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BITTERSWEET

2019 S LAFLIN ST, CHICAGOO, IL 60608 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

BITTERSWEET has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since July 31, 2023. The most recent inspection, on November 26, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.

2 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 9 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Pests and Protecting food from contamination.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

What these findings mean

Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.

  • Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk

    Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 19, 2024. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded once on November 19, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded once on December 5, 2023. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • Food safety training and certificationLower risk

    Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.

    Recorded 7 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 26, 2025. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on November 26, 2025. For example: PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

About this data

These results come from Chicago Department of Public Health, which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS STILL IN NEED OF CLEANING TO REMOVE DIRT, COFFEE BEANS AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • MALE FOOD HANDLER WITH NO FOOD HANDLER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATE.
  2. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • THE PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT A VALID/ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL PERSONS IN CHARGE MUST OBTAIN A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED UNDER VIOLATION #2.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE NOR A VALID/ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATE POSTED WHILE TCS FOODS (EGG, MILK) ARE BEING PREPARED HANDLED AND SERVED TO THE PUBLIC. INSTRUCTED A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND A VALID/ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES THE FACILITY IS OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • FOUND 40 RODENT DROPPINGS AROUND THE LOW TEMP. DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DROPPINGS, CLEAN/SANITIZE THE AFFECTED AREAS AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR ASSISTANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS AROUND THE LOW TEMP. DISH MACHINE WITH DROPPINGS, DIRT AND BROKEN GLASS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • MALE FOOD HANDLER WITH NO FOOD HANDLER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATE.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS FROM REPORT #2607640 DATED 11/19/2024 NOT CORRECTED AND/OR MAINTAINED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND MAINTAIN: -#40. OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINTS SUCH AS A HAIR NET OR CAP. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. -#58. OBSERVED NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT FOR ALL FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • THE NON-COMPLIANCE SUMMARY REPORT FROM 11/19/2024 WAS NOT POSTED IN PLAIN VIEWING OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT'S CUSTOMERS. INSTRUCTED TO POST AND MAINTAIN SUMMARY POSTED IN PLAIN VIEWING OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT'S CUSTOMERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-010(B) CITATION ISSUED.
  3. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • 2-101.11 OBSERVED THE PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT A VALID/ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED ALL PERSONS IN CHARGE MUST OBTAIN A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED UNDER VIOLATION #2.
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • 2-101.11 OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE NOR A VALID/ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATE POSTED WHILE TCS FOODS (EGG, MILK) ARE BEING PREPARED HANDLED AND SERVED TO THE PUBLIC. INSTRUCTED A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND A VALID/ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES THE FACILITY IS OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • 2-402.11 OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT ADEQUATE HAIR RESTRAINTS SUCH AS A HAIR NET OR CAP. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-205.15 OBSERVED THE PIPE UNDER THE HAND WASHING SINK IN POOR REPAIR WITH A LEAK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • 2-102.13 OBSERVED NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT FOR ALL FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS.
  4. License Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND SAMPLE VOMIT AND DIARRHEA PROCEDURE ON SITE. OBSERVED NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEANING MATERIALS TO CLEAN UP SAID INCIDENT ON SITE. FACILITY MUST PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND CLEANING MATERIALS (GLOVES, MASK, DISPOSABLE MOP, DISINFECTANT RATED FOR NOROVIRUS) FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW AND USE WHEN RESPONDING TO VOMITING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005.
  5. License

    2 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND SAMPLE VOMIT AND DIARRHEA PROCEDURE ON SITE. OBSERVED NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEANING MATERIALS TO CLEAN UP SAID INCIDENT ON SITE. FACILITY MUST PROVIDE PROCEDURES AND CLEANING MATERIALS (GLOVES, MASK, DISPOSABLE MOP, DISINFECTANT RATED FOR NOROVIRUS) FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW AND USE WHEN RESPONDING TO VOMITING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • FOUND FOOD PREP BAR PREP AREA WHERE TOASTER OVEN IS LOCATED WITHOUT SNEEZE GUARD. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE BARRIER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION FROM CONSUMERS. PRIORITY VIOLATION.
  6. License

    0 infractions

  7. License

    0 infractions

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