Skip to content
Loading map…

CAFE L'APPETITIO

251 E HURON ST, CHICAGO, IL 60611 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

CAFE L'APPETITIO has been inspected 10 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 13, 2017. The most recent inspection, on January 12, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

2 of 10 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Food source, labelling and allergens and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 20, 2023. For example: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • Food source, labelling and allergensHigher risk

    Food must come from approved suppliers, stay in labelled containers and be thrown out when it is spoiled or damaged, such as dented or swollen cans. Labelling matters for allergies: an unlabelled container can hide an allergen.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 26, 2024. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 November 7, 2019. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 December 18, 2024. For example: FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

  • 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 September 11, 2018. For example: FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED

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.

10 inspections

  1. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED ONE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE HAS EXPIRED. INSTRUCTED MUST UPDATE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAININING CERTIFICATE.
  2. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • OBSERVED THE ICE BIN INTERIOR IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • Bulk food containers not labeled ( salt...) instructed to label and maintain.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • Found employees personal food mixed with customers food in storage cooler, instructed to separate.
  4. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED 5 LBS OF GORGONZOLA POTATO SALAD @49.5F IN SANDWICH PREP AREA DISPLAY COOLER, 2.5 LBS OF SLICED DELI MEAT IN COLD HOLD UNIT @ 45.0F, AND 5 LBS OF PREPARED TUNA LOCATED INSIDE 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR LOCATED IN REAR PREP @52.0F. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL COLD TCS FOODS SHOULD BE HELD @ 41F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES.MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED SAID FOOD ITEMS VOLUNTARILY DURING TIME OF INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION. #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED NO PROPERLY WORKING THERMOMETER FOR HOT HOLD UNIT INSIDE FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP UNDERNEATH HEAVY EQUIPMENT IN BAKERY AND SANDWICH PREP AREAS.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED 2 FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING CERTIFICATIONS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR NEW EMPLOYEES.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED 1 OF 2 ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE FOR REVIEW. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS CERTIFICATE HOLDERS.
  5. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • Ice scoop stored on top of ice cubes at coffee station, instructed to keep off ice in a clean holder.
  6. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE IN THE COFFEE/PASTRY PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE.
  7. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  8. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT REAR HAND WASH SINK LOCATED NEAR ENTRANCE TO COFFEE AND BAKERY SECTION. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AND MAINTAIN.
    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS AT THE FOLLOWING IMPROPER TEMPERATURES: EGGS BETWEEN 47.1-48.2F, TURKEY SAUSAGE AT 53.1F, AND MILK AT 50.1F. MANAGEMENT VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED APPROXIMATELY 20 LBS OF PRODUCTS VALUED AT APPROXIMATELY $30. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS AT OR BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • OBSERVED A 2 DOOR REFRIGERATOR IN REAR PREP AREA CONTAINING TCS FOODS SUCH AS EGGS, TURKEY SAUSAGE, AND MILK MAINTAINING AN IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 52.9F. ALL ITEMS WERE REMOVED FROM REFRIGERATOR. REFRIGERATOR WAS TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED COOLER CANNOT BE USED UNTIL REPAIRED AND INSPECTED BY CDPH AND MAINTAINING AN AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
  9. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • 2-102.14 (A) (A)- OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO COMPLY AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012(A). NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • 2-501.11- FOUND NO PROCEDURES ON SITE FOR THE CLEAN UP OF VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 15. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
    • 21. PROPER HOT HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • 3-501.16 (A) (1) (A)- OBSERVED TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE IN HOT HOLDING DISPLAY CASE: 98.6F, 1.5LBS OF EGG, SAUSAGE AND CHEESE CROISSANT, AT A VALUE OF $18.00 117.7F, 1LB OF PESTO AND EGG CROISSANT, AT A VALUE OF $6.50 112 7F, 2LBS OF VEGETABLE AND EGG CROISSANT, AT A VALUE OF $17.00 107.6F, .50LB OF SCRAMBLE EGGS, AT A VALUE OF $5.00 106.0F, 3LB OF EGG, SAUSAGE AND CHEESE BRIOCHE, AT A VALUE $18.00 108.7F, 1LBS OF SAUSAGE, CHEESE AND EGG BAGELS, AT A VALUE $11.00 117.7F, 2.5LBS OF EGG, CHEESE AND HAM BAGELS, AT A VALUE OF $16.50 MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED A TOTAL WEIGHT OF 11.5LBS, AT A VALUE OF $92.00 INFORMED MANAGER THAT TIME AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS MUST BE 41F OR LESS FOR COLD FOODS AND 135F OR MORE FOR HOT FOODS. PRIORITY VIOLATION # 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • 3-601.11 (A) (B 1-3, 4-7) (A)- OBSERVED NO LABELS ON PRE PORTIONED SALADS, ITALIAN SALAD. DOLCE CHICKEN SALAD, ETC. IN DELI COOLER., BEING PREPARED, FOR SALE TO PUBLIC, WITHOUT PROPER LABELS OR DATES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE PROPER LABELS, WITH COMMON NAME, LISTED INGREDIENTS, MANUFACTURE, ALLERGENS, EXPIRATION DATES, ETC, MUST PROVIDE ON LABEL. MAINTAIN AT ALL TIME.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.11- OBSERVED BROKEN SLIDING DOOR, HELD TOGETHER WITH CLEAR DUCT TAP, ON HOT HOLDING CASE AT DELI STATION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • 8-304.11 (A)- OBSERVED PREVIOUS INSPECTION SUMMARY, 9/13/18 NOT POSTED IN PLAIN VIEW OF CUSTOMER AT TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND POST SUMMARY IN PLAIN VIEW OF CUSTOMER. MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  10. License

    0 infractions

Nearby inspected facilities

Own this business? Add a badge to your website