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THE HOUSE CAFE

3208 N SHEFFIELD AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60657 · Restaurant

Inspection summary

THE HOUSE CAFE has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since January 5, 2016. The most recent inspection, on May 23, 2017, found no infractions.

2 of 5 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: Food source, labelling and allergens, Chemicals and toxic substances and Food temperature control.

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.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 23, 2017. For example: FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED

  • Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

    Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

    Recorded once on May 15, 2017. For example: DISH MACHINES: PROVIDED WITH ACCURATE THERMOMETERS, CHEMICAL TEST KITS AND SUITABLE GAUGE COCK

  • 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 December 6, 2016. For example: REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS

  • Equipment and utensilsLower risk

    Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.

    Recorded 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 15, 2017. For example: FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 15, 2017. For example: * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED

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.

5 inspections

  1. Canvass

    0 infractions

  2. Canvass Re-Inspection

    1 infraction

    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • OBSERVED PREPACKAGED BAKERY GOODS FOR SALE AT THE FRONT COUNTER WITHOUT PROPER LABELS. MUST PROVIDE LABELS ON ALL PREPACKAGED GOODS THAT INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE ITEM, LIST OF INGREDIENTS BY WEIGHT, MANUFACTURER'S NAME AND ADDRESS, AND ANY ALLERGENS.
  3. Canvass

    6 infractions

    • 21. * CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED
      • NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE, NO CERTIFICATE POSTED, WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS (MILK, DELI MEAT) PREPARED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED THAT A CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE, WITH ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE POSTED, AT ALL TIMES WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED. SERIOUS VIOLATION" 7-38-012
    • 22. DISH MACHINES: PROVIDED WITH ACCURATE THERMOMETERS, CHEMICAL TEST KITS AND SUITABLE GAUGE COCK
      • OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST KIT ON SITE FOR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, WHERE CHLORINE WAS BEING USED DURING INSPECTION TO SANITIZE DISHES. MUST PROVIDE APPROPRIATE CHEMICAL TEST KIT FOR SANITIZING AGENT USED ON SITE. SERIOUS VIOLATION: 7-38-030
    • 29. PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATION(S) CORRECTED 7-42-090
      • PREVIOUS MINOR VIOLATIONS FROM REPORT #1976578 DATED 12/6/16: #35-MUST PROVIDE A CEILING ABOVE ALL DRY FOOD STORAGE AND CLEAN DISH STORAGE SHELVING UNDER WASTE WATER SEWER LINES OR REMOVE ALL FOODS AND CLEAN DISHES. #36-MUST PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELDS OR SHATTER PROOF BULBS THROUGHOUT THE FOOD PREP AREA. MUST CORRECT. SERIOUS VIOLATION: 7-42-090
    • 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED
      • OBSERVED PREPACKAGED BAKERY GOODS FOR SALE AT THE FRONT COUNTER WITHOUT PROPER LABELS. MUST PROVIDE LABELS ON ALL PREPACKAGED GOODS THAT INCLUDE THE NAME OF THE ITEM, LIST OF INGREDIENTS BY WEIGHT, MANUFACTURER'S NAME AND ADDRESS, AND ANY ALLERGENS.
    • 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED
      • MUST ELIMINATE STANDING WATER NOTED IN BOTTOM OF 2 DOOR REACH IN COOLER TO THE RIGHT OF THE HAND SINK.
    • 41. PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED
      • OBSERVED EMPLOYEE STORING PERSONAL BAG ON TOP OF PREP COUNTER. MUST STORE EMPLOYEE BELONGINGS IN LOCKERS OR AWAY AND SEPARATE FROM FOOD AND PREP AREAS.
  4. Canvass

    5 infractions

    • 33. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS
      • INTERIOR OF THE TWO DOOR COOLER ON THE WEST WALL WITH SOME FOOD SPILLAGE. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
    • 35. WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS
      • MUST PROVIDE A CEILING ABOVE ALL DRY FOOD STORAGE AND CLEAN DISH STORAGE SHELVING UNDER WASTE WATER SEWER LINES OR REMOVE ALL FOODS AND CLEAN DISHES.
    • 36. LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED
      • MUST PROVIDE LIGHT SHIELDS OR SHATTER PROOF BULBS THROUGHOUT THE FOOD PREP AREA.
    • 40. REFRIGERATION AND METAL STEM THERMOMETERS PROVIDED AND CONSPICUOUS
      • MUST PROVIDE AN INTERNAL THERMOMETER IN THE TWO DOOR COOLER LOCATED ON THE WEST WALL.
    • 45. FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS MET
      • MUST PROVIDE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES OR PROOF OF NEW EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL REQUIRED EMPLOYEES AND MAINTAIN DOCUMENTATION FOR REVIEW.
  5. License

    0 infractions

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