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IsTheKitchenClean displays publicly available food inspection data from the Chicago Department of Public Health. Trending rankings and summaries are automated interpretations of that data and are not official health department assessments. Inspection findings reflect conditions at a specific point in time and may not represent current conditions at a restaurant.

R J Grunts

Restaurant

2054-2056 N Lincoln Park West, Chicago, IL 60614

Lincoln Park

Oct 19, 2022 — Complaint inspection

Fail

Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

Ready-to-eat foods including tomatoes, guacamole, and eggs stored at dangerously warm temperatures in coolers.

Key Findings

  • Multiple temperature-sensitive foods stored improperly: sliced tomatoes at 51.8°F, guacamole at 61.4°F, fresh eggs at 61.5°F, and cooked ground beef at 59.9-62.7°F. About 70 pounds of food worth $250 was discarded.
  • Ice machine contaminated with black slime substance dripping into ice used for human consumption.
  • Handwashing sink in prep/dishroom only reaching 87.7-90.2°F instead of required minimum 100°F hot water.
  • Low-temperature dish machine dispensing excessive sanitizer at over 200 PPM, though technician resolved same day.

Key findings are derived directly from the inspector's notes from the Chicago Department of Public Health. See the full violation notes below.

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Violation code #22 — PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
Inspector's Notes:

TCS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE: SLICED TOMATOES AT TEMP OF 51.8F; GUACAMOLE AT TEMP OF 61.4F.CHOPPED LETTUCES AT TEMP OF 48.9F; BLUE CHEESE AT 46.4F; PICA DE GALLO AT TEMP OF 50F; DOZEN FRESH EGGS AT TEMP OF 61.5F; MENTIONED PRODUCTS WERE STORED INSIDE THE PREP COOLER. TWO CONTAINERS OF PICA DE GALLO AT TEMP OF 54.7F AND A CONTAINER OF FETA CHEESE IN WATER AT TEMP OD 48.7F WERE STORED INSIDE THE REACH-IN COOLER, AND COOKED GROUND BEEF AT TEMP OF 59.9F TO 62.7F WAS STORED INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER. FOOD DISCARDED AND DENATURED BY THE MANAGER.POUNDS 70, VALUE 250. PRIORITY VIOLATION:7-38-005,CITATION ISSUED

Violation code #10 — ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
Inspector's Notes:

WE FOUND A HOT WATER TEMPERATURE FROM 87.7F TO 90.2F AT THE HANDWASHING SINK IN THE PREP/DISHROOM. MUST PROVIDE HOT WATER WITH A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 100F AT THE WASHBOWL. ADEQUATE HOT WATER IS FOUND AT ALL OTHER SINKS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C),CITATION ISSUED

Viewing inspection from Oct 19, 2022 · Show current spotlight →

Inspection History

R J Grunts has had 9 inspections in the last 5 years with a 78% pass rate. Last inspection was on Aug 31, 2026.

Aug 31, 2026Pass

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

Aug 24, 2026Fail

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

6 violations
May 19, 2026Pass

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

7 violations
Jul 22, 2025Pass

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

2 violations
Sep 23, 2024Pass

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

7 violations
Nov 6, 2023Pass

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

3 violations
Oct 27, 2022Pass

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

2 violations
Oct 19, 2022FailVIEWING NOW

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

6 violations
Standout inspection
Jan 21, 2022Conditional

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

16 violations