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PRETTY COOL ICE CREAM

2353 N CALIFORNIA AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60647 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

PRETTY COOL ICE CREAM has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since August 2, 2018. The most recent inspection, on November 24, 2025, found no infractions.

2 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 0 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Protecting food from contamination and Pests.

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.

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on April 18, 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 13, 2024. 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 July 30, 2021. For example: INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

  • 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 July 30, 2021. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 October 24, 2019. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

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. Complaint

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGN AT HAND SINK AT FRONT SERVING AREAS.MUST PROVIDE.
  3. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • FOUND NO FOOD GUARD BETWEEN POPSICLE MAKER AND 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.MUST PROVIDE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • FOUND CEILING ABOVE PART OF PACKAGING AREAS AT BASEMENT MISSING.MUST PROVIDE.
  4. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO PAPER TOWELS AT HANDWASHING SINK IN DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED HAND DRYING PROVISIONS MUST BE AVAILABLE AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES. CORRECTED ON SITE PAPER TOWELS PROVIDED FOR HANDWASHING SINK. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED HANGING FLY STRIPS IN BASEMENT AND ICE CREAM PREP. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE HANGING FLY STRIPS TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED MILK CRATES USED FOR ELEVATION THROUGHOUT PREMISES IN AREAS SUCH AS ICE CREAM PREP, DISHWASHING AREA AND BASEMENT PREP. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED DEBRIS IN INTERIOR LIGHTSHIELD IN DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN LIGHTSHIELD INTERIOR AND MAINTAIN.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • OBSERVED DUST ON CEILING VENT COVERS IN BASEMENT AND MEN'S WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN CEILING VENT COVERS AND MAINTAIN.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
  5. Canvass

    4 infractions

    • 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE
      • NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE POSTED ON THE PREMISES. PREMISES PREPARES AND SERVES ICE CREAM ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES TCS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED NO EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINKS LOCATED IN THE DISH WASHING AREA AND IN BASEMENT PACKAGING AREA WHERE ICE CREAM BARS ARE PACKAGED. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL AN EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK IN BOTH AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C).
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE WAS PROVIDED IN THE BASEMENT WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    • 61. SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC
      • NO INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY WAS POSTED IN THE PUBLIC VIEW. MANAGEMENT WAS GIVEN A COPY OF TODAY'S INSPECTION REPORT AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO POST IT IN VIEW OF ALL CUSTOMERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010(B). CITATION ISSUED.
  6. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED 1/4 INCH GAP BETWEEN OUTER EXIT/ENTRANCE SIDE DOORS. MUST RODENT PROOF SAID DOORS.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED ICE BLOCK BUILD UP ON REAR OF WALK IN FREEZER CONDENSER. MUST REMOVE SAID ICE BLOCK BUILD UP AND MAINTAIN.
  7. Canvass

    1 infraction

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • OBSERVED ICECREAM BARSIN FREEZER FOR RETAIL SALE NOT PROPERLY LABELED, INSTRUCTED ON PROPER LABELING.
  8. License

    0 infractions

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