SANITARY INSPECTION RECORD — CITY OF CHICAGO

LITEHOUSE ON 53RD ST.

EAT. 78/100

1368 E 53RD ST · HYDE PARK, CHICAGO

Last inspected May 30, 2025 · passed

3 of 5 inspections passed, with 3 critical violations on file.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS
5
3 passed · 1 w/ conditions · 1 failed
VIOLATIONS
22
includes 3 critical
RECORDS COVER
1 YEAR
since Jul 2023

INSPECTION HISTORY

MAY 30
2025
PASSED
9 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALEmployee Hygiene
ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGN AT HAND WASHING SINK IN FRONT WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS USED BY EMPLOYEES.

MINORFood Storage & Handling
CONTAMINATION PREVENTED DURING FOOD PREPARATION, STORAGE & DISPLAY

OBSERVED EMPLOYEE DRAINING PASTA INSIDE UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DISCARD AND PROPERLY DRAIN PASTA IN 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. UTILITY SINK IS FOR WASTEWATER DISPOSAL ONLY.

MINOREmployee Hygiene
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.

MINORSanitation
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZING SOLUTION BETWEEN USES.

MINORFood Storage & Handling
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED

OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES NOT INVERTED IN PREP AREA AND STORED ON FLOOR IN STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT AND ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES TO PROTECT FROM CONTAMINATION.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON VENITLATION FAN INSIDE STAFF WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES IN LOWERLEVEL PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.

MINOROther
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

OBSERVED NO VALID FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR EMPLOYEES. ALL EMPLOYEES MUST PROVIDE VALID FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

MINOROther
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

OBSERVED MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CERTIFIED MANAGER. ALL CERTIFIED MANAGERS MUST PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING.

DEC 3
2024
PASSED
0 violations
NOV 26
2024
FAILED
4 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALPest Activity
INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

OBSERVED 20 RAT DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR LOWER LEVEL UNDERNEATH A STORAGE RACK NEAR THE WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE, DETAIL CLEAN AFFECTED AREA AND CALL PEST CONTROL FOR SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION CITATION ISSUED #7-38-020(A).

MINORPest Activity
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED

OBSERVED MILK CRATES USED FOR ELEVATION OF STOCK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE PALLETS AND/OR SHELVING FOR PROPER CLEANING AND PEST MONITORING UNDERNEATH.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

MUST CLEAN SHELVING UNDERNEATH THE GRILLS TO REMOVE DEBRIS AND/OR GREASE.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

FLOORS NEED CLEANING IN THE REAR PREP AREA ALONG THE WALL AND IN CORNERS, ESPECIALLY WHERE DROPPINGS WERE FOUND.

APR 26
2024
PASSED
5 violations
DETAILS
MINOROther
THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN WORKING THERMOMETERS INSIDE COOLERS.

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

OBSERVED THE REAR 2 DOOR COOLER IN POOR REPAIR: RUBBER GASKET AT THE BOTTOM IS COMMING OFF. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.

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

OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINERS FOR SHELVING IN THE REAR. MUST REMOVE, MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

MINORSanitation
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE FRONT COOLERS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND/OR DEBRIS. ALSO CLEAN SHELVING UNDERNEATH THE COOKING EQUIPMENT.

MINORSanitation
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

FLOORS AND WALLS IN THE REAR PREP/DISH WASHING AREA NEED CLEANING TO REMOVE FOOD SPLATTER AND/OR BLACK SUBSTANCE(ABOVE 3 COMP SINK).

JUL 21
2023
PASS W/ CONDITIONS
4 violations1 CRITICAL
DETAILS
CRITICALDocumentation & Training
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.

MINORSanitation
TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED NO SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT THE WASHROOM DOOR IN THE DINING AREA; INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT DOOR.

MINOROther
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.

MINOROther
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.

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 →

NEARBY IN HYDE PARK