Skip to content
Loading map…

CAFE DESCARTES MIDWAY JV, LLC

5757 S CICERO AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60638 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

CAFE DESCARTES MIDWAY JV, LLC has been inspected 11 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 24, 2021. The most recent inspection, on December 15, 2025, found no infractions.

4 of 11 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Food temperature control and Protecting food from contamination.

The last 2 inspections in a row found no infractions. Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on December 10, 2024. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on July 27, 2023. 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 July 27, 2023. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk

    Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.

    Recorded once on June 24, 2021. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • 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 8 times across 6 separate inspections, most recently on December 10, 2024. For example: ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

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.

11 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTD TO WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS AND MAINTAIN. MALE FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT BEARD RESTRAINT. INSTD TO WEAR BEARD RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN
  4. Canvass

    0 infractions

  5. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.
  6. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE OR VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED. A CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO THERMOMETERS INSIDE PREP COOLERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE THERMOMETERS IN ALL COOLERS.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED INSIDE CABINET UNDER FRONT HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL FOOD ITEMS TO PROTECT FROM POTENTIAL LEAKAGE.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE CUPS STORED ON FLOOR IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
  7. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • PEELING PAINT ON CEILING IN REAR NEAR OVEN. INSTD TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
  8. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • PIC IN CHARGE WITHOUT VALID CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE. INSTD TO HAVE ORIGINAL ON SITE AT ALL TIMES AND MAINTAIN ON SITE
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY NOR VALID CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE POSTED WHILE HANDLING TCS FOODS (MILK, EGGS, ETC). INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ORIGINAL CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. CITATION ISSUED PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • CLEAN KNIFE STORED IN ALUMINUM FOIL COVERING. INSTD TO STORE PROPERLY.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • NO VENTILATION ABOVE TURBO OVEN. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION AND MAINTAIN
  9. Canvass

    0 infractions

  10. License Re-Inspection

    2 infractions

    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • 4-301.14: NO VENTILATION ABOVE TURBO OVEN. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION AND MAINTAIN
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • 2-102.13: MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGERS. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION
  11. License

    5 infractions

    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • 3 REFRIGERATION UNITS NOT ON. INSTD TO HAVE ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS ON AND ABLE TO MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • 3-COMPARTMENT SINK ON SITE NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR COMPLETE SUBMERSION OF LARGE MULTI USE EQUIPMENT (COFFEE URNS). INSTD TO PROVIDE LARGER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK THAT ALLOWS COMPLETE SUBMERSION OF LARGEST PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IN BASINS TO PROPERLY WASH, RINSE AND SANITIZE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKLOW DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO LOCATE AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO BACKFLOW DEVICE FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • NO VENTILATION ABOVE TURBO OVEN. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION AND MAINTAIN
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGERS. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website