PLAZA CAFE.

Chicago Health Dept

540 W MADISON ST · WEST LOOP, CHICAGO

Failed most recent inspection (Sep 2015).

10 inspections on record since 2010 · Last inspected Sep 2015.

Last inspected Sep 2015. Records may not reflect current conditions.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

SEP 2015

INSPECTION HISTORY

SEP 25

2015

FAIL 8 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

NOTED EVIDENCE OF INSECTS ON SITE. NOTED APPROXIMATELY 25 LIVE FLIES IN THE MENS LOCKER ROOM, 20 IN THE REAR PREP AREA, 40 NEAR THE LARGE ICE MACHINES,25 IN THE DRY GOODS STORAGE CLOSET NEAR THE ICE MACHINES, 25 IN THE DISH WASHING AREAS AND THROUGHOUT HALLWAYS. MUST REMOVE INSECTS, SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND HAVE THE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE AREAS. SERIOUS CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST REPAIR BROKEN CABINET IN THE COFFEE PREP AREA AND REMOVE TAPE. REPAIR BROKEN CABINET DOOR UNDERNEATH THE SODA DISPENSER.

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST DETAIL CLEAN VENT COVERS IN EMPLOYEE LOCKER ROOMS AND REMOVE DUST BUILD UP. ALSO DETAIL CLEAN FRYERS,ALL OTHER COOKING EQUIPMENT AND VENTILATION HOODS THROUGHOUT ALL PREP AREAS AND REMOVE GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP. DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF EACH ICE MACHINE. MUST DETAIL CLEAN THE EXTERIOR OF BULK FOOD ITEM COMTAINERS. DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF UNDER COUNTER STORAGE CABINETS IN THE GRILL, COFFEE AND DELI AREAS.

Minor Sanitation

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

MUST DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS IN WALK IN COOLERS AS NEEDED, IN DRY STORAGE CLOSETS UNDER SHELVING AND IN EMPLOYEE LOCKER ROOMS. MUST ALSO DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS IN PREP AREAS UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT AND SINKS. KEEP FLOORS DRY UNDER THE ICE MACHINES.

Minor Sanitation

WALLS, CEILINGS, ATTACHED EQUIPMENT CONSTRUCTED PER CODE: GOOD REPAIR, SURFACES CLEAN AND DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS

MUST DETAIL CLEAN WALLS IN PREP AREAS BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT, UNDER SINKS AND THROUGHOUT AS NEEDED. ALSO CLEAN WALLS IN EMPLOYEE LOCKER ROOMS. DETAIL CLEAN DUSTY CEILING TILES IN PREP AND DISHWASHING AREAS AS NEEDED.

Minor Facility Condition

LIGHTING: REQUIRED MINIMUM FOOT-CANDLES OF LIGHT PROVIDED, FIXTURES SHIELDED

REPLACE BURNED OUT LIGHT BULBS IN THE BEVERAGE WALK IN COOLER.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

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

MUST INSTALL A GREASE TRAP AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK OR PROVIDE PROOF OF INSTALLATION. MUST REPAIR THE LEAKY PIPES UNDERNEATH THE HANDSINK ACROSS FROM THE POT WASHER. REPAIR LEAKS UNDER THE TWO LARGE ICE MACHINES. MUST REPAIR LEAKY PIPES UNDERNEATH THE HAND SINK IN THE GRILL PREP AREA. MUST INSTALL A BACK FLOW DEVICE AT THE SODA DISPENSER OR PROVIDE PROOF OF INSTALLATION.

Minor Sanitation

PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED

MINIMIZE CLUTTER IN THE HALLWAYS, PREP AREAS AND IN THE UNUSED PREP AREA OUTSIDE OF THE BEVERAGE COOLER. MUST REMOVE UNUSED EQUIPMENT.

FEB 5

2015

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 6 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

HAND WASHING FACILITIES: WITH SOAP AND SANITARY HAND DRYING DEVICES, CONVENIENT AND ACCESSIBLE TO FOOD PREP AREA

NO SOAP OR SANITARY HAND DRYING DEVICE LOCATED AT THE HAND SINK IN THE COFFEE PREP AREA. ALSO, OBSERVED THE HAND SINK IN THE COFFEE PREP AREA OBSTRUCTED WITH A SIGN AND THE HAND SINK IN THE GRILL PREP AREA OBSTRUCTED WITH A FOOD HANDLERS PERSONAL BEVERAGE CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE SOAP AND PAPER TOWELS AT EMPLOYEE HAND WASHING FACILITIES IN THE COFFEE PREP AREA AND INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL ITEMS OBSTRUCTING EMPLOYEE HAND SINKS. EMPLOYEE HAND WASHING FACILITIES MUST BE READILY ACCESSIBLE AT ALL TIMES AND SOAP AND SANITARY HAND DRYING DEVICE MUST BE PROVIDED AT ALLL TIMES. CRITICAL CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030

