⚠️ Recent Failed Inspections ⚠️

POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS LLC

7601 S CICERO AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60652

Type: Restaurant

Risk Level: Risk 1 (High)

🍽️ Cuisine: Deli

📍 Neighborhood: West Elsdon

License #: 1543377

23
Total Inspections
15
Passed
2
Failed
6
Conditional
PASS
Last Result

Inspection History

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Oct 15, 2025 Inspection

October 15, 2025• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED THE LOWER WALL WHERE THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER SITS IS RUBBING CAUSING PAINT TO FADE. ISTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A MORE SOLID COVE...(+2 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 7, 2025 Inspection

February 7, 2025• Canvass• 7 violations

Violation: 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: PIC WITHOUT CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER CERTIFICATE. INST TO OBTAIN CERTIFICATION AND MAINTAIN(+6 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 28, 2024 Inspection

February 28, 2024• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING - Comments: MISSING A VERIFIABLE EMPLOYEE ACKNOWLEDGED HEALTH POLICY. INSTD TO PROVE A VERIFIABLE EMPLO...(+3 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 3, 2023 Inspection

February 3, 2023• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED THE FRONT DOOR WITH A 1/4" GAP AT THE BOTTOM BETWEEN THE DOORS. MUST REPAIR TO PREVENT PESTS ENTRY POINT.(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jan 26, 2022 Inspection

January 26, 2022• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: ICE CREAM SCOOPS AND MULTI USE UTENSILS STORED IN STANDING COLD WATER IN DIPPERWELL AT PREP LINE. INSTD TO STORE PROPERLY (I.E. In running water of suf...(+1 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

May 6, 2021 Inspection

May 6, 2021• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: CUTTING BOARDS IN NEED REPLACING WHERE WORN AND DISCOLORED. CORRECT AND MAINTAIN(+3 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

May 13, 2020 Inspection

May 13, 2020• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: OBSERVED NO (PIC) WITH VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE ON SITE WHEN TCS FOOD(SANDWICHES, SOUP) PREPARED AND SERVE...(+3 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Nov 21, 2019 Inspection

November 21, 2019• Complaint• 6 violations

Violation: 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON...(+5 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Mar 5, 2019 Inspection

March 5, 2019• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS - Comments: OBSERVED NO PROCEDURE FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEA EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLY, ALONG WITH THE NECESSARY CLEAN-UP ...(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jan 29, 2018 Inspection

January 29, 2018• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: OBSERVED THE FRONT DIPPERWELL NOT MAINTAINED, MISSING MIDDLE OVERFLOW TUBE, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE MISSI...(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

May 25, 2017 Inspection

May 25, 2017• Canvass Re-Inspection• 5 violations

Violation: 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: CHEST FREEZER WITH EXCESSIVE ICE BUILD UP. INSTD TO REMOVE ICE AND MAINTAIN(+4 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

May 18, 2017 Inspection

May 18, 2017• Canvass• 6 violations

Violation: 24. DISH WASHING FACILITIES: PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, MAINTAINED, INSTALLED, LOCATED AND OPERATED - Comments: 3-COMPARTMENT SINK NOT MAINTAINED, UNABLE TO DRAIN PROPERLY WITHOUT RELEASING WATER...(+5 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Nov 29, 2016 Inspection

November 29, 2016• Complaint Re-Inspection• 1 violation

Violation: 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED - Comments: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED FOOD DEBRIS ON THE FLOOR UNDER THE COOLERS AND PREP TABLES IN...

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Nov 16, 2016 Inspection

November 16, 2016• Complaint• 2 violations

Violation: 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS - Comments: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 15-20 LIVE FRUIT FLIES ON ...(+1 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 22, 2016 Inspection

February 22, 2016• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 19. OUTSIDE GARBAGE WASTE GREASE AND STORAGE AREA; CLEAN, RODENT PROOF, ALL CONTAINERS COVERED - Comments: OBSERVED THE OUTSIDE DUMPSTER NOT MAINTAINED WITH GARBAGE ON TOP OF THE LIDS AND LIDS NOT CLO...(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Aug 25, 2015 Inspection

August 25, 2015• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: OBSERVED THE CONVEYOR OVEN NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.ALSO CLEAN THE FRONT MEAT COOLER. AND CLEAN FR...(+1 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Oct 8, 2014 Inspection

October 8, 2014• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: THE HOT WATER KNOB ON THE WASHBOWL IN THE LADIES TOILET ROOM IS IN POOR REPAIR-CRACKED. INSTRUCTED TO F...(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jan 6, 2014 Inspection

January 6, 2014• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: FOUND PAPER TOWEL HOLDER UNABLE TO CLOSE IN REAR PREP AREA. MUST FIX AND MAINTAIN.(+3 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 7, 2013 Inspection

February 7, 2013• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: NEED TO CLEAN UNDER COUNTER TABLE STORAGE AREA.(+1 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jun 25, 2012 Inspection

June 25, 2012• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: All utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized after each usage.NEED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE THE R...(+1 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 1, 2012 Inspection

February 1, 2012• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cl...(+3 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Mar 1, 2011 Inspection

March 1, 2011• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cl...(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

May 18, 2010 Inspection

May 18, 2010• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS - Comments: INTERIOR OF CABINETS UNDER BEVERAGE STATION NOT CLEAN. CLEAN SAME.(+2 more)

Health Department Contact

Department: Chicago Department of Public Health

Division: Food Protection Program

Report Issues: Call 311 or File Online

More Information: Chicago Food Protection

Data sourced from Chicago Open Data Portal - Chicago Department of Public Health inspections