LA HAVANA CAFE.
2525 W DIVISION ST · WICKER PARK, CHICAGO
Failed 2 of 8 inspections. 5 critical violations on the cumulative record. Pattern of issues, not a one-off.
THE NUMBERS
INSPECTION HISTORY
MAY 312016PASS W/ CONDITIONS8 violations3 CRITICALDETAILS
POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES: FOUND CUBAN SANDWICHES(SLICED COOKED PORK, HAM AND SWISS CHEESE AT TEMP OF 73.8F-75.6-77.8F TO 81.1F),STORED ON TOP THE SHELF ABOVE THE STEAM TABLE; A WHOLE PIECE OF COOKED PORK STORED ON SHELF ABOVE THE STEAM TABLE AT TEMP OF 45.5F TO 51.2F. HOT FOOD MUST 140F AND ABOVE, COLD FOOD 40F AND BELOW. FOUND A PACKAGE OF SLICED HAM INSIDE THE SMALL COOLER AT TEMP OF 57.6F. COOLER UNIT MAINTAIN TEMP OF 35.7F. FOOD DISCARDED AND DENATURED. POUNDS 25 , VALUE $200. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-005(A)
FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IS CLOGGED ,FULL OF WASTE WATER. UNABLE TO USE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK DUE TO WATER BACKING UP ONTO FLOOR IN DISH ROOM AND PREP AREA/KITCHEN WHICH PRESENTLY IS IN USE. PLUMBER REPORTED ON PREMISES AT 2:50PM TO CORRECT. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-030.
FOUND EXPOSED HAND SINK AT FRONT PREP AREA/BAR WITHOUT SOAP.EXPOSED HAND SINK IN KITCHEN/DISHROOM WITHOUT PAPER. ALSO AT SAID SINK UTENSILS AND A CONTAINER WAS STORED IN IT,PERSONALLY REMOVE THEM.SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS WAS PROVIDED UPON OUR REQUEST(SANITATIAN AND SUPERVISOR). SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS MUST BE PROVIDED AT EXPOSED HAND SINK AT ALL TIMES FOR PROPER HAND WASHING. CRITICAL VIOLATION:7-38-030
UTENSILS(TEASPOONS) STORED ON TOP THE FRONT COUNTER MUST BE INVERTED.OBSERVED ICE SCOOP NOT PROTECTED,STORED ON TOP THE SHELF BY PAPER AND NOTE BOOKS. MUST PROVIDE AN ENCLOSED ICE SCOOP CONTAINER
GRIME AND MINERAL DEPOSIT BUILD-UP INSIDE THE ICE MACHINE,INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. FOOD SPILLAGE AND DEBRIS ON KITCHEN SHELVES, BOXES AND CONTAINERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
FLOOR BESIDE AND BEHIND THE ICE MACHINE WITH DEBRIS ,ALSO UNDER THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND UNDER/BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT..INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS.
ACCUMULATED GREASE AND DUST IN VENTILATION HOOD AND FILTERS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN SAME.
WATER PIPE UNDER THE EXPOSED HAND SINK AT FRONT PREP/BAR AREA IS LEAKING.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
NOV 32015PASSED1 violationDETAILS
FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. NO LOGS RECORDS ON SITE AS REQUIRED. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
OCT 292015FAILED6 violations2 CRITICALDETAILS
OBSERVED BASEMENT REAR EXIT DOOR NOT RODENT PROOFED. DOOR HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH OPENING ON THE BOTTOM DOOR. INSTRUCTED TO MAKE DOOR TIGHT FITTING TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-020.
PREMISES DOES NOT HAVE A GARBAGE DUMPSTER.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. SERIOUS VIOLATION. 7-38-020.
INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AT THE FRONT BAR AND MUST REMOVE RESIDUE AND MINERAL DEPOSITS. DETAIL CLEAN SODA GUNS/HOLDERS. REMOVE DIRT. DETAIL CLEAN INTERIOR PANELS OF ICE MACHINE AT FRONT BAR.
OBSERVED UNFINISH CEILING IN BASEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR. CEILING MUST BE SMOOTH EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES. MUST REPAIR BASEBOARD AROUND WALL AT THE FRONT BAR STORAGE ROOM.
OBSERVED 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AT FRONT BAR AREA DRAINING SLOW. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS NOT MET. NO LOGS RECORDS ON SITE AS REQUIRED. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
APR 272012PASS W/ CONDITIONS4 violationsDETAILS
FOUND THE LARGE STANDING ICE MACHINE INTERIOR HAS LIME AND BLACK MOLD. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE UNIT. SERIOUS CITATION GIVEN 7-38-005(A).
FRONT DOOR NEEDS TO BE REPAIR
DEFROST AND CLEAN THE REACHIN CHEST FREEZER SOME ICD BUILDUP.
BASEMENT HAS DIRT BUILD UP NEEDS TO BE CLEAN UP. OUTSIDE YARD LEADING TO BASEMENT NEEDS TO BE CLEAN.HAS LARGE WEEDS ECT
show all 8 inspections →
DEC 172010PASSED4 violationsDETAILS
All food and non-food contact equipment and utensils shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, and shall be in good repair.COUNTERTOP SHELVING IN KITCHEN WERE MULTI-USE PLATES ARE STORED MUST BE SMOOTH,EASILY CLEANABLE.
The walls and ceilings shall be in good repair and easily cleaned.MUST SEAL OPENING ON NORTH WALL IN BASEMENT AREA.
Ventilation: All plumbing fixtures, such as toilets, sinks, washbasins, etc., must be adequately trapped, vented, and re-vented and properly connected to the sewer in accordance with the plumbing chapter of the Municipal Code of Chicago and the Rules and Regulations of the Board of Health.MUST DETAIL VENTILATION COVERS IN TOILET ROOMS TO REMOVE DUST-BUILD UP.
All parts of the food establishment and all parts of the property used in connection with the operation of the establishment shall be kept neat and clean and should not produce any offensive odors.MUST REMOVE PERSONAL BELONGINGS FROM KITCHEN AREAS,ALL CLEANING EQUIPMENT MUST BE PROPERLY STORED IN DESIGNATED AREA.
MAR 122010PASSED4 violationsDETAILS
The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair.FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT REQUIRE A DETAIL CLEANING,SEAL NOTED OPENINGS ON FLOOR ALONG REAR DOOR.
The walls and ceilings shall be in good repair and easily cleaned.MUST SEAL ALL NOTICEABLE OPENINGS ON WALLS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT ESPECIALY ALONG EAST WALL BEHIND HOT WATER TANK LOCATION.
All food establishments that display, prepare, or store potentially hazardous foods shall have calibrated metal stem thermometers, provided and conspicuous, for refrigerated and hot food units.FOUND NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR MONITORING FOOD TEMPERATURES.
All parts of the food establishment and all parts of the property used in connection with the operation of the establishment shall be kept neat and clean and should not produce any offensive odors.REMOVE ALL CLUTTER FROM BASEMENT,REAR OF PREMISES.
Data sourced from Chicago Dept. of Public Health. We'd love to link you straight to this restaurant's record — turns out Chicago considers that a luxury. The full dataset is what's on offer →