Believe Cafe
Last inspected: Apr 17, 2026
100
Score
Going back to 2024, Believe Cafe has five inspections in the public record. The most recent visit was on Apr 17, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around eight violations to closer to zero violations per visit over the last few inspections.
“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” comes up most often, recorded eight times in the inspection record.
That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
5
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Apr 17, 2026
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
May 27, 2025
Complaint
1 major violation. 10 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Summary report displayed and visible to the public
Inspector notes: FOUND NO INSPECTION SUMMARY REPORT POSTED (03-18-2025) ON PREMISE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER, A SUMMARY REPORT MUST BE DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-010 (B) CITATION ISSUED
61
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CARDBOARD LINER UNDERNEATH THE CONVEYOR OVEN IN THE KITCHEN.
47
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: TOILET ROOM DOOR MUST BE SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL SELF CLOSING DEVICE.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL FLOOR BASEBOARD AROUND THE FRONT DINING/SERVICE AREA.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO SEAL HOLE ON WALL AROUND MOPSINK FAUCET HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLE. AND HOLE ON WALL AROUND PIPE INSIDE THE WASHROOM.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, REORGANIZE AND REMOVE UNNECESSARY ARTICLES STORED IN THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA TO PREVENT PEST HARBORAGE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LOOSE CEILING TILES ABOVE THE COOKING AREA.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS THROUGHOUT THE BASEMENT STORAGE AREA.
55
Approved thawing methods used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING PROCEDURE ON FROZEN PORK. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT, THAWING MUST OCCUR UNDER REFRIGERATION THAT MAINTAINS THE FOOD TEMPERATURE AT 41.0F OR LESS OR COMPLETELY SUBMERGED UNDER RUNNING WATER OR THAWED IN A MICROWAVE OVEN AND IMMEDIATELY TRANSFERRED TO CONVENTIONAL COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH NO INTERRUPTION IN THE PROCESS. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN CORRECT THAWING PROCEDURES.
35
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE THERMOMETER VISIBLE INSIDE ALL COOLERS.
36
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (RICE, FLOUR ETC)
37
55
Mar 18, 2025
Reinspection
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.11 OBSERVED HOLE WALL NEAR HANDWASHING SINK IN THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TOILET SEAT COVER IN POOR REPAIR. INSTRCUTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR TOILET SEAT COVER AND MAINTAIN.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 OBSERVED ONE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO COMPLY WITH IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT HOLD A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE OBTAIN ALLERGEN AWARENES TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFCATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
58
82
Mar 11, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR MEASURING THE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF HOT AND COLD FOODS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE A METAL STEM THERMOMETER FOR MEASURING HOT AND COLD FOODS AND MAINTAIN.
36
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HOLE WALL NEAR HANDWASHING SINK IN THE EMPLOYEE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO COMPLY WITH IDPH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGER WITHOUT ALLERGEN AWARENESS AWARENESS TRAINING CERTIFICATE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO ENSURE ALL INDIVIDUALS THAT HOLD A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGER CERTIFICATE OBTAIN ALLERGEN AWARENES TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFCATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
58
78
Aug 16, 2024
License
2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NOTED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION FOLLOWING THE NEW CODE AND GUIDELINES. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE VERIFICATION OF POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE ONE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED TODAY
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: MANAGEMENT UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PROCEDURE FOR CLEANING UP VOMITING AND DIARRHEA.INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ONE INCLUDING THE CHEMICALS AND SUPPLIES NEEDED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NOTED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT THE EXPOSED HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
10
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED UNFINISHED WOOD USED FOR SHELVING AT THE FRONT COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE SHELVES WITH NON POROUS WOOD THAT ARE EASILY CLEANABLE AND MAINTAINED.
47
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED THE BATHROOM DOOR AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE AT THE DOOR AND MAINTAIN.
53
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: NOTED WASH ROOM ON PREMISE WITH GARBAGE RECEPTACLE AND NO LIDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE TRASH CANS WITH LIDS AT ALL WOMEN WASH ROOMS AND UNISEX WASH ROOM
53
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: NOTED NO WORKING VENTILATION INSIDE TOILET ON PREMISE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND HAVE A WORKING VENTILATION INSIDE ALL TOILETS.
56
64
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Believe Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Believe Cafe on file is from Apr 17, 2026. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Believe Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited eight times, more than any other issue at Believe Cafe.
Has Believe Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Believe Cafe have averaged around zero violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Believe Cafe 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 Believe Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Believe Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
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