CHICAGO, IL - City health officials cited Uncle Mike'S Place for health violations during an inspection on 08/06/2025.
Situated at 1700 W Grand Avenue Chicago Illinois in West Town, the restaurant serves a diverse clientele in one of Chicago's bustling districts.
Health department documentation states: "Observed poor hygienic practices by food handler observed male food handler coming into kitchen and started cooking eggs,handling plates and female dish washer handling dirty dishes and them removing clean dishes from dish machine without washing ..." Such infractions require correction to meet regulatory standards.
Inspectors documented deficiencies involving hand washing, an essential component of restaurant operations.
Industry experts consistently emphasize the critical importance of proper hand washing protocols. The CDC Hand Hygiene Guidelines clearly states that The CDC emphasizes that inadequate hand washing contributes to approximately 89% of foodborne illness outbreaks.
Inspectors documented deficiencies involving pest control, an essential component of restaurant operations.
Pest control violations represent some of the most significant infractions in food service inspections According to FDA Pest Control Guidelines, The FDA Food Code mandates that food storage areas remain free from pest contamination at all times. This regulatory framework ensures that food service establishments meet rigorous safety standards.
Inspectors documented deficiencies involving sanitation, an essential component of restaurant operations.
Sanitation violations encompass a broad spectrum of cleanliness and maintenance issues that affect food safety Data compiled by food safety institutions reveals that Proper sanitation practices prevent cross-contamination and maintain the integrity of food preparation environments. Per Food Safety Modernization Act, such standards maintain that dining facilities comply with comprehensive protection measures.
The examination revealed violations related to temperature control, which need to be addressed for proper compliance.
Food safety professionals regularly stress the essential nature of adequate temperature control procedures. As outlined in FDA Temperature Safety Guidelines, The FDA requires continuous temperature monitoring for all potentially hazardous foods in commercial kitchens. These federal guidelines guarantee that restaurants adhere to strict health requirements.
These types of violations require attention to maintain compliance standards for the establishment and its customers. Health officials note that addressing such conditions helps maintain public confidence in food service establishments.
Health department officials will conduct a comprehensive re-inspection to ensure that all violations have been properly addressed. The establishment must demonstrate full compliance before the matter can be considered resolved.
This inspection emphasizes the fundamental necessity of strict regulatory adherence in dining establishments. Area customers have the right to access compliance documentation when selecting food service establishments.
| Inspection ID | 2621783 |
| DBA Name | UNCLE MIKE'S PLACE |
| AKA Name | UNCLE MIKE'S PLACE |
| License # | 39365 |
| Facility Type | Restaurant |
| Risk | Risk 1 (High) |
| Address | 1700 W GRAND AVE |
| City | CHICAGO |
| State | IL |
| Zip | 60622 |
| Inspection Date | 08/06/2025 |
| Inspection Type | Canvass |
| Results | Fail |
| Violations | 8. HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED - Comments: OBSERVED POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES BY FOOD HANDLER OBSERVED MALE FOOD HANDLER COMING INTO KITCHEN AND STARTED COOKING EGGS |
| HANDLING PLATES AND FEMALE DISH WASHER HANDLING DIRTY DISHES AND THEM REMOVING CLEAN DISHES FROM DISH MACHINE WITHOUT WASHING HANDS.MUST WASH HANDS AFTER EVERY POSSIBLE CONTAMINATION.(PRIROITY 7-38-010)(COS)(CITATION ISSUED) | 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments | OBSERVED IMPROPER TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS SUCH AS 9LBS. COOKED SAUSAGES-49.6F-83.7F .10LBS. COOKED B.B.Q. PORK-55.4F. INSIDE OF REACH IN & PREP COOLERS. THE PRODUCT WAS DISCARDED BY THE MANAGER. MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING FOODS AT 41.0�F OR BELOW. APPX.19LBS.$63.(PRIORITY 7-38-005)(COS)(CITATION ISSUED) | 25. CONSUMER ADVISORY PROVIDED FOR RAW/UNDERCOOKED FOOD - Comments: OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY REMINDER ON MENU ASTERISKING FOOD ITEMS. MANAGER STATES THE FOOD ITEMS THAT ARE CONSUMED RAW OR UNDERCOOKED. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. (PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-39-005) | 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL - Comments: OBSERVED IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF 1-DOOR GLASS REACHING 46.9�F WITH TCS FOODS STORED INSIDE.A HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON THE UNIT.MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING UNIT AT 41.0F OR BELOW. ONCE REPAIRED |
| FOOD@CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG.(PRIORITY 7-38-005)(COS)(CITATION ISSUED)AIR TEMPERATURE IS NOW 40.0F. MAY RESUME USAGE. | 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ORIGINAL PACKAGE. | 38. INSECTS | |
| & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments | OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF APPX. 30 OR MORE LIVE SMALL FLIES FLYING AROUND IN PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS AND ON WALLS. RECOMMENDED TO HAVE A PEST CONTROL OPERATOR TO SERVICE PREMISES ON OR AFTER 8/6/25.(PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A)(CITATION ISSUED) | 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: OBSERVED CUPS STORED INSIDE OF BULK FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS MUST REMOVE AND STORE PROPERLY. | 44. UTENSILS |
| EQUIPMENT & LINENS | PROPERLY STORED |
| & HANDLED - Comments | MUST INVERT MULTI-USE UTENSILS ON DISH STORAGE SHELVES. | 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: MUST DEFROST ICE BUILD UP FROM SOME CHEST FREEZERS WHERE LIDS ARE AJAR FOR LIDS TO CLOSE TIGHTLY. | 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED |
| MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments | MUST CLEAN GREASE |
| ALONG WALL BASES OF ALL EQUIPMENT. | 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING - Comments | OBSERVED EXPIRED AND MISSING FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. |
| Latitude | 41.891052857018785 |
| Longitude | -87.66962353874338 |
| Location | (41.891052857018785 |
This inspection was conducted on August 6, 2025.
Chicago Department of Public Health
The following violations were found: hand-washing, pest-control, sanitation, temperature-control.
Health code violations can increase the risk of foodborne illness. Common concerns include improper food temperatures (which can allow bacteria growth), inadequate handwashing facilities (which can spread germs), pest activity (which can contaminate food), and cross-contamination risks. These violations are monitored by health departments to ensure public safety and prevent foodborne illness outbreaks.
All inspection data for this report is sourced directly from the Chicago Department of Public Health . View the original data source .
Food safety standards referenced in this report are based on:
Important Note: This article is based on official inspection reports at the time of inspection. Current conditions may differ. Always check the most recent inspection results before dining. Establishments have the opportunity to correct violations and request re-inspection.
