Dulce Mesa
2835 N Central Ave, Chicago, IL 60634 · Portage Park · Restaurant · High risk
Mostly clean — 3 of 6 passed, one prior failure
Last Inspected
2025-04-16
What You Should Know
✓ 4 consecutive passes, most recently 2025-04-16
⚠ Failed 1 inspection (2022)
⚠ Documentation & Training issues found across 2 inspections
⚠ Pest Activity issues found across 2 inspections
→ Issues were corrected on re-inspection
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Types of Issues Found
🔧 Facility Condition minor 3×
📋 Documentation & Training critical 2×
🐀 Pest Activity critical 2×
🧼 Employee Hygiene minor 1×
Inspection History
2 ▾
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED MILK CRATES, BOXES AND UNNECESSARY ITEMS STORED THROUGHOUT FACILITY. MUST REMOVE ITEMS.
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS THROUGHOUT PREP AREAS.
2 ▾
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
REMOVE UNUSED EQUIPMENT FROM KITCHEN AREA.
minor Documentation & Training
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
OBSERVED EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.
2023-09-29 Pass w/ Conditions Canvass 5 ▾
serious Other
COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS/HACCP
OBSERVED VACUUM SEALER ON SITE WITHOUT AN APPROVED VARIANCE FROM HEALTH DEPARTMENT. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005.
minor Chemical Safety
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ICE CREAM TOPPINGS WITH COMMON NAME TO PROPERLY IDENTIFY.
minor Sanitation
IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
OBSERVED ICE CREAM SCOOPS STORED IN STILL WATER. INSTRUCTED TO STORE UNDER CONTINUOUS WATER WHEN NOT IN USE ALSO OBSERVED ICE SCOOP STORED DIRECTLY IN ICE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE IN CLEAN CONTAINER WHEN NOT BEING USED.
minor Sanitation
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED FOOD DEBRIS AROUND DOUGH MACHINE IN REAR. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED BURNT OUT LIGHTS AT VENTILATION HOOD. MUST PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.
2022-11-01 Pass Canvass Re-Inspection 1 ▾
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
FOUND WALL AT FRONT ICE CREAM PREPARATION AREAS NOT SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN.(EXPOSED BRICK).MUST REPAIR.
6 ▾
minor Employee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT.MUST PROVIDE.
minor Sanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
FOUND FOLLOWING NOT CLEAN: SINKS AND PREPARATION TABLES. MUST CLEAN.
minor Sanitation
GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED
FOUND OUTSIDE DUMPSTER AREAS NOT CLEAN. GARBAGE SPILLAGE SURROUNDING DUMPSTER. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(B). MUST CLEAN OUTSIDE DUMPSTER AREAS AND MAINTAIN.
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
FOUND CLUTTER AT BUSINESS THAT MUST BE REMOVED.(LARGE FLOOR CLEANER MACHINE,LADDER,ETC.)MUST REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
FOUND WALL AT FRONT ICE CREAM PREPARATION AREAS NOT SMOOTH AND EASY TO CLEAN.(EXPOSED BRICK).MUST REPAIR.
minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
FOUND LARGE GAS OVEN NOT COMPLETELY UNDER EXHAUST HOOD. MUST PLACE OVEN COMPLETELY UNDER HOOD.
2021-08-10 Pass w/ Conditions License CRITICAL 6 ▾
critical Documentation & Training
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES.INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
critical Pest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT
OBSERVED OPENING GAP APPROX:1/4" AT BOTTOM CENTER WHERE BOTH REAR DOORS MEET.MUST PEST PROOF SAID DOORS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.
minor Sanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN THE PREP TABLES, INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF THE WALK-IN-FREEZER AND PREP COOLERS, STEAM TABLE, AND REAR PREP STORAGE RACKS AND SHELFS.
minor Sanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED FLOOR TILES NEED RE-GROUTING UNDERNEATH THE REAR PREP 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
minor Pest Activity
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND ORGANIZE OFFICE SPACE ROOM AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES AND BROKEN/UNUSED EQUIPMENTS DUE TO POTENTIAL PEST HARBORAGE AND MAINTAIN.
minor Facility Condition
ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED
OBSERVED MISSING LIGHT SHIELDS ON LIGHT BULBS AT REAR PREP/3-COMP DISHWASHING AREA.MUST PROVIDE MISSING LIGHT SHIELDS ON LIGHT BULBS OR PROVIDE SHATTER-PROOF LIGHT BULBS AND MAINTAIN.
Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health ·
Score calculated from inspection outcomes, violation severity & recency.
· How we score
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Eat or Beat scores are independent editorial analysis of public records and do not represent official government ratings.