Restaurant inspections / Restaurant
Whale Tale
2211 N Clybourn Ave, Chicago 60614 · Risk 1 (High) · Recorded out of business at a past inspection
Pass
Most recent result
Mar 13, 2025
23
Inspections on record
11
Times passed
3
Times failed
Violations cited on Mar 13, 2025
- #47FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED UNIFINISHED WOOD USED TO PROP UP SHELF IN THE 1 DOOR SMALL REACH IN FREEZER NEXT TO THE FRYERS IN 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL/REPLACE WITH A SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE, AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL.
- #51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED LEAK FROM DRAIN OF HAND SINK LOCATED AT FRONT OF UPSTAIRS PREP AREA, LEAKING INTO BASEMENT CEILING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE LEAKING HAND AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR.
- #51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED NO SINK SOLELY USED FOR FOOD PREPARATION, OBTAINING WATER, AND DISCARDING LIQUID IN THE 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. TWO (2) HAND SINKS ARE PRESENT; NO 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IS PRESENT. MANAGEMENT REMOVED EXISTING 3 COMPARTMENT SINK WITHOUT PRIOR CDPH CONSULTATION DURING REMODEL. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AT MINIMUM ONE SINK SUPPLIED WITH HOT AND COLD WATER UNDER CITY PRESSURE SOLELY USED FOR FOOD PREPARATION, OBTAINING WATER, AND DISCARDING LIQUID IN THE 1ST FLOOR PREPARATION AREA.
- #53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED - Comments: OBSERVED BOTH BATHROOMS (2) TO NOT HAVE SELF CLOSING DOORS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER THAT BOTH BATHROOMS MUST HAVE A SELF CLOSING DOOR.
- #55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED THE WALL BUILT AROUND THE BATHROOMS NEXT TO THE FRONT PREP AREA IN 1ST FLOOR TO BE UNFINISHED AND ROUGH. RECENTLY CONSTRUCTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE IN PREP AREAS.
- #55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED WALL IN BASEMENT NEAR THE REAR EQUIPMENT/PARTS STORAGE AREA NEAR UTILITY SINK TO BE EXPOSED AND OPEN WITH STUDS EXPOSED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENCLOSE THE WALL AND ENSURE ALL STUDS AND JOISTS ARE NOT EXPOSED IN AREAS SUBJECT TO MOISTURE.
- #55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED MISSING BASEBOARD ALONG FLOOR JUNCTIONS IN BASEMENT PREP AREA IN REAR NEAR THE EQUIPMENT/PARTS STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE COVING/REPLACE MISSING BASEBOARD AT ALL FLOOR AND WALL JUNCTURES.
- #56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: OBSERVED 2 MISSING FILTERS ABOVE THE PIZZA OVEN IN THE 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA, CREATING LARGE GAPS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE AND ENSURE EXHAUST SYSTEM IS IN ADEQUATE REPAIR.
- #57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING - Comments: OBSERVED MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES FOR FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. ONLY MANAGER CERTIFICATE PROVIDED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO MAINTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ANY FOOD HANDLER EMPLOYEES.
Inspection history
| Date | Type | Result | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 13, 2025 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Feb 25, 2025 | Non-Inspection | No Entry | Risk 1 (High) |
| Mar 8, 2024 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Feb 28, 2024 | Non-Inspection | No Entry | Risk 1 (High) |
| Apr 29, 2022 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Aug 14, 2020 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jan 14, 2019 | Canvass | Pass w/ Conditions | Risk 1 (High) |
| Aug 2, 2017 | Short Form Complaint | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jun 30, 2017 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jun 27, 2017 | Canvass | No Entry | Risk 1 (High) |
| Apr 14, 2017 | Canvass | No Entry | Risk 1 (High) |
| Aug 12, 2016 | Canvass Re-Inspection | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Aug 5, 2016 | Canvass | Fail | Risk 1 (High) |
| Mar 29, 2016 | Canvass | Out of Business | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jul 17, 2015 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Jun 20, 2014 | Canvass | Pass w/ Conditions | Risk 1 (High) |
| May 27, 2014 | Canvass | No Entry | Risk 1 (High) |
| Apr 16, 2014 | Canvass | No Entry | Risk 1 (High) |
| Aug 15, 2013 | Canvass Re-Inspection | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Aug 6, 2013 | Canvass | Fail | Risk 1 (High) |
| Oct 5, 2011 | Canvass Re-Inspection | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
| Sep 28, 2011 | Canvass | Fail | Risk 1 (High) |
| Mar 8, 2010 | Canvass | Pass | Risk 1 (High) |
Source
- Food Inspectionsupdated weeklyofficial portal ↗
Inspection records are published by the Chicago Department of Public Health. A failed inspection does not necessarily mean an establishment closed — most are re-inspected after correcting violations.
Other inspected places in 60614
Whale Tale — questions
- Did Whale Tale pass its last health inspection?
- Whale Tale at 2211 N Clybourn Ave was inspected on Mar 13, 2025 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass". Across 23 inspections on record it has failed 3 times.
- What violations were cited at Whale Tale?
- The most recent inspection cited 9 violations, beginning with: FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED UNIFINISHED WOOD USED TO PROP UP SHELF IN THE 1 DOOR SMALL REACH IN FREEZER NEXT TO THE FRYERS IN 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER
- What does "Risk 1 (High)" mean?
- Chicago assigns every food establishment a risk category based on how much food handling it does. Risk 1 (High) covers full-service restaurants and is inspected most often; Risk 2 (Medium) and Risk 3 (Low) — such as places serving only pre-packaged food — are inspected less frequently.
- Where does this inspection data come from?
- The City of Chicago publishes every food-establishment inspection it performs, including the result and the full text of any violations cited. This page reads that dataset directly and updates as the city posts new inspections.
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