CHICAGO, IL - Health inspectors documented violations at ELLA ELLI during a routine inspection conducted on 04/17/2023.
Located at 1347-1353 W CORNELIA AVE in the Lakeview area, the establishment serves the local community. The Lakeview neighborhood maintains numerous food service establishments that undergo regular health monitoring.
The inspection identified 5 distinct violations requiring correction. Health inspectors document such issues to ensure establishments take corrective action promptly.
The first violation involved storage procedures. Inspectors documented: Required Records Available: Shellstock Tags, Parasite Destruction - Comments: No Shell Fish Tag Was Provided for 3lb of Fresh Mussels Stored in Ice Inside the Walk-in Cooler. We Observed Missing Mussels From Said Bag. Shellfish Tag Must Be Maintain with Product and Must Date When the Last Mussel Is Consumed on the Said Tag.instructed All Shellfish Tags Must Be Retained for a Minimum of 90 Days. Discarded and Denatured Mussels.pound 3, Value 18. Priority Foundation Violation 7-38-005, Citation Issued.. Improper storage can lead to cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods.
The second violation related to sanitization. Inspectors documented: Food & Non-food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used - Comments: Ice Build-up at Condenser Unit Inside the Walk-in Freezer in Basement, Instructed to Repair.. FDA sanitation guidelines require regular cleaning and sanitizing of all food contact surfaces to prevent cross-contamination and bacterial growth. For more information, see FDA sanitation standards. Inadequate sanitization allows bacteria to survive and multiply on food contact surfaces.
The third violation involved pest management. Inspectors documented: Food & Non-food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used - Comments: Must Not Use Milk Crates As a Means of Elevation for Stored Items.. The FDA Food Code requires establishments to eliminate conditions that attract and harbor pests, including proper waste management and facility maintenance. For more information, see FDA pest control standards. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas.
The fourth violation involved food safety requirements. Inspectors documented: Plumbing Installed. Non-compliance with safety standards may create conditions that compromise food safety.
The fifth violation related to food safety requirements. Inspectors documented: Proper Backflow Devices - Comments: No Back Flow Prevention Device Provided at Espresso Coffee Machine Water Line,at Bar Area. Must Inst. Health code violations require correction to maintain safe operating conditions.
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: SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS AND BOXES STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA AND BEHIND A DOOR IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES OFF THE FLOOR.; ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: OBSERVED TWO LIGHT BULBS NOT FUNCTIONAL IN EXHAUST HOOD ABOVE MAIN COOKING AREA AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE LIGHT BULBS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.; NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: THE FOLLOWING NOT CLEAN- OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA COOLERS CONDENSERS, OBSERVED FOOD BUILD UP INSIDE BAR GUN HOLDERS, FOOD BUILD UP ON LOWER SIDE 1ST FLOOR DISHMACHINE DRAINBOARD SHELVES AND FOOD BUILD UP INSIDE 1ST FLOOR PREP ARE REACH IN COOLERS. MUST CLEAN EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN.; TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED - Comments: NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE IN EMPLOYEES WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS/FOOD SPILLS ON BAR FLOOR UNDER AND AROUND EQUIPMENT. MUST DETAIL CLEAN BAR FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.; NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: THE FOLLOWING NOT CLEAN- OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA COOLERS CONDENSERS, OBSERVED FOOD BUILD UP INSIDE BAR GUN HOLDERS, FOOD BUILD UP ON LOWER SIDE 1ST FLOOR DISHMACHINE DRAINBOARD SHELVES AND FOOD BUILD UP INSIDE 1ST FLOOR PREP ARE REACH IN COOLERS. MUST CLEAN EQUIPMENT AND MAINTAIN.; TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED - Comments: NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE IN EMPLOYEES WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS/FOOD SPILLS ON BAR FLOOR UNDER AND AROUND EQUIPMENT. MUST DETAIL CLEAN BAR FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.; REQUIRED RECORDS AVAILABLE: SHELLSTOCK TAGS, PARASITE DESTRUCTION - Comments: NO SHELL FISH TAG WAS PROVIDED FOR 3LB OF FRESH MUSSELS STORED IN ICE INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER. WE OBSERVED MISSING MUSSELS FROM SAID BAG. SHELLFISH TAG MUST BE MAINTAIN WITH PRODUCT AND MUST DATE WHEN THE LAST MUSSEL IS CONSUMED ON THE SAID TAG.INSTRUCTED ALL SHELLFISH TAGS MUST BE RETAINED FOR A MINIMUM OF 90 DAYS. DISCARDED AND DENATURED MUSSELS.POUND 3, VALUE 18. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED.; FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: ICE BUILD-UP AT CONDENSER UNIT INSIDE THE WALK-IN FREEZER IN BASEMENT, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.; FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.; PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: NO BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE PROVIDED AT ESPRESSO COFFEE MACHINE WATER LINE,AT BAR AREA. MUST INSTALL SO BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAIN, OR TO KNOW THE LOCATION IF A MAIN BACKFLOW PRTEVENTION DEVICE IS INSTALLED ON SITE.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: WATER ON FLOOR UNDER THE ICE BIN AND HANDWASHING SINK AT BAR AREA,REPAIR ISSUE.KEEP FLOOR DRY.
Improper storage can lead to cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods. Inadequate sanitization allows bacteria to survive and multiply on food contact surfaces. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas.
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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