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CARAVANSERAI COFFEE BAR

2901 W BELMONT AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60618 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

CARAVANSERAI COFFEE BAR has been inspected 6 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since December 23, 2019. The most recent inspection, on August 19, 2025, recorded 4 infractions.

None of the 6 inspections on record were free of infractions. No inspections are on record from the past 12 months. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Chemicals and toxic substances and Food source, labelling and allergens.

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.

  • 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 4 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on August 19, 2025. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 19, 2025. For example: TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED

  • 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 August 19, 2025. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 11, 2025. For example: WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

  • 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 24, 2019. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

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.

6 inspections

  1. Complaint Re-Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 28. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE PERSONAL CARE ITEMS STORED ON SHELF ABOVE SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES (NAPKINS, INDIVIDUALLY-WRAPPED PLASTICWARE). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE DESIGNATED AREA FOR THE STORAGE OF EMPLOYEE PERSONAL CARE ITEMS THAT DOES NOT POSE RISK OF CONTAMINATION OF FOOD, CLEAN EQUIPMENT, OR UTENSILS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED BULK DRY FOOD CONTAINERS IN THE FRONT COFFEE BAR AREA NOT LABELED WITH THE COMMON NAME OF THE FOOD STORED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL BULK DRY FOOD CONTAINERS WITH THE COMMON NAME OF THE FOOD STORED AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED DRY TEA BAGS STORED IN ORIGINAL BOX DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR OF THE SMALL STORAGE CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE TEA BAGS AND STORE ALL FOOD AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR IN ORIGINAL CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • OBSERVED WATER HEATER CONDENSATE WATER COLLECTION DISH NOT PROPERLY ROUTED DIRECTLY TO FLOOR DRAIN IN THE REAR BOILER ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO ROUTE ALL WASTE WATER DIRECTLY TO POINT OF DISCHARGE INTO PLUMBING SYSTEM AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Complaint

    5 infractions

    • 28. TOXIC SUBSTANCES PROPERLY IDENTIFIED, STORED, & USED
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE PERSONAL CARE ITEMS STORED ON SHELF ABOVE SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES (NAPKINS, INDIVIDUALLY-WRAPPED PLASTICWARE). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE DESIGNATED AREA FOR THE STORAGE OF EMPLOYEE PERSONAL CARE ITEMS THAT DOES NOT POSE RISK OF CONTAMINATION OF FOOD, CLEAN EQUIPMENT, OR UTENSILS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED BULK DRY FOOD CONTAINERS IN THE FRONT COFFEE BAR AREA NOT LABELED WITH THE COMMON NAME OF THE FOOD STORED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL BULK DRY FOOD CONTAINERS WITH THE COMMON NAME OF THE FOOD STORED AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED DRY TEA BAGS STORED IN ORIGINAL BOX DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR OF THE SMALL STORAGE CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE TEA BAGS AND STORE ALL FOOD AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE FLOOR IN ORIGINAL CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 48. WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS
      • OBSERVED NO CHLORINE CHEMICAL SANITIZER CONCENTRATION TEST KIT PROVIDED ON-SITE FOR USE WITH THE LOW-TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE CHEMICAL SANITIZER CONCENTRATION TEST KIT FOR ALL CHEMICAL SANITIZERS USED IN FOOD OPERATIONS ON-SITE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 52. SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED
      • OBSERVED WATER HEATER CONDENSATE WATER COLLECTION DISH NOT PROPERLY ROUTED DIRECTLY TO FLOOR DRAIN IN THE REAR BOILER ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO ROUTE ALL WASTE WATER DIRECTLY TO POINT OF DISCHARGE INTO PLUMBING SYSTEM AND MAINTAIN.
  3. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED MULTIPLE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO RENEW EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES TO COMPLY WITH IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS.
  4. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE WITH MINIMAL CALCIUM BUILD-UP.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • INSTRUCTED TO RODENT PROOF BOTTOM OF BASEMENT DOOR LEADING TO ANOTHER BUSINESS.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE FOOD ITEMS 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING. NO MILK CRATES.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • INSTRUCTED TO DEFROST REACH-IN FREEZER WITH HEAVY ICE ACCUMULATION IN PREP AREA.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN BASEMENT STORAGE AREA.
  5. License Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND NO DISINFECTANT RATED FOR NOROVIRUS INSIDE VOMIT SPILL KIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.
  6. License

    2 infractions

    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • FOUND NO DISINFECTANT RATED FOR NOROVIRUS INSIDE VOMIT SPILL KIT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • FOUND NO FOOD GUARDS FOR BAR/3COMPARTMENT SINK AREAS.PRIORITY VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-005. MUST PROVIDE.

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