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GALLERY CAFE

734 N MILWAUKEE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60642 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

GALLERY CAFE has been inspected 7 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since February 14, 2020. The most recent inspection, on December 16, 2025, recorded 2 infractions.

1 of 7 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination, Pests 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.

  • 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 3 separate inspections, most recently on December 16, 2025. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 December 13, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 on January 18, 2023. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 January 18, 2023. 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 once on June 22, 2022. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

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

    2 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • Pottery plants stored above food production area, instructed to remove.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • Food container stored under sewer lines in basement, instructed to enclose or move food containers.
  2. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED A CUSTOMER SEATED AT THE CAFE WITH THEIR DOG THAT WAS NOT A SERVICE ANIMAL. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ONLY SERVICE ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE OF THE PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-40-060. CITATION ISSUED.
  3. Complaint Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • 6-501.114 FOUND ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRY GOODS STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE.
  4. Complaint

    8 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGN IN RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 15. FOOD SEPARATED AND PROTECTED
      • FOUND MEAT PATTIES IN DEEP FREEZER IN OPEN BAG. INSTRUCTED TO COVER FOOD TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION, MAINTAIN.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • FOUND SUGAR IN BULK CONTAINER WITHOUT LABEL. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL FOOD WHEN STORED OUTSIDE ORIGINAL CONTAINER, MAINTAIN.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • FOUND APPROXIMATELY 20-25 LIVE SMALL FLIES FLYING AROUND THE FOOD PREP AREA AND ON WALLS/CABINETS IN THE PREP AREA. RECOMMEND CONTACTING PEST CONTROL TO SERVICE PREMISES BEFORE REINSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE SMALL FLIES AND CLEAN AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • FOUND STAFF HANDLING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT. COS DURING INSPECTION: HAT WAS PROVIDED.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND FOOD DEBRIS ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE DEEP FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRY GOODS STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • FOUND TWO EMPLOYEES MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.
  5. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED LIQUID SPLATTER INSIDE ICE MACHINE AND SLIME LIKE SUBSTANCE ABOVE PANEL WHERE WATER FLOWS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTIAN.
  6. License

    3 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-010
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED THE COFFEE BEAN ROASTER IN THE CUSTOMER AREA WITHOUT PROPER SEPARATION BARRIER. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY SEPARATE FROM CUSTOMER ACCESS AND MAINTAIN
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE FOR FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN
  7. License

    0 infractions

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