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LITTLE BRANCH CAFE

1251 S PRAIRIE AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60605 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

LITTLE BRANCH CAFE has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since May 27, 2015. The most recent inspection, on September 21, 2017, found no infractions.

1 of 5 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, Handwashing and staff hygiene 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.

  • 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 May 26, 2016. For example: REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

  • 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 May 26, 2016. For example: APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN

  • 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 June 15, 2015. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

  • 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 27, 2015. For example: NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

  • 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 7 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on February 22, 2017. For example: FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

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.

5 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • FOUND THE CUTTING BOARDS IN THE PREP AREAS WITH DEEP, DARK GROOVES AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO SAND OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • FOUND THE FOLLOWING IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING: -INTERIOR/EXTERIOR OF THE GRILL, DEEP FRYER AND ALL OF THE COOKING/HOLDING EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA. -THE UPPER/LOWER SURFACES OF THE PREPARATION TABLES IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA -THE INTERIOR/EXTERIOR OF THE REACH IN COOLERS AND FREEZERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS -THE EXTERIOR OF THE DISH WASHING MACHINE -THE SOAP DISPENSER IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA -THE INTERIOR OF THE MOP SINK -THE STORAGE RACKS THROUGH OUT. ABOVE ITEMS WITH THICK ACCUMULATION OF GREASE, FOOD, DIRT AND DEBRIS. MUST MAINTAIN CLEAN SURFACES.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • FOUND THE INTERIOR OF ALL FLOOR DRAINS AND FLOORS UNDER/AROUND THE DISH MACHINE, COOLERS/FREEZERS, COOKING EQUIPMENT, THE STORAGE RACKS AND AROUND THE MOP SINK IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS WITH GREASE SPILLS, FOOD, DIRT AND OTHER EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOOR DRAINS AND FLOORS.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • FOUND THE VENTILATION, THE WALLS BEHIND THE COOKING EQUIPMENT, AROUND ALL OF THE SINKS, COOLERS/FREEZERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS AND THE VENTS IN THE DINING AREA IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING. ALL HAVE FOOD/LIQUID (OF SOME SORT) SPLATTER, DIRT, DUST AND GREASE IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.
    • 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED
      • FOUND A LEAK AT THE BASE OF THE HOT WATER KNOB ON THE REAR HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO FIX AND MAINTAIN.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • FOUND THE MOP STORED INSIDE THE MOP BUCKET OF DIRTY WATER. INSTRUCTED TO HANG ALL MOPS UP TO DRY WHEN NOT IN USE. FOUND CLUTTER IN THE FRONT PREP AREA BEHIND THE COUNTER, MUST ELIMINATE CLUTTER AND ORGANIZE AREA. MAINTAIN ALL.
  3. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • NO CERTIFIED FOOD AND SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE WHILE HANDLING AND SERVING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ( EGGS, POTATOES ) INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. SERIOUS CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • DRIPPING CONDENSATION FROM STAND UP COOLER CEILING, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
    • 40. REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS
      • MISSING REFRIGERATION THERMOMETER IN FRONT REFRIGERATOR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.
    • 42. APPROPRIATE METHOD OF HANDLING OF FOOD (ICE) HAIR RESTRAINTS AND CLEAN APPAREL WORN
      • FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARIN HAIR AND BEARD RESTRAINT, INSTRUCTED TO WEAR.
  4. License

    2 infractions

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • OBSERVED BULK FOOD ITEMS STORED UNLABELED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL BULK FOOD ITEMS.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WITH NO PROOF OF STATE FOOD HANDLER EDUCATION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF STATE FOOD HANDLER EDUCATION.
  5. License

    5 infractions

    • 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE
      • PREP COOLER NOT MAINTAINING TEMPERATURE WITH POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS INSIDE.
    • 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE
      • POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES.
    • 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS
      • LIVE ROACH ACTIVITY.
    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • ICE MACHINE LID NOT CLEAN.
    • 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED
      • FLOORS NOT MAINTAINED

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