Tony's Finer Foods

Grocery

5233 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

North Side

Jul 23, 2025 — Canvass inspection

Fail

A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

Inspectors found approximately 40-50 rat droppings in storage areas and a fish cooler unable to maintain safe temperatures.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

Extensive rodent infestation detected with 40-50 rat droppings along baseboards and behind grocery items in rear storage; pest control service recommended.
Fish display cooler failed to maintain safe temperatures, ranging from 48.7°F to 55.8°F; cooler was tagged and taken out of service until repaired.
Ceviche salad and raw salmon held at unsafe temperatures (45.5°F-48.7°F); salmon was discarded and ceviche required quick chilling.
Multiple facility maintenance issues including dirty floors, spilled chemicals, missing floor tiles, moldy caulking, and water-damaged ceiling tiles throughout the store.

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 #38 — INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 40 TO 50 RAT DROPPINGS ALONG BASEBOARDS IN THE REAR LIQUOR STORAGE AREA AND BEHIND OTHER GROCERY ITEMS IN THE SAME REAR STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ALL DROPPINGS, SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS AND RECOMMEND HAVING PEST CONTROL CO. SERVICE AREA FOR RODENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED.

Violation code #55 — PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector's Notes:

FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE DELI PRE DRY STORAGE ROOM, REAR GROCERY STORAGE AREA, PRODUCE PREP AREA WITH DIRT AND DEBRIS.----FLOOR OF THE EQUIPMENT ROOM NEAR THE MEAT SECTION WITH SPILLED CHEMICAL. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.----MUST NOT USE PAPER AS LINER FOR DISPLAY CASE NEAR THE PRE-PACKAGED CHEESE DISPLAY COOLER.----MISSING FLOOR TILES AT THE ENTRANCE TO THE SEAFOOD WALK-IN FREEZER. MUST REPLACE.----BLACKENED, MOLDY WALL CAULKING AT THE MEAT 2 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST REPLACE.----WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILE ABOVE THE JUICING SECTION PREP TABLE. MUST REPLACE.