TOSCANA BALKAN CUISINE
5357 N LINCOLN AVE, CHICAGO, IL 60625 · Restaurant
Inspection summary
TOSCANA BALKAN CUISINE has been inspected 5 times by Chicago Department of Public Health since October 12, 2022. The most recent inspection, on June 24, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.
None of the 5 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 1 infraction recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Protecting food from contamination and Food source, labelling and allergens.
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.
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 December 19, 2023. For example:
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
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 12, 2022. For example:
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
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 4 separate inspections, most recently on June 24, 2026. For example:
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
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 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 31, 2025. For example:
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
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 once on October 12, 2022. For example:
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
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
- Canvass
1 infraction
- 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
- OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST SHOW PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
- 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
- Canvass
1 infraction
- 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
- NOTED SOME WATER DAMAGED CEILING TILES IN THE DINING ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
- 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
- Canvass
2 infractions
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED AT ICE MAKER.MUST INSTALL SO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE MAY BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
- 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
- OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT THE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE.INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.
- 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES
- Canvass
3 infractions
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO KEEP ALL FOOD ITEMS ELEVATED SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR AND MAINTAIN.
- 55. PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
- OBSERVED THE REAR STORAGE ROOM WITH CLUTTER AND ITEMS ON THE FLOOR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ORGANIZE STORAGE ROOM AND KEEP ITEMS ELEVATED OFF OF FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.
- 57. ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
- OBSERVED ONE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO COMPLY WITH IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS.
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- License
4 infractions
- 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
- INSTRUCTED TO LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (FLOUR, SUGAR, SALT ETC)
- 39. CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY
- INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE FOOD ITEMS (BOTTLED WATER, BEVERAGES) 6" OFF THE FLOOR BEHIND FRONT COUNTER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION AND FOR EASY ACCESS ON CLEANING.
- 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
- INSTRUCTED TO SEAL OR PAINT RAW WOOD STORAGE SHELF IN PREP/COOKING AREA.
- 58. ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
- FOUND NO APPROVED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSON WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION.
- 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
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