Complaint Re-Inspection
Oct 15, 2026
Pass
0 recorded violations
No violations recorded in this inspection.
Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Oct 15, 2026 · Original Source
Restaurant · Chicago, IL
Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna
531 N Wells St
Last inspected Oct 15, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗
Pass
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ImprovingThe latest inspection recorded fewer violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.
Quick Answers
- When was Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna last inspected?
- The most recent inspection on record was on Oct 15, 2026. The result listed by Chicago Department of Public Health was “Pass”.
- Were any violations recorded at the last inspection?
- No. No violations were recorded at the most recent inspection.
- How many inspections are on record?
- 6 inspections on record, from Feb 27, 2025 to Oct 15, 2026.
- Has Zarella Pizzeria & Taverna ever been closed by the health department?
- No closure appears in the 6 inspection records we hold for this business. The earliest is dated Feb 27, 2025.
The Full Inspection History
6 inspectionsCanvass
Apr 28, 2026
Pass
4 recorded violations
notedCode 10Handwashing
Official Wording
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AT EXPOSED HANDWASHING SINK IN 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
In Plain English
Staff were not washing their hands when required, or a handwashing sink was blocked, missing soap or paper towels, or used for something else. Hands are one of the most common ways germs reach food.
More about handwashing problemsnotedCode 47Cleaning and sanitizing
Official Wording
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED TORN GASKET ON INTERIOR OF 4 DOOR COOLER LOCATED IN BASEMENT DOUGH PREP ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
In Plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsnotedCode 54Facility maintenance
Official Wording
GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED SOME DEBRIS ON GROUND IN ALLEY NEAR DUMPSTERS. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
In Plain English
Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.
More about building upkeep issuesnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official Wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED SMALL AMOUNT OF OIL ON EQUIPMENT UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
In Plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Apr 28, 2026 · Original Source
Non-Inspection
Apr 20, 2026
No Entry
0 recorded violations
No violations recorded in this inspection.
Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Apr 20, 2026 · Original Source
Canvass Re-Inspection
Mar 21, 2025
Pass
3 recorded violations
notedCode 38Pests
Official Wording
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
Inspector’s Notes
6-202.15: OBSERVED OPENING AT BASE OF PATIO SERVICE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.
In Plain English
The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.
More about signs of rodents or insectsnotedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage
Official Wording
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
Inspector’s Notes
4-301.16: OBSERVED NO PREP/DUMP SINK IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A PREP/DUMP SINK IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA A MINIMUM OF ONE SINK USED FOR FOOD PREPARATION, OBTAINING WATER AND DISCARDING LIQUID WASTE IS REQUIRED IN ANY PREPARATION AREA.
In Plain English
The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.
More about water, plumbing, or sewage problemsnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official Wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s Notes
6-501.11: OBSERVED MISSING GROUT BETWEEN LOWER WALL TILES NEAR COUNTER AND REFRIGERATOR AND OPENINGS BETWEEN LOWER TILES ON WALL NEXT TO FRYER IN FIRST FLOOR PREP. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR LOWER TILES IN WALL IN SAID AREAS OF FIRST FLOOR PREP AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED MISSING GROUT IN BETWEEN TILES ON FLOOR IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REGROUT FLOOR TILES IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA. OBSERVED HOLES IN CEILING AROUND PIPES IN CEILING NEAR CEILING VENT IN LEFT REAR OF BASEMENT PREP AREA. OBSERVED HOLES IN LEFT WALL NEXT TO TWO UPRIGHT FREEZERS IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR HOLES IN SAID AREA FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
In Plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 21, 2025 · Original Source
License
Mar 5, 2025
Pass w/ Conditions
4 recorded violations
notedCode 33Food temperature
Official Wording
PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED WALK-IN COOLER NEAR DISHWASHING AREA AT AN IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 46.2F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON WALK-IN COOLER. PRIORITY VIOLATION
In Plain English
Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.
More about food kept at an unsafe temperaturenotedCode 38Pests
Official Wording
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED OPENING AT BASE OF PATIO SERVICE DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRANCE.
In Plain English
The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.
More about signs of rodents or insectsnotedCode 51Water, plumbing, and sewage
Official Wording
PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED NO PREP/DUMP SINK IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A PREP/DUMP SINK IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA A MINIMUM OF ONE SINK USED FOR FOOD PREPARATION, OBTAINING WATER AND DISCARDING LIQUID WASTE IS REQUIRED IN ANY PREPARATION AREA.
In Plain English
The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.
More about water, plumbing, or sewage problemsnotedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing
Official Wording
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
Inspector’s Notes
OBSERVED MISSING GROUT BETWEEN LOWER WALL TILES NEAR COUNTER AND REFRIGERATOR AND OPENINGS BETWEEN LOWER TILES ON WALL NEXT TO FRYER IN FIRST FLOOR PREP. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR LOWER TILES IN WALL IN SAID AREAS OF FIRST FLOOR PREP AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED MISSING GROUT IN BETWEEN TILES ON FLOOR IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REGROUT FLOOR TILES IN FIRST FLOOR PREP AREA. OBSERVED HOLES IN CEILING AROUND PIPES IN CEILING NEAR CEILING VENT IN LEFT REAR OF BASEMENT PREP AREA. OBSERVED HOLES IN LEFT WALL NEXT TO TWO UPRIGHT FREEZERS IN BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR HOLES IN SAID AREA FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
In Plain English
Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.
More about cleaning or sanitizing problemsOfficial record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 5, 2025 · Original Source
License
Feb 27, 2025
Not Ready
0 recorded violations
No violations recorded in this inspection.
Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 27, 2025 · Original Source