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M & S CAFE

5963 W MADISON ST, CHICAGO, IL 60644 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

M & S CAFE has been inspected 3 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since April 24, 2024. The most recent inspection, on April 2, 2026, recorded 8 infractions.

None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 8 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Handwashing and staff hygiene and Protecting food from contamination.

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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on April 2, 2026. For example: APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

  • 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 April 2, 2026. For example: PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE

  • 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 April 2, 2026. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

  • 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 April 2, 2026. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 5 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 2, 2026. 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.

3 inspections

  1. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
      • OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION
    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • OBSERVED NO CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE O VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED WHEN TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. A CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED
    • 6. PROPER EATING, TASTING, DRINKING, OR TOBACCO USE
      • OBSERVED OPEN BEVERAGE ON PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE CLOSED LID CONTAINERS FOR EMPLOYEE BEVERAGES.
    • 35. APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED
      • OBSERVED CHICKEN IMPOPERLY THAWING ON PREP TABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY THAW UNDER REFRIGERATION, COLD RUNNING WATER OR PART OF COOKING PROCESS.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STOTED ON FLOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD ITEMS SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON SHELVING UNITS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLTUION BETWEEN USES.
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE CONTAINERS NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  2. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • OBSERVED MISSING THEMOMETERS INSIDE COOLING UNIT CONTAINING SAUCES, DELI MEAT AND EGGS LOCATED IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CLUTTER IN MOP/HOT WATER TANK ROOM IN REAR OF FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE UNNECESSARY ITEMS AND ELEVATE ITEMS OFF THE FLOOR AT LEAST 6 INCHES. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOORS UNDER EQUIPMENT (FYERS) IN PREP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT PROOF OF TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ON-SITE FOR REVIEW.
  3. License

    2 infractions

    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR UTILITY SINK HOT WATER NOZZLE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE, INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN ON SITE FOR REVIEW.

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