Ancient Grounds

5242 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60630
Café / Breakfast
Last inspected: Oct 1, 2025
90
Score
Low Risk

Ancient Grounds has only two inspections on file, a thin record to work from. The most recent report on file is from Oct 1, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.

Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around two violations compared to roughly four violations earlier on.

Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.

That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

2
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 1, 2025
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED OPEN CEILING WITH WATER PIPES, ELECTRICAL CONDUITS, SKY LIGHT WINDOW ABOVE THE FOOD PREP AREA. MUST INSTALL A SMOOTH CLEANABLE CEILING ABOVE THE FOOD PREP AREA.----NOTED ROUGH, RAW BRICK WALLS WITH POROUS, OPEN CRACKS AND CREVICES BEHIND AND NEXT TO BOTH WASHROOMS TOILETS AND URINALS. MUST MAKE WALLS SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE AROUND AND BEHIND NOTED AREAS.
55
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN THE ONE COMPARTMENT PREP/DUMP SINK AND THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
39
90
Sep 19, 2025
License
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: INADEQUATE HOT WATER AT THE PREP/DISH HAND WASHING SINK. MAXIMUM TEMPERATURE NOTED AT 97.8F. MUST PROVIDE A MINIMUM OF 100F FOR THE HAND WASHING SINK. PRIORITY VIOLATION.
10
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: NO IRREVERSIBLE REGISTERING TEMPERATURE INDICATOR ON SITE FOR THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISHWASHING MACHINE. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION.
48
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: MUST INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN THE ONE COMPARTMENT PREP/DUMP SINK AND THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
39
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED OPEN CEILING WITH WATER PIPES, ELECTRICAL CONDUITS, SKY LIGHT WINDOW ABOVE THE FOOD PREP AREA. MUST INSTALL A SMOOTH CLEANABLE CEILING ABOVE THE FOOD PREP AREA.----NOTED ROUGH, RAW BRICK WALLS WITH POROUS, OPEN CRACKS AND CREVICES BEHIND AND NEXT TO BOTH WASHROOMS TOILETS AND URINALS. MUST MAKE WALLS SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE AROUND AND BEHIND NOTED AREAS.
55
70

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Ancient Grounds last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Ancient Grounds on file is from Oct 1, 2025. The public record contains two 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?

Yes. Recent inspections at Ancient Grounds have averaged around two violations per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the 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.