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DREAM CAFE & GRILLE

748 W 61ST ST, CHICAGO, IL 60621 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

DREAM CAFE & GRILLE has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since September 15, 2014. The most recent inspection, on September 23, 2016, found no infractions.

3 of 7 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, Pests and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

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 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 24, 2016. For example: POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on August 7, 2015. For example: NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

  • 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 August 7, 2015. For example: HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS.

  • 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 15, 2014. For example: FOOD PROTECTED DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY, SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION

  • 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 11 times across 4 separate inspections, most recently on March 24, 2016. For example: FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS

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.

7 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE
      • OBSERVED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS (26LBS OF CHILI IN A PAN IN 2-DR COOLER AT 53.5-55.7F DEGREES, AND 5LBS OF COOKED CHICKEN IN HOT HOLDING UNIT WITH INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 92.5F DEGREES)AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES. MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DENATURED AND DISCARDED. APPROX. WT. 31LBS AND VALUE $70.00. INSTRUCTED THAT POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS MEET REQUIRED TEMPERATURES. CRITICAL VIOLATION 7-38-005(A) ISSUED.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • DETAIL CLEAN/SANITIZE EXTERIOR OF ALL HEAVY COOKING EQUIPMENT, FOOD CONTACT SURFACES, PREPARATION TABLES, EXTERIOR/INTERIOR BOTTOM OF ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS THROUGHOUT.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • REMOVE CLUTTER AT REAR ORGANIZE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    7 infractions

    • 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE
      • PREP COOLER IN USE IN POOR REPAIR, INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF 70.1F. UNIT TAGGED AT THIS TIME AND INSTD NOT TO USE UNTIL REPAIRED, ABLE TO MAINTAIN PRODUCT TEMPERATURE OF 40F AND REINSPECTED BY CDPH. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005A CRITICAL.
    • 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE
      • OBSERVED CONTAINER OF CUT LEAFY GREENS AT 62.1F, SLICED TOMATOES AT 55.5F AND CONTAINER OF CHEESE AT 54.1F STORED IN PREP COOLER. ALL PRODUCT DISPOSED AND DENATURED AT THIS TIME. APPROX 5LBS $20 VALUE. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005A CRITICAL.
    • 6. HANDS WASHED AND CLEANED, GOOD HYGIENIC PRACTICES; NO BARE HAND CONTACT WITH READY-TO-EAT FOODS.
      • POOR HYGENIC PRACTICES OBSERVED BY FOOD HANDLER. OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER USING RAW FISH, TILAPIA WITH GLOVES AND THEN IMMEDIATELY PROCEEDING TO PREPARE SALAD DRESSING, OPENING COOLERS, WIPING PREP TABLE, WITHOUT WASHING HANDS OR CHANGING GLOVES. INSTD ON PROPER HANDWASHING WHEN CHANGING TASKS, HANDLING RAW FOOD, ETC. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-010A CRITICAL.
    • 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS
      • REAR DOOR NOT RODENT PROOF, APPROX 1/2 INCH AT BOTTOM OF DOUBLE DOORS. INSTD TO RODENT PROOF DOOR SO AS TO BE TIGHT FITTING. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020 SERIOUS.
    • 29. PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATION(S) CORRECTED 7-42-090
      • PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATIONS FROM 1/26/15 REPORT 1522322 NOT CORRECTED: 45 IDPH'S FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIME FOR REVIEW. 32 NOTED DARK GROVES INTO THE CUTTING BOARD. MUST REPLACE OR REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. 33 MUST CLEAN THE COUNTER TOP, EXTERIOR OF COOKNG EQUIPMENT AND INSIDE COOLERS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND DEBRIS. 34 FLOORS NEED CLEANING IN PREP AREA TO REMOVE SPILLS AND DEBRIS. 35 MUST CLEAN THE FILTERS AND HOOD ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE GREASE. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-090 SERIOUS.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • SHELF LINING ON STORAGE SHELVES. INSDT TO REMOVE SAME SO AS SURFACES TO BE SMOOTH, EVEN, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • MISSING BACKFLOW DEVICE AT UTILITY SINK. PROVIDE SAME.
  5. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • NOTED DARK GROVES INTO THE CUTTING BOARD. MUST REPLACE OR REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • MUST CLEAN THE COUNTER TOP, EXTERIOR OF COOKNG EQUIPMENT AND INSIDE COOLERS TO REMOVE SPILS AND DEBRIS.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • FLOORS NEED CLEANING IN PREP AREA TO REMOVE SPILLS AND DEBRIS.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • MUST CLEAN THE FILTERS AND HOOD ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE GREASE.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • IDPH'S FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIME FOR REVIEW.
  6. License Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  7. License

    8 infractions

    • 16. FOOD PROTECTED DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY, SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION
      • THE LARGE STANDING ICE MACHINE IS RUSTY. MUST REMOVE THE RUST AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE IT.
    • 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS
      • FRONT DOORS NOT TIGHT FITTING OR RODENT PROOFED. HAS A 1/4 GAP BETWEEN THEM AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DOOR. THE BACK DOUBLE DOORS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE THEM. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-020
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • PROVIDE THE DRAIN STOPPERS FOR THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • SOME OF THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IS RUSTY. MUST REMOVE THE RUST AND CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL THE COOKING EQUIPMENT OR REPLACE THEMN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • CLEAN THE FLOORS THROUGHOUT PREMISES. MUST REPLACE THE MISSING COVING BASEBOARDS TOO.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • SEAL ALL HOLES IN THE WALLS THROUGHOUT PREMISES SO NO INSECT OR RODENT HARBORAGE.
    • 37. TOILET ROOM DOORS SELF CLOSING: DRESSING ROOMS WITH LOCKERS PROVIDED: COMPLETE SEPARATION FROM LIVING/SLEEPING QUARTERS
      • TOILET ROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING. MUST PROVIED A SPRING OR OTHER DOOR CLOSER.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • FOUND TWO DOUBLE DOOR COOLER,TWO DOOR FREEZER, TWO DRAWERS COOLERS ALL NOT WORKING AND ARE CLUTTER. MUST REMOVE THEM OR REPAIR THEM SO NO INSECT OR RODENT HARBORAGE

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