Boar's Head Cafe

125 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Oct 31, 2025

100

Score

Low Risk

Inspectors have visited Boar's Head Cafe seven times, with records going back to 2020. The latest inspection on file is from Oct 31, 2025. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.

Things have been moving in the right direction, with the rolling count dropping from around three violations to closer to one violation per visit.

The pattern that stands out is “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, which has been cited two times.

The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Boar's Head Cafe on the better side of that line. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Oct 31, 2025

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Oct 24, 2025

Routine

1 major violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: FOUND FRUIT FLY ACTIVITY AT PREMISES.OBSERVED 30 FRUIT FLIES ON WALLS AT STORAGE AREAS.PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED.7-38-020A. MUST NOTIFY PEST CONTROL OPERATOR AND ELIMINATE FRUIT FLIES.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FOUND FLOORS NOT CLEAN AT FRONT OF PREMISES UNDER EQUIPMENT/COFFEE STATION AREAS.MUST CLEAN.

Jul 31, 2024

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: Obstructed hand wash sink at front prep station, found a bussing tub placed in hand wash sink, instructed to keep all hand wash sinks free from any obstruction. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c)

Jun 20, 2023

Complaint

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS PREPPING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT.

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE WALK-IN COOLER. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.

Dec 14, 2022

Routine

1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: FOUND HANDWASHING SINK WATER TEMPERATURE RANGE BETWEEN AT 91.3F - 92F LOCATED AT TWO FRONT FOOD PREPARATION AREA HANDWASHING SINKS. ALSO NOTED HANDWASHING SINK WATER TEMPERATURE AT 83F LOCATED IN REAR PREP/ DISHWASHING AREA. MUST PROVIDE A MINIMUM HOT WATER TEMPERATURE OF 100F AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION.7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED. CFM SERVICED SAID HANDWASHING SINKS AT TIME OF INSPECTION.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: 3-602.11(A; B:1-4,6,7; C; D) FOUND SANDWICHES AND SALADS PREPACKAGED FOR SELF SERVICE.MUST PROVIDE THE COMMON NAME OF THE FOOD, A LIST OF INGREDIENTS AND SUB-INGREDIENTS, THE NAME AND PLACE OF BUSINESS (CITY AND ZIPCODE) OF THE MANUFACTURER, PACKER, OR DISTRIBUTOR; AND THE NAME OF THE FOOD SOURCE FOR EACH MAJOR FOOD ALLERGEN CONTAINED IN THE FOOD. ( EX. CONTAINS MILK). INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FOUND FOOD DEBRIS AND SPILLAGE UNDER COFFEE STATION INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN SANITIZE AND MAINTAIN.

Aug 9, 2021

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 SITE. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO ESTABLISH AN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY AND MAINTAIN WITH VERIFIABLE SIGNED COPIES ON SITE FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF REPORTING AGREEMENT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-010.

Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN PROCEDURES AND INAQEDUATE SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. SUPPLIES MUST INCLUDE ADEQUATE SANITIZER THAT ELIMINATES NOROVIRUS. INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO PROVIDE CLEAN UP POLICY AND SUPPLIES TO PROPERLY HANDLE BODILY FLUID SPILLS ON SITE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005.

Previous core violation corrected

Inspector notes: NOTED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION #58 NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2386953 CONDUCTED ON 9/9/2020: (#58) 2-102.13: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-42-090.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN FRONT EXPOSED HANDSINK IN SANDWICH PREP AREA AND SURROUNDING PREP TABLE WHERE EQUIPMENT IS STORED. MUST INSTALL A WASHABLE SPLASHGUARD.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF TRAINING FOR ALL FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN RECORDS AT ALL TIMES.

Sep 9, 2020

License

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITHOUT AN ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS OBTAIN THIS CERTIFICATE.

Show all 7 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Boar's Head Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Boar's Head Cafe on file is from Oct 31, 2025. The public record contains seven inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Boar's Head Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Boar's Head Cafe.

Has Boar's Head Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Boar's Head Cafe have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Boar's Head 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 Boar's Head Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Boar's Head Cafe is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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