Bake
Last inspected: Jul 18, 2025
78
Score
Bake appears in inspection records 11 times, starting in 2010. Inspectors last stopped by on Jul 18, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Violation counts have held steady across recent visits, averaging around three violations each.
Looking across the full record, “food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed” is the recurring theme, flagged four times.
Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
11
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jul 18, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FACILITY, ORIGINAL CITY OF CHICAGO, FOOD SERVICE MANAGER, AND CERTIFICATE ON SITE. INFORMED PERSON IN CHARGE CITY OF CHICAGO ORIGINAL FOOD SERVICE CERTIFICATE MUST REMAIN POSTED ON SITE AND CERTIFIED MANAGER ON SITE DURING TCS FOOD PREP, COOKING, SERVING, AND OPERATING HOURS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN THE REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO CREATE A SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE. MUST MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAK AT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK FROM DRAIN AND PIPE UNDER, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
78
Apr 19, 2024
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FOUND NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES AT ICE MACHINE, ESPRESSO MACHINE, AND DRIP COFFEE MACHINES.MUST PROVIDE WHERE THEY CAN BE LOCATED AND SERVICED.
51
95
May 26, 2023
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SLIGHT PINK BUILD UP INSIDE ICE MACHINE. MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE AND MAINTAIN.
16
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE PREP AREA BULK CONTAINER NOT LABELED. MUST LABEL BULK CONTAINER.
37
90
Jul 20, 2022
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE BOTTOM SHELF OF THE PREP TABLE AND BULK FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS.
49
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.
58
90
Aug 26, 2021
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SLIGHT PINK BUILD UP INSIDE ICE MACHINE. MUST CLEAN INTERIOR OF ICE MACHINE AND MAINTAIN.
16
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES NOT LOCATED ON ICE MACHINE AND ESPRESSO MACHINE WATER LINES. MUST PROVIDE AND MAKE VISIBLE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES FOR SAID LOCATIONS.
51
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 3-COMPARTMENT SINK MISSING STOPPERS (X2). INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE WORKING STOPPERS FOR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK.
51
86
Jul 31, 2020
Routine
3 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY MUST BE PROVIDED FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN UP PROCEDURE OR SUPPLIES ON THE PREMISES TO RESPOND TO VOMIT AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS. MUST PROVIDE BOTH. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO METAL STEM PROBE THERMOMETER PROVIDED ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
36
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: REPAIR THE LEAK BELOW THE LEFT COMPARTMENT OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.
58
67
Aug 31, 2017
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BULK FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS NOT PROPERLY LABELED IN REAR PREP AREA. MUST LABEL AND DATE
30
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: STOPPERS NEEDED AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR DISHWASHING AREA. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
38
90
Oct 13, 2016
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: NOTED TORN RUBBER GASKETS AT THE 2 DOOR REFRIGERATION UNITS OF THE FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
32
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: NOTED EMPLOYEES ON DUTY WITH NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL EMPLOYEE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
45
90
Oct 5, 2016
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Dish machines: provided with accurate thermometers, chemical test kits and suitable gauge cock
Inspector notes: NOTED NO CHEMICAL TEST STRIPS ON SITE TO TEST THE SANITIZING STRENGTH OF THE CHEMICAL AT THE FINAL RINSE. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A CHEMICAL TEST STRIP AT ALL TIMES. SERIOUS VIOLATION #7-38-030
22
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: NOTED TORN RUBBER GASKETS AT THE 2 DOOR REFRIGERATION UNITS OF THE FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN...NOTED THE REAR HAND WASH SINK BY THE PREP TABLE WITH NO SPLASH GUARD. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A SPLASH GUARD BY THE PREP TABLE SIDE.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: NOTED HEAVY ICE BUILD UP INSIDE THE 2 DOOR UPRIGHT REFRIGERATION UNIT. INSTRUCTED TO DEFROST, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
33
Food handler requirements met
Inspector notes: NOTED EMPLOYEES ON DUTY WITH NO FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL EMPLOYEE FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
45
82
May 15, 2015
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED RUSTY STORAGE SHELVING IN REAR PREP AREA. MUST REPAINT OR REPLACE.
32
Toilet room doors self closing: dressing rooms with lockers provided: complete separation from living/sleeping quarters
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUSTOMER'S WASHROOM DOOR NOT SELF-CLOSING. MUST PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE FOR THE WASHROOM.
37
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: THERMOMETER NEEDED AT FRONT SELLING AREA 2-DOOR MILK REFRIGERATOR. MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.
40
86
Dec 9, 2010
Routine
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Clean multi-use utensils and single service articles properly stored: no reuse of single service articles
Inspector notes: Containers and utensils shall be inverted, covered, or otherwise protected from contamination until used. All single-service drinking straws and containers shall be discarded immediately after use. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL CLEAN UTENSILS ON SHELVING UNITS IN KITCHEN .
31
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: All food and non-food contact equipment and utensils shall be smooth, easily cleanable, and durable, and shall be in good repair. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SPLASH GUARD PROTECTION ON EXPOSE HAND SINK IN KITCHEN BY DOUGH MIXER PREP SIDE.
32
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector notes: All food and non-food contact surfaces of equipment and all food storage utensils shall be thoroughly cleaned and sanitized daily. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN DEBRIS AND STAINS ON 1COMP.SINK,EXPOSE HAND WASH SINK,MOP SINK,CABINET UNDER EXPOSE HAND SINK,DRY STORAGE FOOD CONTAINER LID,INSIDE ICE MACHINE WALLS, AND COUNTER AT COFFEE PREP AREA AT FRONT PREP/SERVING AREA, EXTERIOR OF BAKE OVEN WALLS,EXPOSE HAND WASH SINK,AND SINK DRAINERS ON 3COMP.SINK IN KITCHEN.ALSO STORAGE SHELVES IN BASEMENT WITH DEBRIS.
33
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: The floors shall be constructed per code, be smooth and easily cleaned, and be kept clean and in good repair. INSTRUCTED TO FLOORS IN BASEMENT WITH DEBRIS.
34
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: The walls and ceilings shall be in good repair and easily cleaned. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PEELING WALLS IN BASEMENT AT STORAGE SHELF AREA.
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: 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. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR PIPE LEAKING WATER ON FLOOR IN BASEMENT.
38
74
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Bake last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Bake on file is from Jul 18, 2025. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Bake?
Across the inspection record, “food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Bake.
Has Bake's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Bake have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Bake 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 Bake inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Bake is inspected about once every two years on average.
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