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SWEET CAFE CHICAGO, INC.

243 W CERMAK RD, CHICAGO, IL 60616 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

SWEET CAFE CHICAGO, INC. has been inspected 4 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since June 29, 2023. The most recent inspection, on September 20, 2024, found no infractions.

2 of 4 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: Handwashing and staff hygiene, Cleaning and sanitizing and Food source, labelling and allergens.

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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 14, 2024. For example: PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

  • 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 2 times on May 14, 2024. For example: WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

  • 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 July 20, 2023. For example: FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

  • Building, plumbing and upkeepLower risk

    Floors, walls and ceilings must be smooth and clean, with working lighting, ventilation, plumbing, hot and cold water, and washrooms. These are rarely an immediate food-safety risk on their own, but persistent problems can lead to pest or sanitation issues.

    Recorded 5 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 14, 2024. For example: TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

  • 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 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 14, 2024. 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

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass

    9 infractions

    • 40. PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHEN IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HAVE ANYONE IN THE FOOD PREP AREA TO WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT. MAINTAIN SAME.
    • 41. WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
      • OBSERVED WIPING TOWELS NOT PROPERLY STORED IN SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION (MUST BE AT THE REQUIRED PPM) WHEN NOT IN USE. MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED THE RUBBER GASKET ON THE PREP COOLER IN FRONT OF THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN POOR REPAIR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR/REPLACE RUBBER GASKET AND MAINTAIN.
    • 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
      • OBSERVED THE CAN OPENER IN THE BASEMENT PREP AREA WITH FOOD AND DIRT BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN CAN OPENER.
    • 49. NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
      • OBSERVED THE RUBBER GASKETS AND THE LOWER SURFACES OF ALL OF THE COOLERS/FREEZERS WITH FOOD, DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.
    • 53. TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED
      • OBSERVED THE TRASH RECEPTACLE IN THE UNISEX TOILET ROOM WITH NO LID. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE A TRASH RECEPTACLE WITH A LID AND MAINTAIN.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED THEINTERIOR OF THE FLOOR DRAINS AND FLOORS IN THE CORNERS, UNDER/AROUND ALL HEAVY EQUIPMENT, SINKS AND STORAGE RACKS IN THE BASEMENT AND 1ST FL PREP AREA WITH FOOD, DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS THROUGHOUT.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • OBSERVED AN EMPLOYEE ON SITE WITH NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HAVE EMPLOYEE OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A CURRENT CERTIFICATE AT ALL TIMES.
    • 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
      • OBSERVED THE CFM WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A CURRENT CERTIFICATE.
  3. License

    7 infractions

    • 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
      • NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
    • 5. PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
      • NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA KIT ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT A VOMIT AND DIARRHEA KIT MUST BE ON PREMISES TO USE IN CASE OF A VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL INCIDENT ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
    • 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
      • FOUND BULK STORAGE CONTAINERS NOT LABELED WITH NAME OF PRODUCT INSIDE OF CONTAINER; INSTRUCTED TO LABEL CONTAINERS IN BASEMENT PREP AREA.
    • 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
      • FOUND AN ICE MACHINE ON PREMISES IN THE BASEMENT THAT WAS NOT CONNECTED TO A WATER LINE OR PLUGGED IN. INSTRUCTED THAT IF ICE MACHINE WILL BE USED THAT IT MUST BE CONNECTED TO A WATER LINE AND HAVE A BACKFLOW DEVICE INSTALLED AS WELL.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED A SMALL HOLE IN THE WALL IN THE BASEMENT BY THE DEEP FREEZERS; INSTRUCTED TO SEAL HOLE IN WALL.
    • 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
      • OBSERVED SOME AREAS OF THE WALL BASE IN THE BASEMENT AREA NOT COVED; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE WALL COVING AT THE BASE OF THE WALL IN THE BASEMENT WHERE NEEDED.
    • 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
      • INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS NEED THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
  4. License

    0 infractions

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