SOUTHPORT GROCERY AND CAFE.

Chicago Health Dept

3552 N SOUTHPORT AVE · LAKEVIEW, CHICAGO

Passed most recent inspection (Mar 2026).

6 inspections on record since 2023 · Last inspected Mar 2026.

THE NUMBERS

INSPECTIONS

VIOLATIONS

total on record

LAST INSPECTED

MAR 2026

INSPECTION HISTORY

MAR 24

2026

PASS W/ CONDITIONS 4 violations

Serious Other

COMPLIANCE WITH VARIANCE/SPECIALIZED PROCESS/HACCP

FOUND NO HACCP ONSITE FOR PICKLING, CANNING, ACIDIFICATION, AND FERMINTATION AN HACCP IS REQUIRED FOR SAID PROCESSES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SUBMIT HACCP AND VARIANCE FOR APPROVAL FOR ALL PROCESS. ALL ITEMS 4004 POUNDS WITH A COST OF $35,000 TAGGED AT TIME OF INSPECTION, INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO NOT SALE OR CONSUME SAID PRODUCT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-005.CITATION ISSUED

Minor Other

VARIANCE OBTAINED FOR SPECIALIZED PROCESSING METHODS

FOUND NO VARIANCE ON-SITE FOR THE PICKLING, CANNING, ACIDIFICATION, AND FERMINTATION COOKING PROCESS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. CITATION CONSOLIDATED WITH ABOVE VIOLATION #29.

Minor Sanitation

UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED

OBSERVED PRESET TABLEWARE AT ALL DINING TABLES. INSTRUCTED THAT ALL PRESET TABLEWARE (UTENSILS AND GLASSWARE) SHALL BE PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION BY BEING WRAPPED, COVERED, OR SET TABLES UPON CUSTOMER ARRIVAL AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED 3 COMP SINK ON 2ND FLOOR DISH AREA LEAKING FROM PIPES BELOW 3RD BASIN INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN

MAY 14

2025

PASS 2 violations

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED SELF CLOSING DOOR DEVICE IN THE UNISEX EMPLOYEE WASHROOM LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR NOT WORKING. MUST INSTALL A WORKING SELF CLOSING DOOR DEVICE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON VENTILATION VENTS THROUGHOUT BASEMENT.MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED DUST AND DEBRIS INSIDE LIGHT SHIELDS COVERS THROUGHOUT BASEMENT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS ON WALLS BEHIND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK LOCATED IN THE 2ND FLOOR FOOD PREPARATION AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. OBSERVED DIRT AND FOOD DEBRIS UNDER FOOD STORAGE SHELVING AND UNDERNEATH DISHWASHING AREA IN FOOD PREPARATION LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR. OBSERVED DAMAGED AND BROKEN FLOOR TILES ON IN FRONT OF ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN FOOD PREPARATION AREA LOCATED IN THE 1ST FLOOR. MUST REPAIR/REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.

MAY 6

2025

FAIL 13 violations 1 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNS OR POSTERS NEAR HAND WASHING SINK IN FRONT COFFEE PREP AREA AND REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST PROVIDE HAND WASHING SIGNS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.

Serious Sanitation

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

OBSERVED FOOD ICE NOT PROTECTED FROM CONTAMINATION DURING STORAGE. OBSERVED ACCUMULATION OF BLACK AND PINK BUILD UP INSIDE ICE MACHINE DRIPPING INTO ICE. ICE IS BEING USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Minor Chemical Safety

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

ALL BULK FOOD CONTAINERS MUST BE PROPERLY LABELED WITH PRODUCT NAME WHEN NOT IN THE ORIGINAL CONTAINER.

Minor Employee Hygiene

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

OBSERVED EMPLOYEES PREPARING AND SERVING FOOD WITHOUT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. MUST WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS BEING PREPARED AND SERVED.

Minor Sanitation

WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED

OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS STORED ON TOP OF PREP TABLES IN FOOD PREPARATION AREAS IN THE 1ST AND 2ND FLOOR. MUST PROPERLY STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION WHEN NOT IN USE.

