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CHEF RAFAEL & SON'S

3816 W MONTROSE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60618 · Restaurant (Catering)

Inspection summary

CHEF RAFAEL & SON'S has been inspected 13 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 23, 2016. The most recent inspection, on May 16, 2025, recorded 10 infractions.

7 of 13 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 source, labelling and allergens, Pests and Cleaning and sanitizing.

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 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 May 16, 2025. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • PestsHigher risk

    Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.

    Recorded once on May 16, 2025. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 May 16, 2025. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 July 2, 2019. For example: PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 16, 2025. For example: PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

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.

13 inspections

  1. Canvass

    10 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • PERSON IN CHARGE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE POSTED NOR PROVIDED ON SITE FOR PRESENT MANAGER ON DUTY AT STARBUCKS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION: 7-38-012, CITATION ISSUED.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • MUST LABEL DRY FOOD CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME:RICE,SUGAR ETC.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • MESH AT SCREEN SIDE DOOR BROKEN,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE TO MINIMIZE PEST/INSECT ENTRY
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • MUST NOT USE TAPE AS PADDING FOR THE CORNER OF THE METAL SPLASHGUARD AT HANDWSHING SINK IN REAR PREP AREA.REMOVE TAPE OR PROVIDE A NEW SPLAHGUARD.SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • ACCUMULATED GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON WALLS, UTILITY CONNECTIONS AND EQUIPMENT SURFACES BEHIND COOKING LINE. ALSO INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF FLAT GRILL.MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • REPAIR LEAKING PIPE UNDER THE HANDWASH SINK INSIDE THE CABINET AT FRONT SERVING AREA.REPLACE HOT WATER HANDLE AT FAUCET OF HANDWSHING SINK IN THE KITCHEN
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • GREASE ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT IN PREP AREA.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON SITE,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS
  2. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • NOTED FOIL PAPER USED TO LINE SHELVES. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD BOXES TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • NOTED STAINED CEILING TILES AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA AND DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. ALSO NOTED DIRTY AND DUSTY VENTILATION UNITS ON CEILING AT THE DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
  4. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  5. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  6. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ATTACHED TO MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED FAUCET IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM LOOSE AND HOT WATER HANDLE VERY HARD TO TURN. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED 2 NOT WORKING REFRIGERATORS IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED ONE EMPLOYEE WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2300624 DATED 7/2/2019: #58 "NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERITIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES." INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND COME INTO COMPLIANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. NO CITATION ISSUED.
  8. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  9. Non-Inspection

    0 infractions

  10. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEANING PROCEDURE ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE A VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEANING PROCEDURE WITH ALL NECESSARY ITEMS AS OUTLINED IN POLICY ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • 3-COMPARTMENT SINK MISSING STOPPERS (X2). INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WORKING STOPPERS FOR SAID SINK.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERITIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES.
  11. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • OBSERVED 2 PREP AREA CEILING LIGHT COVERS NOT TIGHT FITTED ALSO OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA LIGHT COVERS. MUST REATTACH/MAKE TIGHT FITTED ALL PREP AREA CEILING LIGHT COVERS AND CLEAN CEILING LIGHT COVERS.
  12. Canvass

    0 infractions

  13. License

    2 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST REMOVE ALUMINUM FOIL FROM THE BOTTOM LOWER LEVEL SHELVING RACK UNDER THE COOKING UNIT. ALL SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE AT ALL TIMES.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • MUST CLEAN AND REMOVE DUST ACCUMULATION AT THE VENT COVER IN THE CUSTOMER DINING AREA CLOSEST TO THE REAR KITCHEN. MUST SEAL SMALL OPENING A WALL COVERING ACROSS FROM STOVE TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.

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