Current Conditions

By Caroline Clough in Food on Oct 30, 2007 6:30PM

The Randolph Street Market District, home to Marché, Sushi Wabi and more, is one of the most popular and big-ticket dining areas in the city. But how do they fare under the withering gaze of the City Department of Public Health?

Sushi Wabi had troubles with violations 33 and 34. Violation #33 requires "all utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage, as well as all food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily," while 34 states "The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair." Our question (especially with regard to violation 34) is: if a large number of the restaurants we've listed for this feature have, so far, been non-compliant, is it the restaurants' doing a bad job or the requirements being too nit-picky? We're pretty sure that our kitchen and dining room floors wouldn't pass the test ... but we still eat there all the time.

Neighbor Dragonfly Mandarin was free and clear of any violations as of its April 2007 inspection. While Red Light had similar troubles with violation numbers 33 and 34. Vivo ran afoul of 33 and 34 as well. It was also given a citation for minor violation #38: All plumbing fixtures, such as toilets, sinks, washbasins, etc., must be adequately trapped, vented, and re-vented and properly connected to the sewer in accordance with the plumbing chapter of the Municipal Code of Chicago and the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health. So where was it going if not to the sewer?

Image via Giant Ginkgo on Flickr.