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SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO

280 S COLUMBUS DR, CHICAGO, IL 60603 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

SCHOOL OF THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since July 23, 2024. The most recent inspection, on July 14, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.

None of the 4 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 14 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, 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.

  • 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 on November 21, 2025. For example: PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES

  • 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 June 24, 2026. 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 June 24, 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 June 24, 2026. For example: NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

  • 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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 14, 2026. For example: ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

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.

4 inspections

  1. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • 2-102.13 : MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.
  2. Canvass

    8 infractions

    • 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE
      • OBSERVED HOT RUNNING WATER TEMPERATURE AT HAND SINKS IN BOTH GENDER TOILET ROOMS 231-71.1F(RIGHT SIDE) AND 230-70.2F(LEFT SIDE) AND OTHER ONES NOT OPERABLE,ALSO HAND WASHING SINK IN PREP AREA IS CLOGGED AND WATER HAS BEEN SHUT OFF.INSTRUCTED TO USE 1- COMPARTMENT SINK FOR HAND WASHING,PROVIDE SOAP & TOWELS.MUST HAVE HOT RUNNING WATER AT 100.0F AND MAINTAIN.MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.(PRIORITY 7-38-030(C)(CITATION ISSUED)
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • MUST ELEVATE BOXED FOOD ITEMS FROM FLOOR IN CORNER NEAR 1- DOOR REACH IN COOLER AND OFFICE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • MUST REMOVE FOIL FROM 3- DOOR PREP COOLER ON LINE TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • MUST CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM GRILL TABLE,HOT HOLDING CABINET.MUST DEFROST EXCESSIVE ICE FROM ICE CREAM CHEST FREEZER.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE COLD WATER FAUCET HAS A HEAVY SPRAYING LEAK FROM HANDLE.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • MUST REMOVE PLASTIC AND TAPE FROM WALLS SURROUNDING OUTLETS SO WALL SURFACES MAY BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT.
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • MUST REPLACE BURNTOUT LIGHT AT HOOD OF COOKING EQUIPMENT.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN.
  3. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
      • OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 47.3-52.5F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, SHREDDED CHEESE(48.7-50.2F), SHREDDED LETTUCE(52.5F), SOUR CREAM(47.3F)AND BUTTER(48.0-48.6F) HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $40 WEIGHING 6LBS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    • 33. PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
      • OBSERVED TWO DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT WITH THREE DRAWERS IN PREP AREA AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 48.6F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON TWO DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT WITH THREE DRAWERS IN PREP AREA. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN SONNY'S CAFE NEAR VENDING MACHINES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILIY.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINK IN ALL GENDER WASHROOMS AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN OF 63.3-72.5F. OBSERVED IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AT LEFT HANDWASHING SINK IN ALL GENDER WASHROOM 230(NEAR STAIRWELL 2) AND RIGHT HANDWASHING SINK IN ALL GENDER WASHROOM 231(NEAR STAIRWELL 3)INSTRUCTED A HANDWASHING SINK SHALL BE EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE WATER AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 100F THROUGH A MIXING VALVE OR COMBINATION FAUCET. NOTE: THERE IS ONE OTHER PROPERLY FUNCTIONING HANDWASHING SINK IN BOTH ALL GENDER WASHROOMS ON SECOND FLOOR.
    • 60. PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED
      • OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2597950 DATED 07/23/2024 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. FOUND NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
  4. License

    2 infractions

    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • UNABLE TO LOCATE AND VERIFY FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES DURING INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE AND KEEP CERTIFICATES ON SITE.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • FOUND NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

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