Minor Sanitation

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

MUST DETAIL CLEAN THE EXTERIOR OF FRYERS IN THE GRILL PREP AREA, DETAIL CLEAN COUNTER TOPS, EQUIPMENT AND SINKS IN THE COFFEE PREP AREA. DETAIL CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF STORAGE CABINETS IN THE SELF SERVICE CONDIMENT AREA NEAR REGISTERS. MUST ALSO DETAIL CLEAN THE VENT COVERS IN THE FOOD SERVICE STAFF WASHROOMS. (LOCKER ROOMS)

Minor Sanitation

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS IN PREP AND DISHWASHING AREAS AS NEEDED. REMOVE ANY FOOD DEBRIS AND KEEP FLOORS DRY.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

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

MUST REPAIR THE LEAKY FAUCET AT THE HAND SINK NEXT TO THE REAR BEVERAGE WALK IN COOLER. MUST ALSO REPAIR THE LEAKY PIPES UNDERNEATH THE LARGE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. MINIMIZE FOUL ODORS IN THE FOOD SERVICE STAFF WOMENS WASHROOM.(LOCKER ROOM)

Minor Sanitation

PREMISES MAINTAINED FREE OF LITTER, UNNECESSARY ARTICLES, CLEANING EQUIPMENT PROPERLY STORED

MUST REMOVE ALL UNNECESSARY CLUTTER IN THE REAR STORAGE AREA DIRECTLY OUTSIDE OF THE REAR BEVERAGE COOLER.

Minor Sanitation

FOOD (ICE) DISPENSING UTENSILS, WASH CLOTHS PROPERLY STORED

MUST PROPERLY STORE WASH RAGS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

AUG 21

2014

PASS · 0 violations

AUG 6

2014

PASS 3 violations

Minor Sanitation

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

INTERIOR ICE MACHINE UPPER METAL PANEL AND RUBBER DOOR GASKET NEEDS CLEANING.

Minor Sanitation

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

BOTH FLOOR DRAINS IN FLAT GRILL PREP WITH FOOD DEBRIS AND ONE WITH EXCESSIVE GREASE. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

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

NO HOT OR COLD RUNNING WATER SOURCE ABOVE FROZEN YOGURT MACHINE TO ENABLE PROPER WASHING, RINSING AND SANITIZING. MUST INSTALL HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER. MACHINE TAGGED HELD FOR INSPECTION AND MUST NOT USE UNTIL WATER SOURCE PROVIDED.

NOV 26

2013

PASS 2 violations

Minor Sanitation

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

CLEAN THE FOLLOWING IN THE GRILL AREA: BOTTOM REFRIGERATION DRAWERS UNDER GRILLS, EXTERIOR SURFACES OF REFRIGERATION UNITS AND FRYERS, INTERIOR BOTTOMS OF FRYERS. CLEAN HOODED SYSTEM ABOVE GRILLS.

Minor Sanitation

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

CLEAN FLOOR IN GRILL AREA AND FLOOR DRAIN NEAR ICE MACHINES.

show all 10 inspections →

JUN 14

2013

PASS · 0 violations

JUN 20

2012

PASS · 0 violations

JUN 12

2012

FAIL 3 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

DURING INSPECTION OBSERVED 15 DRAIN FLIES SCATTERED THROUGHOUT REAR KITCHEN HALLWAY CEILING TILES LEADING TO THE DRY STORAGE AREA. RECOMMEND PEST CONTROL PROVIDE SERVICE PRIOR TO 6/19/2012.MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE ABOVE MENTIONED AREAS.CITATION ISSUED H000076821 17

Minor Food Temperature

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

MUST CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL FLOOR DRAINS LOCATED AT MAIN KITCHEN AREA AND DISHROOM. MUST DRY WET FLOOR UNDER UPRIGHT HOT HOLDING UNIT.

Minor Food Temperature

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

MUST ADJUST TEMPERATURE VALVE AT LADIES RESTROOM.

AUG 13

2010

PASS · 0 violations

AUG 6

2010

FAIL 5 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Pest Activity

NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS

All necessary control measures shall be used to effectively minimize or eliminate the presence of rodents, roaches, and other vermin and insects on the premises of all food establishments, in food-transporting vehicles, and in vending machines. Noted 23-small/fruit flies on walls & ceiling of the main dishroom towards the entry door; 10-on walls & ceiling in back hallway by empty garbage bins. Instructed to eliminat/minimize pest activity, clean/sanitize affected areas & contact P.C.O.

Minor Sanitation

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

All food and non-food contact equipment and utensils shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, and shall be in good repair. Must fix broken door hinges on cabinet doors at various stations.

Minor Sanitation

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

All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily. Following need cleaning: bottom of grills, interior bottom of fryers -due to food debris, grease or dust.

Minor Sanitation

FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED

The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. Floors along wallbases under prep stations need cleaning. Must clean floors of walk-in cooler also.

Minor Plumbing & Waste

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

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. Leak noted under the drip pan of soda dispenser-must fix.

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 →

Report an error on this page →