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LITEHOUSE ON 53RD ST

1368 E 53RD ST, CHICAGO, IL 60615 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

LITEHOUSE ON 53RD ST has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 24, 2023. The most recent inspection, on August 26, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

3 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Protecting food from contamination.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on May 30, 2025. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 May 30, 2025. For example: ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

  • 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 May 30, 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 once on November 26, 2024. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 once on April 26, 2024. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

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

    1 infraction

    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MISSING AND DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN THE STAIRWAY TO LOWER-LEVEL PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  2. Canvass

    9 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND WASHING SINK IN FRONT WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS USED BY EMPLOYEES.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE DRAINING PASTA INSIDE UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DISCARD AND PROPERLY DRAIN PASTA IN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. UTILITY SINK IS FOR WASTEWATER DISPOSAL ONLY.
    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NOT INVERTED IN PREP AREA AND STORED ON FLOOR IN STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT AND ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES IN LOWERLEVEL PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON VENITLATION FAN INSIDE STAFF WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED NO VALID FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. ALL EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE VALID FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED 20 RAT DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR LOWER LEVEL UNDERNEATH A STORAGE RACK NEAR THE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE, DETAIL CLEAN AFFECTED AREA AND CALL PEST CONTROL FOR SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION CITATION ISSUED #7-38-020(A).
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED MILK CRATES USED FOR ELEVATION OF STOCK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE PALLETS AND/OR SHELVING FOR PROPER CLEANING AND PEST MONITORING UNDERNEATH.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN SHELVING UNDERNEATH THE GRILLS TO REMOVE DEBRIS AND/OR GREASE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS NEED CLEANING IN THE REAR PREP AREA ALONG THE WALL AND IN CORNERS, ESPECIALLY WHERE DROPPINGS WERE FOUND.
  5. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN WORKING THERMOMETERS INSIDE COOLERS.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED THE REAR 2 DOOR COOLER IN POOR REPAIR: RUBBER GASKET AT THE BOTTOM IS COMMING OFF. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINERS FOR SHELVING IN THE REAR. MUST REMOVE, MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT COOLERS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND/OR DEBRIS. ALSO CLEAN SHELVING UNDERNEATH THE COOKING EQUIPMENT.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FLOORS AND WALLS IN THE REAR PREP/DISH WASHING AREA NEED CLEANING TO REMOVE FOOD SPLATTER AND/OR BLACK SUBSTANCE(ABOVE 3 COMP SINK).
  6. License

    4 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED NO SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT THE WASHROOM DOOR IN THE DINING AREA; INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT DOOR.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  7. Complaint

    0 infractions

  8. License

    0 infractions

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