BELIEVE CAFE.

Chicago Health Dept

3901 W BELMONT AVE · NORTH CENTER, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Apr 2026).

6 inspections on record since 2024 · Last inspected Apr 2026 · 1 critical violation in the last 12 months.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
6
VIOLATIONS
32
total on record
LAST INSPECTED
APR 2026

INSPECTION HISTORY

APR 17
2026
PASS · 0 violations
APR 10
2026
FAIL 6 violations 1 CRITICAL
Critical Employee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGN OR POSTER NEAR HAND WASHING SINK IN THE UNISEX EMPLOYEE WASHROOM. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Employee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED EMPLOYEE NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS PREPARED AND SERVED.

Minor Sanitation
IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

OBSERVED ICE SCOOPS STORED INSIDE ICE MACHINE IN FRONT PREP AREA. MUST PROPERLY STORE ICE SCOOPS IN A CLEAN CONTAINER TO PREVENY CONTAMINATION.

Minor Documentation & Training
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.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT HOLD A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE OBTAIN ALLERGEN AWARENES TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFCATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Pest Activity
PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2618082 ON 05/27/2025. #37. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (RICE, FLOUR ETC). #53. TOILET ROOM DOOR MUST BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE. #55. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL FLOOR BASEBOARD AROUND THE FRONT DINING/SERVICE AREA. #55. NSTRUCTED TO SEAL HOLE ON WALL AROUND MOPSINK FAUCET HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLE. AND HOLE ON WALL AROUND PIPE INSIDE THE WASHROOM. #55.: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA. #55. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, REORGANIZE AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES STORED IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE. #55. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LOOSE CEILING TILES ABOVE THE COOKING AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED.

MAY 27
2025
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 11 violations
Minor Food Temperature
APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING PROCEDURE ON FROZEN PORK. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT, THAWING MUST OCCUR UNDER REFRIGERATION THAT MAINTAINS THE FOOD TEMPERATURE AT 41.0F OR LESS OR COMPLETELY SUBMERGED UNDER RUNNING WATER OR THAWED IN A MICROWAVE OVEN AND IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED TO CONVENTIONAL COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH NO INTERRUPTION IN THE PROCESS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN CORRECT THAWING PROCEDURES.

Minor Other
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

Minor Food Storage & Handling
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (RICE, FLOUR ETC)

Minor Sanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CARDBOARD LINER UNDERNEATH THE CONVEYOR OVEN IN THE KITCHEN.

Minor Sanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

TOILET ROOM DOOR MUST BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL FLOOR BASEBOARD AROUND THE FRONT DINING/SERVICE AREA.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO SEAL HOLE ON WALL AROUND MOPSINK FAUCET HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLE. AND HOLE ON WALL AROUND PIPE INSIDE THE WASHROOM.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LOOSE CEILING TILES ABOVE THE COOKING AREA.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA.

Minor Pest Activity
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, REORGANIZE AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES STORED IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.

Minor Other
SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

FOUND NO INSPECTION SUMMARY REPORT POSTED (03-18-2025) ON PREMISE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER, A SUMMARY REPORT MUST BE DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010 (B) CITATION ISSUED

MAR 18
2025
PASS 4 violations
Serious Employee Hygiene
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.11 OBSERVED HOLE WALL NEAR HANDWASHING SINK IN THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED TOILET SEAT COVER IN POOR REPAIR. INSTRCUTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR TOILET SEAT COVER AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

2-102.13 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.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

2-102.13 OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT HOLD A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE OBTAIN ALLERGEN AWARENES TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFCATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

MAR 11
2025
FAIL 4 violations
Minor Food Temperature
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR MEASURING THE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF HOT AND COLD FOODS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR MEASURING HOT AND COLD FOODS AND MAINTAIN.

Serious Employee Hygiene
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED HOLE WALL NEAR HANDWASHING SINK IN THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Documentation & Training
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.

Minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT HOLD A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE OBTAIN ALLERGEN AWARENES TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFCATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.

show all 6 inspections →
AUG 16
2024
PASS W/ CONDITIONS 7 violations 3 CRITICAL
Critical Documentation & Training
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

NOTED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION FOLLOWING THE NEW CODE AND GUIDELINES. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE VERIFICATION OF POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ONE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED TODAY

Critical Sanitation
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

MANAGEMENT UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CLEANING UP VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ONE INCLUDING THE CHEMICALS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.

Critical Employee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

NOTED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

Minor Sanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

NOTED UNFINISHED WOOD USED FOR SHELVING AT THE FRONT COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SHELVES WITH NON POROUS WOOD THAT ARE EASILY CLEANABLE AND MAINTAINED.

Minor Sanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

NOTED THE BATHROOM DOOR AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT THE DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

NOTED WASH ROOM ON PREMISE WITH GARBAGE RECEPTACLE AND NO LIDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE TRASH CANS WITH LIDS AT ALL WOMEN WASH ROOMS AND UNISEX WASH ROOM

Minor Plumbing & Waste
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

NOTED NO WORKING VENTILATION INSIDE TOILET ON PREMISE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND HAVE A WORKING VENTILATION INSIDE ALL TOILETS.

Public inspection records from Chicago Department of Public Health. Records current as of 2026-07-05. EatOrBeat reports records and does not rate restaurants. Source dataset →

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