Minor Sanitation

IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

OBSERVED ICE SCOOPS STORED INSIDE ICE BUCKETS IN FRONT COFFEE STATION AREA. MUST PROPERLY STORE ICE SCOOPS IN A CLEAN CONTAINER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

MUST NOT USE TIN FOIL AS A LNER FOR COOKING EQUIPMENT IN FRONT PREP/SERVING LINE MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED EXCESSIVE OF ICE BUILD UP INSIDE CHEST FREEZER LOCATED IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED

OBSERVED SELF CLOSING DOOR DEVICE IN THE UNISEX EMPLOYEE WASHROOM LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR NOT WORKING. MUST INSTALL A WORKING SELF CLOSING DOOR DEVICE AND MAINTAIN.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Minor Food Storage & Handling

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

EMPLOYEES MUST NOT STORE PERSONAL BELONGINS IN FOOD PREPARATION AREAS OR FOOD STORAGE AREAS. MUST PROVIDE A DESIGNATED EMPLOYEE STORAGE AREA FOR PERSONAL BELONGINGS.

Minor Food Storage & Handling

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED BURN OUT LIGHT BULBS ON BASEMENT FOOD STORAGE AREA. MUST REPLACE BURN OUT LIGTHS AND MAINTAIN INTENSITY LIGHTING AT ALL TIMES.

Minor Facility Condition

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT#2597939 ON 07/23/2024. VIOLATION#55. OBSERVED PEELING CEILING PAINT ABOVE 1ST FLOOR REAR PREP AREA ABOVE PREP TABLE. MUST REMOVE PEELING CEILING PAINT AT SAID LOCATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.

JUL 23

2024

PASS 1 violation

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED PEELING CEILING PAINT ABOVE 1ST FLOOR REAR PREP AREA ABOVE PREP TABLE. MUST REMOVE PEELING CEILING PAINT AT SAID LOCATION.

JUL 16

2024

FAIL 4 violations

Serious Sanitation

FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED

OBSERVED ACCUMULATED BLACK DIRT BUILD UP INSIDE ICE MACHINE DRIPPING INTO ICE, ICE USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE BY DATE OF REINSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. ALL ICE INSIDE ICE MACHINE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED.

Minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP COOLERS REACH IN COOLERS CONDENSERS ALONG COOKLINE. MUST CLEAN COOLERS CONDENSERS AND MAINTAIN.

Serious Employee Hygiene

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

BROKEN CAULKING BETWEEN HANDWASHING SINK AND WALL AT 1ST FLOOR PREP AREA. REPAIR ISSUE.

Minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

OBSERVED PEELING CEILING PAINT ABOVE 1ST FLOOR REAR PREP AREA ABOVE PREP TABLE. MUST REMOVE PEELING CEILING PAINT AT SAID LOCATION.

show all 6 inspections →

AUG 15

2023

PASS 5 violations 2 CRITICAL

Critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

NO HANDSIGNAGE AT HANDWASHING SINK IN THE KITCHEN.SIGN MUST BE PROVIDED IN ALL HANDWASHING SINK

Critical Pest Activity

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

A GAP OF 1/4" AT BOTTOM FRONT DOOR. REPAIR ISSUE TO MINIMIZE PEST AND INSECT ENTRY

Minor Sanitation

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

INVERTED CLEAN PLATES ARE STORED ON PEELING WOOD SURFACE IN DINING AREA.INSRUCTED TO REMOVE OR PROVIDE FOOD GRADE MATERIAL TO STORE SAID PLATES TO MINIMIZE SOURCE CONTAMINATION

Serious Employee Hygiene

PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES

BROKEN CAULKING BETWEEN HANDWASHING SINK AMD WALL INSIDE THE EAST WASHROOM IN DINING AREA. REPAIR ISSUE

Minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

NO VENTILATION PROVIDED INSIDE THE STAFF WASHROOM AT SECOND FLOOR/BAKERY AREA.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE

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 →

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