Whispers At Oak Street Beach failed a health inspection

Whispers At Oak Street Beach

Restaurant

1001 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611

River North

Jul 3, 2024 — Canvass inspection

Fail

A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

Dish machine failed to sanitize food-contact surfaces, and ready-to-eat tomatoes sat unrefrigerated at unsafe temperatures.

Key Findings

Low-temperature dish machine had zero sanitizer (chlorine) instead of required minimum 50 PPM, allowing bacteria to survive on dishes and utensils.
Diced tomatoes stored at 60-62°F instead of required 41°F because staff didn't turn on the cold-holding unit; 2 pounds were discarded.
Hand-washing sinks lacked adequate hot water (toilet rooms at 79°F, bar sinks at 63°F instead of required 100°F minimum).
No written employee health policy on file, and no proof of food handler training records for staff.

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 #16 — FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

Inspector's Notes:

NOTED TWO LOW TEMPERATURE DISH WASHING MACHINE IN USE NOT PROPERLY SANITIZING. SANITIZING STRENGTH OF SANITIZER (CHLORINE) AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION WAS 0 PPM. EQUIPMENT MUST PROPERLY SANITIZE AT A MINIMUM OF 50 PPM. ECOLAB ON SITE DISHWASHERS NOW READING 50PPM. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.

Violation code #22 — PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (DICED TOMATO) AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMP. DICED TOMATOES TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 60F - 62FF LOCATED HOT DOG STAND. COLD HOLDING UNIT IS WORKING PROPERLY UNIT WAS NOT TURNED ON BY STAFF. MANAGEMENT DISCARDED AND DENATURED TCS FOOD 2# DICED TOMATO AT VALUE OF 4.50. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO ENSURE UNIT IS TURNED ON AND MAINTAINS A COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 41F AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION.7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

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Inspection History

Whispers At Oak Street Beach has had 10 inspections in the last 5 years with a 40% pass rate. Last inspection was on Jul 31, 2026.

Jul 31, 2026Pass