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SERENA RESTAURANT

2536 W DEVON AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60659 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

SERENA RESTAURANT has been inspected 8 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since March 10, 2023. The most recent inspection, on September 29, 2026, found no infractions.

3 of 8 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there were 2 inspections with 10 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Cleaning and sanitizing, Food source, labelling and allergens and Pests.

Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.

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 6 times across 5 separate inspections, most recently on September 21, 2026. 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 21, 2026. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • 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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on September 21, 2026. 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 September 21, 2026. For example: THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

  • 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 September 21, 2026. For example: CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

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 Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  2. Complaint

    10 infractions

    • 36. THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE
      • VISIBLE AND WORKING THERMOMETERS NEEDED IN ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • MUST LABEL ALL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS.
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • EVIDENCE OF IMPROPER PEST CONTROL ON PREMISES. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 40 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON WALLS, CEILING AND FLOOR DRAINS IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA AND WALLS IN THE FRONT PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZED AFFECTED AREAS AND WHENEVER NEEDED. ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELEIMINATE FLYING INSECT PROBLEM. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.
    • 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
      • OBSERVED MISSING SECTION OF FOOD GUARD IN THE FRONT STEAM TABLES. STEAM TABLES NOT IN USE AT THIS TIME OF INSPECTION. BOTH STEAM TABLES TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION AT THIS TIME.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED RUSTY FOOD STORAGE SHELVING INSIDE WALK-IN COOLER AND REAR FOOD STORAGES ROOMS. MUST REMOVE RUST AND ENSURE ALL NONFOOD CONTACT SURFACES REMAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF ICE BUILD UP ON CHEST FREEZERS STORED IN REAR KITCHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA AND BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REMOVE ICE AND CLEAN FREEZERS,
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCET BASE AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED SINK ON THE FRONT SERVING STATION AREA AND REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED CCUMULATED FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOOR ON FLOOR IN REAR PREP AREA, DISHWASHING AREA AND BASEMENT UNDERNEATH FOOD STORAGE SHELVING. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS AT ALL TIMES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON FLOOR DRAINS IN REAR PREP AREA AND RAER DISHWASHING AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED PEELING PAINT ON WALLS IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA AND BEHIND HAND WASHING SINKS IN MAIN KITHEN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST REPAINT AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
  3. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  4. Canvass

    3 infractions

    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OBSERVED 10 RAT DROPPINGS ON BASEMENT FLOOR UNDER WOODEN PALLETS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST REMOVE RAT DROPPINGS BY DATE OF REINSPECTION. ADVISED TO CALL PEST CONTROL OPERATOR FOR SERVICE. PRIORIYT FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A).
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • GARNISH REACH IN COOLER (LEFT SIDE DOOR) LOOSE FROM HINDGE. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN COOLER.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • NO EMPLOYEES FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST BE CERTIFIED WITH NAMES OF EMPLOYEES ON PREMISES.
  5. Complaint

    7 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • DRY FOOD IN PLASTIC CONTAINER, STORED INSIDE STORAGE AREA MUST BE LABELED WITH COMMON NAME:SPICES,SUGAR ETC
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • ALL STORED ITEMS, BOXED TOGO CONTAINERS, MUST BE PROPERLY PROTECTED INVERT THEM ON SHELVES AND THROUGHOUT ALL AREAS.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • ENCRUSTED FOOD AT BLADE OF CAN OPENER,CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • GREASE INSIDE DEEP FRYER, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • COVERS IS REQUIRED AT ALL RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • GREASE ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT.CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
      • EMPLOYEES SWEATER,BAGS ETC, STORED AT REAR STORAGE AREA,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SEPARATE AREA/LOCKER FOR EMPLOYEE PERSONAL ITEMS. NO EMPLOYEE PERSONAL ITEMS MUST BE STORED IN PREP AREA AND FOOD STORAGE AREA.
  6. Canvass Re-Inspection

    0 infractions

  7. Canvass

    11 infractions

    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • ALL DRY FOOD MUST BE LABELED WITH A COMMON NAME AT STORAGE AREA
    • 38. INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
      • OUTER OPENING NOT PROTECTED:WE OBSERVED REAR SCREEN DOORS WITH A GAP OF 1/4" BETWEEN DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR ISSUE TO MINIMIZE PEST ENTRY.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • MUST STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN PREP AREAS IN SANITIZER BUCKET BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
    • 43. IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
      • ICE SCOOP MUST BE STORED IN A CLEAN CONTAINER BETWEEN USE. -
    • 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
      • MUST NOT USE TAPE AS PADDING FOR THE CORNER OF THE SHELF BY THE LOW TEMP DISHMACHINE. SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • RUSTY SHELVES INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER, INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLERS. MUST REPAIR AND RESTORE TO A SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE OR REPLACE
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • GREASE BUILD UP UNDER FLAT GRILL,AND DEEP FRYER CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
    • 54. GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
      • RECEPTACLES LIDS NOT MAINTAINED AT OUTSIDE DUMPSTER AREA. WE OBSERVED BROKEN LIDS,BENDED AND MISSING LIDS. NO COVER FOR DUMPSTER,UNIT REMAINS HALF UNCOVERED.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LIDS OR REPLACE CONTAINER, TO MINIMIZE PEST AND INSECT ACTIVITIES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-020(B)CITATION ISSUED
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • EXCESS UNUSED ITEMS IN BASEMENT AREA ,INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND ELEVATE ITEMS NEEDED 6"OFF THE FLOOR.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON SITE ARE EXPIRED. INSTRUCTED TO RENEW CERTIFICATE FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS
  8. Canvass

    2 infractions

    • 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
      • FOUND LOW TEMPERATURE DISHMACHINE NOT SANITIZING. 0PPM CHLORINE.PRIORITY VIOLATION.CITATION ISSUED.7-38-025.CHLORINE BLEACH SANITIZER WAS PROVIDED FOR DISHMACHINE BY THE END OF INSPECTION.
    • 44. UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED
      • FOUND FOOD CONTAINERS NOT STORED PROPERLY ON SHELVING UNITS.MUST STORE INVERTED.

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