT IS NOT EXPOSED TO SPLASH, DUST OR OTHER CONTAMINATION; 3) AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR.; CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY - Comments: LINENS ARE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH BREAD, DUCK WINGS IN PREP-LINE COOLER DRAWERS. LIENS MAY NOT BE USED IN CONTACT WITH FOODS.; WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED - Comments: IN-USE WIPING CLOTHS ARE NOT STORED PROPERLY. FOUND ON PREP-COUNTERS. CLOTHS USED TO WIPE SURFACES AND EQUIPMENT SHALL BE HELD IN A PROPER SANITIZER SOLUTION. CLOTHS IN-USE FOR WIPING SURFACES IN CONTACT WITH RAW ANIMAL FOODS SHALL BE KEPT SEPARATE FROM CLOTHS USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES. IN-USE CLOTHS MUST BE LAUNDERED DAILIY.; UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: CLEAN DISHWARE STORED ON SHELVES HAVE NOT BEEN AIR DRIED PROPERLY AFTER SANITIZING. AFTER CLEANING AND SANITZING ALL EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS SHALL BE AIR DRIED BEFORE USE. CLOTH DRYING OF EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS IS NOT APPROVED.; UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: OBSERVED CLEAN UTENSILS SUCH AS FORKS AND KNIVES OUT ON AT CUSTOMER TABLES WHICH IS NOT PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION. UTENSILS MUST BE COVERED AND/OR WRAPED CLEAN UTENSILS SHALL BE HANDLED, DISPLAYED, AND DISPENSED SO THAT FOOD AND LIP CONTACT SURFACES ARE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION.; TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED - Comments: THE 2ND FLOOR RESTROOMS DO NOT HAVE A TIGHT-FITTING AND SELF-CLOSING DOOR. ALL TOILET ROOMS LOCATED WITHIN A FOOD ESTABLISHMENT MUST BE ENCLOSED WITH A TIGHT-FITTING AND SELF-CLOSING DOOR.; ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED - Comments: CURRENT CITY CERTIFIED MANAGER DOES NOT HAVE A FOOD ALLERGEN CERTIFICATION. ALL CITY/PENDING CITY CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN A VALID FOOD ALLERGEN CERTIFICATION..
The CDC identifies poor hand hygiene as a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks. Inadequate handwashing can transmit Norovirus, Hepatitis A, and other pathogens directly to food. Fecal-oral transmission of pathogens occurs when hands are not properly washed after restroom use.
This inspection data is sourced directly from Chicago Department of Public Health. For the most current information, please visit the official health department website.
Federal Guidelines: Our reporting follows standards established by the FDA Food Code, CDC Food Safety Guidelines, and USDA Food Safety Standards.
📖 Food Safety Codes: Reference the specific regulations that govern this establishment: Chicago Food Code, FDA Food Code 2022
⚠️ Important Note: Restaurant conditions can change rapidly. This inspection represents a snapshot in time and may not reflect current conditions. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking recent reviews or contacting the establishment directly.
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