BOTANICAL CAFE LLC
3740 N LINCOLN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60613 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
BOTANICAL CAFE LLC has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 12, 2019. The most recent inspection, on May 14, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.
1 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.
The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.
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.
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded once on September 27, 2024. For example:
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
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 12, 2019. For example:
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
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 5 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 14, 2025. For example:
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
Equipment and utensilsLower risk
Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 14, 2025. For example:
UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
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 once on September 27, 2024. For example:
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
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.
4 inspections
- Complaint
2 infractions
- 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
- OBSERVED BAG OF CLEAN LINENS STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR BENEATH COUNTER IN THE FRONT SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE LINEN BAG AND STORE CLEAN LINENS ON A CLEAN SURFACE AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.
- 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
- OBSERVED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN THE FACILITY RESTROOM IN POOR REPAIR AND NON-FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN FUNCTIONAL MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN TOILET ROOMS TO REMOVE OBJECTIONABLE ODORS AND FUMES.
- 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
- Canvass
4 infractions
- 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
- OBSERVED NO THERMOMETER OR TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE FOR INTERIOR OF SOUTHERN MOST TWO DOOR REACH IN COOLER IN FRONT PREPARATION AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A THERMOMETER OR TEMPERATURE MEASURING DEVICE IN ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS.
- 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
- OBSERVED BOXES OF FOOD SERVICE ITEMS AND FOOD SERVICE ITEMS STORED ON FLOOR UNDER SHELVES IN REAR STORAGE/DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6 INCHES FROM FLOOR.
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
- OBSERVED BOTH GASKETS OF NORTHERN MOST TWO (2) DOOR REACH IN COOLER AT FRONT PREPARATION AREA TO BE TORN AND DAMAGED, ALLOWING FOR BUILD UP OF FOOD DEBRIS AND MOISTURE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN GASKETS IN GOOD REPAIR.
- 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
- OBSERVED MISSING FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WORKING AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO OBTAIN PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WORKING IN FACILITY.
- 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
- Canvass
0 infractions
- License
5 infractions
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- OBSERVED NO SPLASH GUARD AT HAND SINK IN PREP AREA WHERE COFFEE IS BEING SERVED. ALSO, SPLASH GUARDS MUST BE INSTALLED BETWEEN MOP SINK AND DRAIN BOARD AND BETWEEN HAND SINK AND DRAIN BOARD IN REAR. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- OBSERVED NO VISIBLE BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON MOP SINK FAUCET. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
- 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
- OBSERVED BATHROOM DOOR WITHOUT SELF-CLOSING DEVICE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.
- 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
- OBSERVED TWO HOLES IN CEILING TILES IN DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
- 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
- OBSERVED LIGHT BULBS IN PREP AREA WITHOUT PROTECTIVE SHIELDING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
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