The Bad Apple
4300-4304 N LINCOLN AVE, Chicago, IL 60618 · Cook County
Establishment
- Type
- Restaurant (retail food serving meals) (Restaurant)
- Inspected by
- Chicago Department of Public Health
- License / ID
- 2646916
- Status
- Risk 1 (High)
- Official record
- Chicago Department of Public Health inspection reports
Year by year
| Year | Inspections | Violations | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2 | 7 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 | 5 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
Inspections
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Oct 16, 2025 Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
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Severity not stated
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
OBSERVED HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE, BUT FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HANDWASHING SINK HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.
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Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO BE SOILED: CEILING TILES ABOVE MAIN COOK LINE (ADJACENT TO VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM) SOILED WITH GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS, FLOOR AND WALLS BENEATH AND BEHIND EQUIPMENT ALONG THE MAIN COOK LINE HEAVILY SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS, WALLS, CEILINGS, AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE, DUST, DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, OR OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
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Severity not stated
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Oct 2, 2025 Canvass · Fail — Risk 1 (High)
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Serious
Priority
PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
OBSERVED GRILL DRAWER COOLER AT THE MAIN COOK LINE AT IMPROPER INTERIOR TEMPERATURE FOR COLD-HOLDING TCS FOOD ITEMS, 55.0F INTERNAL AMBIENT AT TIME OF INSPECTION. ALL TCS FOOD STORED INSIDE NOT YET AT IMPROPER COLD-HOLDING TEMPERATURES, RELOCATED TO FUNCTIONAL COOLER AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE COOLER TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE FOR MAINTAINING TCS FOOD ITEMS AT 41.0F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. TAGGED EQUIPMENT WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTACT CDPH ONCE EQUIPMENT IS REPAIRED OR REPLACED AND PRIOR TO USE. PRIORITY VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
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Severity not stated
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 50 TO 60 DEAD COCKROACHES ON PEST CONTROL GLUE TRAPS THROUGHOUT THE FLOOR OF ALL BASEMENT AREAS, NO LIVE PEST ACTIVITY OBSERVED AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD AND REPLACE GLUE TRAPS WITH PEST CONTROL OPERATOR AND REMOVE DEAD OR TRAPPED INSECTS AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT ACCUMULATION OR DECOMPOSITION AND MAINTAIN.
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Severity not stated
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
OBSERVED HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK TO BE EXTREMELY LOOSE, BUT FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HANDWASHING SINK HANDLES AT THE BAR AREA HANDWASHING SINK AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PHYSICAL FACILITIES TO BE SOILED: CEILING TILES ABOVE MAIN COOK LINE (ADJACENT TO VENTILATION HOOD SYSTEM) SOILED WITH GREASE AND DUST DEBRIS, FLOOR AND WALLS BENEATH AND BEHIND EQUIPMENT ALONG THE MAIN COOK LINE HEAVILY SOILED WITH GREASE AND DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS, WALLS, CEILINGS, AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF GREASE, DUST, DRIED FOOD DEBRIS, OR OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.
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Not serious
Priority Foundation
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING CORE VIOLATION(S) FROM PREVIOUS CANVASS INSPECTION (INSPECTION NO. 2604140) ON 10/4/2025 NOT CORRECTED AT TIME OF CURRENT CANVASS INSPECTION: #47 4-501.11 OBSERVED TORN GASKETS ON INTERIOR OF DRAWER COOLER LOCATED UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT ALL CORE VIOLATIONS BY THE CORRECT-BY DATE ON INSPECTION REPORT AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.
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Serious
Priority
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Oct 4, 2024 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
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Severity not stated
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED IN FIRST FLOOR KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
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Severity not stated
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
OBSERVED BULK INGREDIENTS SUCH AS FLOUR, SUGAR, ETC NOT LABELED IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL WITH THE COMMON NAME.
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Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED TORN GASKETS ON INTERIOR OF DRAWER COOLER LOCATED UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
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Severity not stated
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE CONNECTED TO MOP SINK LOCATED IN BASEMENT UTILITY CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.
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Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED BASEMENT PREP AREA DOES NOT HAVE SMOOTH, CLEANABLE FLOORS, WALLS, AND CEILINGS. INSTRUCTED TO EITHER REMOVE SLICER, POTATO CUTTER, MIXER, ETC FROM BASEMENT OR PROVIDE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE FLOORS, WALLS, AND CEILINGS.
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Severity not stated
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Nov 16, 2023 Complaint · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
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Severity not stated
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
OBSERVED EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE CURRENT ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
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Severity not stated
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Oct 20, 2022 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
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Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED RUSTS ON THE WIRE STORAGE RACKS IN THE BASEMENT WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUSTS AND REPAINT OR REPLACE THE SHELVES.
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Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE KITCHEN 2 DOOR PREP LINE COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.
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Severity not stated
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN WASHROOM NOT WORKING LOCATED IN GAMEROOM AREA.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN ADEQUATE VENTILATION AT ALL TIMES.
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Severity not stated
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED MISSING LIGHT SHIELD ON LIGHT FIXTURE DIRECTLY ABOVE THE KITCHEN PREP COOKING AREA.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
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Severity not stated
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN KITCHEN EXHAUST HOOD/FILTERS TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF GREASE BUILD-UP AND MAINTAIN.
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Severity not stated
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
FOOD HANDLER (S) WITH NO PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
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Severity not stated
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May 6, 2021 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
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Severity not stated
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT THE HAND SINK IN THE KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
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Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE WALK-IN COOLER & WALK-IN FREEZER AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
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Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED MISSING AND DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN THE KITCHEN NEAR THE PREP TABLE AND IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
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Severity not stated
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Aug 8, 2019 Short Form Complaint · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
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Not serious
Priority Foundation
CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ORGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE ON PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS (BEEF, CHICKEN, ETC.) ARE PREPARED. INSTRUCTED MUST HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ORGINAL FOOD MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON PREMISES WHILE TCS FOODS ARE PREPARED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012.
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Not serious
Priority Foundation
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Jun 13, 2019 Complaint · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
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Severity not stated
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DUST BUILD UP ON CONDENSER OF BURGERS REACH IN COOLER BELOW COOKLINE. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN COOLERS CONDENSERS.
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Severity not stated
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
BAR HANDWASH BOWL FAUCET SLIGHTLY LEAKING. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
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Severity not stated
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Mar 7, 2019 License · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
Result: Pass.
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health. History last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is the inspector's wording. “Serious” is the source's own top tier. About this data.