Chicago
72
YOUR CALL

Explorer Cafe

1400 S Jean Baptiste Pointe Dusable Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605 · South Loop · Restaurant · High risk
YOUR CALL
72/100

Mostly clean — 3 of 5 passed, one prior failure

Inspections
5
3 passed
Last Inspected
2025-10-08
Pass Rate
60%
1 failure
Score
72/100
YOUR CALL
3 consecutive passes, most recently 2025-10-08
Failed 1 inspection (2023)
Pest Activity issues found across 2 inspections
Food Temperature issues found across 1 inspection
Issues were corrected on re-inspection
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🧽
Sanitation serious
🐀
Pest Activity critical
Chemical Safety minor
🔧
Facility Condition minor
🌡
Food Temperature critical
🧼
Employee Hygiene serious
📌
Other minor
🚰
Plumbing & Waste critical
2025-10-08 Pass w/ Conditions Canvass
3
minor Sanitation

WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS

OBSERVED THE GREASE TRAP LEAKING WHEN THE 3 COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PLUMMER ARRIVED ON SITE WHILE WRITING REPORT TO CORRECT ISSUE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.

minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED RESIDUE ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

minor Pest Activity

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEADS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.

2024-04-16 Pass Complaint
2
minor Chemical Safety

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Bulk food ( flour, sugar ) not labeled, instructed to label and maintain.

minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inadequate lighting in walk-in freezer, instructed to provide.

2023-05-23 Pass Canvass Re-Inspection

No violations found.

2023-05-16 Fail Canvass
CRITICAL 9
critical Food Temperature

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

5-202.12(E) OBSERVED THREE HAND WASHING SINKS AT AN INADEQUATE HOT WATER TEMPERATURE RANGING FROM 120F-130F DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN HOT WATER AT 100F AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS. ENGINEER WAS ABLE TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE ...

minor Chemical Safety

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

3-601.11 OBSERVED NO LABELS ON THE PREPACKAGED DESSERTS FOR SALE AT THE FRONT CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABEL WITH BUSINESS NAME, BUSINESS ADDRESS, INGREDIENTS AND IF ANY ALLERGENS ARE PRESENT.

critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

6-501.111 OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON SITE, OBSERVED ABOUT 20 RODENT DROPPINGS LOCATED IN BETWEEN THE ICE MACHINE AND THE WALL AND ALSO AROUND THE HOT WATER HEATER IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF LIVE INSECT ACTIVITY ON SITE, OB...

minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

4-601.11(C) OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE DEBRIS IN BETWEEN THE COOKING EQUIPMENT AND A BLACK SUBSTANCE ON THE WALL AROUND THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL.

serious Employee Hygiene

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

5-205.15(A) OBSERVED THE HAND WASHING SINK NOT ABLE TO TURN ON LOCATED IN THE DISH WASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT SAID HAND WASHING SINK AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).

minor Sanitation

GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED

5-501.15 OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE DEBRIS ON THE LID OF THE OUTSIDE GREASE DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(B).

serious Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-501.12 OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE DEBRIS ON TOP OF THE GREASE TRAP AND ON THE FLOOR AND WALL LOCATED AROUND THE GREASE TRAP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

6-303.11 OBSERVED BURNT OUT LIGHTING IN THE DISH WASHING AREA IN THE REAR BY THE HOT WATER HEATER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.

minor Other

SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC

8-304.11(A) OBSERVED THE MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY NOT POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW. INSTRUCTED A MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY MUST BE POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-010(B).

2022-06-07 Pass License
CRITICAL 3
minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN PREP COOLERS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND DEBRIS.

critical Plumbing & Waste

SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED

INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HAVE THE GREASE TRAPS UNDERNEATH THE DISH WASHING MACHINE AND 3 COMP SINK SERVICE.

minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

MUST CLEAN THE CEILING TILES AND VENT COVERS WHERE NEEDED IN THE PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS TO REMOVE DUST.

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Custom House

Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health · Score calculated from inspection outcomes, violation severity & recency. · How we score
View official record on city data portal →
Eat or Beat scores are independent editorial analysis of public records and do not represent official government ratings.