Ancient Grounds

1022 W Belmont Ave, Chicago, IL 60657
Café / Breakfast
Last inspected: Jan 6, 2026
95
Score
Low Risk

The health department has logged four inspections at Ancient Grounds, the earliest from 2023. The newest entry in the record is dated Jan 6, 2026. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near one violation per visit across recent inspections.

Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded two times.

That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. Overall, the inspection record reads well.

4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
1
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 6, 2026
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE ICE BIN INTERIOR IN NEED OF CLEANING. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE ICE, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
16
95
Jan 2, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jan 5, 2024
Routine
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM REPORT #2578291 DATED ON 07/06/23 NOT CORRECTED-#58 OBSERVED TWO CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS A CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE OBTAINS ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND RECEIVES CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-42-090.
60
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.
40
86
Jul 6, 2023
License
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THREE HOLES IN THE CEILING IN THE BASEMENT. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO SEAL HOLES AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR SMOOTHLY.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXPOSED BRICK WALLS IN THE DINING AREA OF THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO COVER AS WALLS SHOULD BE SEALED, SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TWO CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO IN CHARGE TO ENSURE THAT ANY INDIVIDUAL THAT HAS A CITY OF CHICAGO FOODSERVICE MANAGERS CERTIFICATE OBTAINS ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING AND RECEIVES CERTIFICATE.
58
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ADDITIONAL PREP/DUMP SINK IN THE FRONT PREPARATION/BEVERAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE AN ADDITIONAL PREP/DUMP SINK IN THE FRONT PREPARATION/BEVERAGE AREA.
51
82

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ancient Grounds last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Ancient Grounds on file is from Jan 6, 2026. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Ancient Grounds?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Ancient Grounds.

Has Ancient Grounds' inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Ancient Grounds have averaged around one violation per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Ancient Grounds means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.

How often is Ancient Grounds inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Ancient Grounds is inspected around two times per year on average.