Chicago
61
YOUR CALL

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

3631 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 · North Center · Restaurant · High risk
YOUR CALL
61/100

Troubled record — failed 3 of 7 inspections for documentation & training, food temperature

Inspections
7
4 passed
Last Inspected
2025-02-24
Pass Rate
57%
3 failures
Score
61/100
YOUR CALL
Passed most recent inspection (2025-02-24)
Failed 3 inspections (2024, 2023, 2022)
Documentation & Training issues found across 7 inspections
Food Temperature issues found across 3 inspections
Issues were corrected on re-inspection
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Sanitation minor 10×
📋
Documentation & Training critical
🌡
Food Temperature critical
📌
Other minor
📦
Food Storage & Handling minor
🔧
Facility Condition minor
🧼
Employee Hygiene critical
2025-02-24 Pass Canvass
1
minor Sanitation

IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED

OBSERVED SCOOPS FOR DRY STORAGE CONTAINERS BEING STORED DIRECTLY INSIDE OF THE CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY STORE ALL UTENSILS BETWEEN USE.

2024-03-29 Pass Canvass Re-Inspection

No violations found.

2024-03-21 Fail Canvass
1
minor Sanitation

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT DATED 6/13/23 INSPECTION # 2577387 #47 INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF ALL SURFACES OF ALL PREP COOLERS, ICE MACHINE, 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, 2 PRE...

2023-06-15 Pass Canvass Re-Inspection
6
minor Other

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

4-204.112(B) INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

minor Food Storage & Handling

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

3-302.12 INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (SUGAR, SALT ETC).

minor Sanitation

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

4-501.12 INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE GREEN STAINED CUTTING BOARDS WITH HEAVY DEEP SEAMS IN REAR PREP AREA.

minor Sanitation

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

4-101.19 INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING: INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL PREP COOLERS, ICE MACHINE, 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, (2) PREP SINKS (2) HANDSINKS, INTERIOR SURFACES OF CONVECTION OVENS, INTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL STORAG...

minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

4-602.13 INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR CABINET UNDER FRONT HAND AND PREP SINK AND UNDERNEATH ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA.

minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

6-201.11 INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS THROUGHOUT (FRONT/REAR PREP, FLOOR DRAINS, WASHROOM FLOOR AND IN DINING AREA) INCLUDING WALK-IN COOLER FLOORS.

2023-06-13 Fail Canvass
CRITICAL 12
critical Documentation & Training

PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES

PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.

critical Documentation & Training

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

FOUND NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS (CHICKEN, TURKEY, SANDWICHES, WRAPS, SMOOTHIES ETC) ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE, A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE ...

critical Documentation & Training

MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

FOUND NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY/TRAINING ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED

critical Employee Hygiene

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

FOUND HANDWASHING SINK INFRONT PREP AREA NOT PROPERLY MAINTAINED. INOPERABLE, NO HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO TEMPORARILY USE THE HANDSINK IN REAR PREP/DISHWASHING AREA. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-...

minor Food Temperature

APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED

OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING PROCEDURE IN FROZEN BAGS OF COOKED CHICKEN) IN A PREP SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT, THAWING MUST OCCUR UNDER REFRIGERATION THAT MAINTAINS THE FOOD TEMPERATURE AT 41.0F OR LESS OR COMPLETELY SUBMERGED UNDER RUNNING WATER OR TH...

minor Other

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.

minor Food Storage & Handling

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (SUGAR, SALT ETC).

minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING: INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL PREP COOLERS, ICE MACHINE, 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, (2) PREP SINKS (2) HANDSINKS, INTERIOR SURFACES OF CONVECTION OVENS, INTERIOR SURFACES OF ALL STORAGE AND PREP...

minor Sanitation

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

INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE GREEN STAINED CUTTING BOARDS WITH HEAVY DEEP SEAMS IN REAR PREP AREA.

minor Sanitation

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN INTERIOR CABINET UNDER FRONT HAND AND PREP SINK AND UNDERNEATH ICE BIN IN FRONT PREP AREA.

minor Sanitation

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOORS ALONG THE WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS THROUGHOUT (FRONT/REAR PREP, FLOOR DRAINS, WASHROOM FLOOR AND IN DINING AREA) INCLUDING WALK-IN COOLER FLOORS.

minor Documentation & Training

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED

PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATON NOT CORRECTED FROM INSPECTION REPORT# 2559650 ISSUED ON 06-22-2022 #58 - ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFIC...

2022-06-22 Pass License Re-Inspection
2
minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

6-304.11--OBSERVED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN UNISEX WASHROOMS NOT WORKING.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

minor Documentation & Training

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

2-102.13--ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE

2022-06-15 Fail License
CRITICAL 5
critical Documentation & Training

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE

OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE.INSTRUCTED TO COMPLY AND POST ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE AS REQUIRED.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012.

critical Food Temperature

ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE

OBSERVED INADEQUATE HOT RUNNING WATER AT HANDSINKS IN PREPS/DISHWASHING AREA. HOT WATER TEMPERATURE RANGING FROM (84.5 F-86.0 F).INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT HANDWASHING SINKS WATER TEMPERATURE MUST BE PROVIDED OF AT LEAST 100 F THROUGH A MIXING VALVE OR CO...

minor Food Temperature

THERMOMETERS PROVIDED & ACCURATE

OBSERVED NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR TAKING FOOD TEMPERATURES.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.

minor Facility Condition

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

OBSERVED MECHANICAL VENTILATION IN UNISEX WASHROOMS NOT WORKING.MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

minor Documentation & Training

ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED

ALLERGEN TRAINING IS REQUIRED FOR ALL EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO COMPLETE TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

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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 →
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