2 more DeKalb County restaurants on health department watch list for violating indoor dining ban

Two restaurants on Friday were added to the watchlist of both the local and state health departments for not complying with the continued ban on indoor dining, according to the DeKalb County Health Department, bringing the total to 15.

Of that group, 12 also have received letters of noncompliance from the Illinois Department of Public Health for failing to suspend indoor dining services as required by Gov. JB Pritzker's COVID-19 Executive Order No. 52, according to the county health department's online resurgence mitigation tracker.

Added to the list as of Friday were Egg Haven, 2562 Sycamore Road, DeKalb, and Kirkland Family Restaurant, 507 W. Main St., Kirkland, which previously was taken off the list after formerly coming under compliance.

Egg Haven also received a letter from the IDPH on Dec. 3, according to the health department, although Kirkland Family Restaurant did not.

Added to the list Nov. 25 were Fatty’s Pub & Grille, 1312 W. Lincoln Highway, DeKalb, and Hobbnobbers, 2030 Baren Drive, Sycamore. DeRailed at 48 E. Railroad St. in Sandwich, along with Sidetrack Bar and Grill, 1 South Main St. in Sandwich, was added Nov. 13. DeRailed also received a letter from the IDPH on Dec. 8.

The remaining establishments have been on the list since October, when new mitigations first began in DeKalb County’s Restore Illinois health region known as Region 1, which also includes Winnebago County west to Whiteside County.

PJ’s Courthouse Tavern, 202 W. State St., Sycamore, was issued a second letter from the IDPH on Nov. 25, according to the list. It also was sent one Oct. 27. Rise and Shine Family Restaurant, 1640 DeKalb Ave., Sycamore, also received a noncompliance letter from the IDPH on Nov. 25, as did Rambo’s Bar & Grill, 140 W. Market St. in Somonauk, Country Kitchen at 105 W. Market St. in Somonauk, Sycamore Cafe at 1170 DeKalb Ave. in Sycamore, El Jimador at 260 E. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, Route 34 Pub and Grub at 1201 E. Church St. in Sandwich, Sam’s Family Restaurant at 11 W. North Ave. in Cortland and MVP’s at 124 S. California St. in Sycamore.

The eateries called out by the IDPH also were given a “reasonable opportunity” window of time in which to come under compliance or face further consequences, according to the tracker.

The next steps will include a reinspection from local health department officials to determine whether the establishments are complying. If they’re found to still be allowing patrons to dine inside, the establishment could be given an order for those dining inside to disperse.

If they’re still not in compliance after that fourth step, they could risk losing their food permit or being referred to the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office for an injunction.

To date, no local bar or restaurant has made it past the IDPH letter step for compliance.

The county health department on Oct. 23 began publishing a list of restaurants found to be defying the indoor dining ban.

In an interview with the Daily Chronicle, local health officials said the reason for publishing the list wasn't to be punitive but rather to address the large amount of public interest in the topic.

Businesses will be removed from the list if they’ve demonstrated compliance for 30 days, health officials have said.