CAFE BALLOU.

Chicago Health Dept

939 N WESTERN AVE · WICKER PARK, CHICAGO

Failed most recent inspection (Dec 2019).

7 inspections on record since 2015 · Last inspected Dec 2019.

Last inspected Dec 2019. Records may not reflect current conditions.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

DEC 2019

INSPECTION HISTORY

DEC 10

2019

FAIL 7 violations

Minor Employee Hygiene

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES AND HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED NO BACKLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUT TO INSTALL A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE SO THAT CAN BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICE AND MAINTAIN

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Sanitation

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2240876 ON 11/30/18. VIOLATIONS # 51 NOTED LEAKS AT THE FAUCET OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. 55 NOTED THE WALLS IN THE PREP AREA NOT FINISHED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER WALLS ARE TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. #56 LIGHT BULBS IN THE REAR PREP AREA MUST BE SHATTER PROOF OR SHIELDED. #58 MANAGER HAS NO ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CODE OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED

DEC 6

2019

FAIL 8 violations

Minor Employee Hygiene

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES AND HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED NO BACKLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUT TO INSTALL A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE SO THAT CAN BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Sanitation

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

: PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2240876 ON 11/30/18. VIOLATIONS # 51 NOTED LEAKS AT THE FAUCET OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. 55 NOTED THE WALLS IN THE PREP AREA NOT FINISHED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER WALLS ARE TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE. #56 LIGHT BULBS IN THE REAR PREP AREA MUST BE SHATTER PROOF OR SHIELDED. #58 MANAGER HAS NO ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CODE OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED

NOV 19

2019

FAIL 9 violations

Minor Employee Hygiene

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES AND HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

OBSERVED NO BACKLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUT TO INSTALL A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE SO THAT CAN BE LOCATED TO BE SERVICE AND MAINTAIN.

Serious Employee Hygiene

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

ADDITIONAL WATER PRESSURE NEEDED AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AND HAND WASHING SINK IN FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED DIRT AND DEBRIS ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

SEE VIOLATION #60

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

SEE VIOLATION #60.

Minor Sanitation

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

NOV 30

2018

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 10 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Documentation & Training

MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

PREMISES HAS NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CODES OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-010.

Critical Sanitation

PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS

PREMISES HAS NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CODE OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005.

Minor Other

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN WORKING THERMOMETERS INSIDE REFRIGERATORS.

Minor Chemical Safety

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE THE NAME AND DATE ON PREPARED AND PRECOOKED FOOD ITEMS (FIFO).

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN THE INTERIOR SHELVING OF BOTH REFRIGERATORS AND FREEZER COMPARTMENT TO REMOVE SPILLS AND/OR DEBRIS.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

NOTED LEAKS AT THE FAUCET OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

FLOORS NEED CLEANING ALONG THE WALL BASE AND IN CORNERS TO REMOVE DEBRIS.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

NOTED THE WALLS IN THE PREP AREA NOT FINISHED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER WALLS ARE TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

LIGHT BULBS IN THE REAR PREP AREA MUST BE SHATTER PROOF OR SHIELDED.

Minor Other

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

MANAGER HAS NO ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH THE NEW CODE OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW.

JUL 11

2017

PASS 2 violations

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED

OBSERVED FROST BUILDUP ON THE PULL OUT DRAWER FOR THE FREEZER ATTACHED TO THE REFRIGERATOR. INSTRUCTED TO DEFROST FREEZER AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE SMALL APPLIANCE FRYER AND THE DEEP FRYER BASKETS TO REMOVE GREASE AND GRIZZLE BUILDUP AND MAINTAIN.

show all 7 inspections →

NOV 18

2016

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 3 violations

Serious Other

* CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE PREPARED AND SERVED

NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD ARE PREPARED AND SERVED(MILK.EGGS,BEEF,ETC) INSTRUCTED TO ENROLL TO SANITATION CLASS.AT LEAST ONE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE WHEN POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD ARE PREPARED,HANDLED AND SERVED. SERIOUS VIOLATION:7-38-012(A)

Minor Sanitation

FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT EQUIPMENT UTENSILS CLEAN, FREE OF ABRASIVE DETERGENTS

BEGIN OF MINERAL BUILD-UP INSIDE THE ICE MACHINE,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN,SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN UNIT.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED

LEAKING PIPE UNDER THE MIDDLE OF THE TREE COMPARTMENT SINK,INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR. NO VISIBLE BACK FLOW PREVENTER DEVICE INSTALLED AT ESPRESSO MACHINE AND ICE MACHINE. NEED TO INSTALL BACK FLOW PREVENTER AT MENTIONED UNITS.

NOV 20

2015

PASS · 0 violations

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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