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CAFE ROM

180 N STETSON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60601 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

CAFE ROM has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 22, 2015. The most recent inspection, on February 19, 2021, found no infractions.

2 of 8 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, Food source, labelling and allergens and Cleaning and sanitizing.

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.

  • 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 on March 30, 2017. For example: FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE

  • 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 once on June 22, 2018. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

  • 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 March 30, 2017. For example: DISH WASHING FACILITIES: PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, MAINTAINED, INSTALLED, LOCATED AND OPERATED

  • 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 once on March 30, 2017. For example: APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN

  • 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 7 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on June 22, 2018. For example: CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES

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.

8 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Short Form Complaint

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • PACKAGED FOOD ON THE GRAB AND GO COOLER NOT LABELED PROPERLY, INSTRUCTED TO LABEL PER HEAATH CODE
    • 31. CLEAN MULTI-USE UTENSILS AND SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES PROPERLY STORED: NO REUSE OF SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES
      • PLASTIC FORKS AND SPOONS NOT COVERED DURING STORAGE, CUTTING BOARD STORED ON FLOOR, INSTRUCTED TO KEEP PROTECTED COVERED AND OFF FLOOR.
  4. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • OBSERVED LEAK UNDER THE MIDDLE COMPARTMENT OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN THE REAR. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • OBSERVED ONE FEMALE EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT AND MAINTAIN.
  5. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • OBSERVED ONE MALE EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT AND MAINTAIN.
  6. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE
      • OBSERVED A REFRIGERATION UNIT AT AN AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF 63.8F, DURING INSPECTION POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS (CHOPPED GREENS, EGGS) WERE INSIDE OF SAID REFRIGERATION UNIT. INSTRUCTED TO KEEP ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS AT 40F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. UNIT TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005(A).
    • 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE
      • OBSERVED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES; 2 LBS OF PASTA WITH CHICKEN AND CHEESE AT 60.8F, 4 LBS OF SPINACH WITH EGG SALAD AT 54F AND 1 LB OF EGG BASED BREAKFAST MUFFINS AT 55F. MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED SAID ITEMS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS AT 40F OR BELOW AT ALL TIMES. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005(A).
    • 24. DISH WASHING FACILITIES: PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED, MAINTAINED, INSTALLED, LOCATED AND OPERATED
      • OBSERVED 3 COMPARTMENT SINK NOT MAINTAINED. OBSERVED 3 COMPARTMENT SINK NOT PROPERLY DRAINING, OBSERVED WATER DRAINING FROM THE LEFT COMPARTMENT INTO THE MIDDLE COMPARTMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-030.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER'S WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • OBSERVED ONE MALE EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT AND MAINTAIN.
  7. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • Cooler shelving/racks that had peeling paint/rust, shall be repaired/replaced. Caulk around 3 compartment sink in state of disrepair, shall be repaired/replaced.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • Cooler shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices), non food contact surfaces of ice machine not clean, need detailed cleaning, front counter shelving of 2nd prep area not clean, need detailed cleaning(crevices).
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • Floors under heavy equipment, storage shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners). Floors under 3 compartment sink, rear storage shelving not clean, need detailed cleaning(corners)Floors in rear kitchen area by exposed hand sin, prep area needs re-grouting.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • Ceiling in rear kitchen area had peeling paint(bubbling0, shall be repaired/sealed.
  8. License

    2 infractions

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • NOTED SLIGHT DISCOLORATION INSIDE INNER LINING OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • NOTED A LEAKING FAUCET AT THE REAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

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