Middle Eastern Bakery

Just wanted to let you all know -- I was by this wonderful place a few days ago and noticed that it's been closed down by the Health Department. I didn't get close enough to see anything in particular about the order but I sure hope they get their act together and get back open again. This place is a gem and I'd hate to see it disappear.

shannon

According to the city's health department website, their license was suspended after an inspection on August 21 (last Monday). The list included nine (!) "Minor violations," two "serious violations" and two "critical violations." The latter two were described as follows:

"Hand washing of all tableware and drinking utensils shall be accomplished by the use of warm water at a temperature of 110°F to 120°F containing an adequate amount of detergent effective to remove grease and solids."
"In food establishments, there shall be adequate sewage and waste water disposal facilities that comply with all the requirements of the plumbing section of the Municipal Code of Chicago."

I love this place and walk over frequently (we live about five blocks away) and would hate to see them disappear, but at the same time, thirteen violations, four of which qualify as serious, give cause for concern. Let's hope things are cleaned up quickly and they're open again soon!

For those who are interested, you can find the details at this link.

Thank you for providing the link, Gypsy Boy.

As a reminder, information about health code violations or closures that are posted on this site should accompany a link to a published account. Gypsy Boy provided that account

From Posting Guidelines:

Some types of posts have legal implications for you and the site. Please refrain from accusations of criminal activity, health code violations, or other wrongdoing. If your complaint is serious and provable, please take it to the proper authorities. Further, we find reports of restaurant and purveyor violations or closures, regardless of the circumstances, to be an area ripe for competitor abuse. We will remove these posts unless substantiated with a published source, e.g. a link to a quality published account.

Best,
Michael

It is sad that Hashim has been "busted" again.
A great place for all sorts of prepared, and imported foods (eg.-Pommegranate Juice from Iran).
In fact - he supplies The Whole Foods with many of their Middle Eastern items.
In the meantime- right across the street- Taste of Lebanon, serves up some of the THE tastiest Lentil Soup in town, a "perfect" Fattoush Salad, and a very nice "Chawarrma" (their spelling- not mine)(NOT on a "spit) Sandwich.

Hahaha! Perhaps they're hoping to expand on their Spanish-speaking clientele?

Anyhow, I have to join in on the positive marks for this place. It is an absolute gem that offers just about every type of Middle-Eastern-ish spread I could ever dream of trying, raisins of various types (and plumpy too!), all sorts of canned goods, spices, dates, nuts of every shape and size, and more, more, more! I should confess, however, that I have only been here once. Oh, and their baked goods are only OK, though the Kibbeh is quite good and even better with some tarator!

That said, I am rather surprised to find as few comments as there are on this thread...

Middle Eastern Bakery & Grocery, the popular Andersonville spot at Clark and Foster, will soon open a 40-seat fast-casual restaurant inside a portion of their existing space.

http://chicago.eater.com/2015/12/17/104 ... -expansion