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Cafe Descartes Company

680 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60611
Café / Breakfast
Last inspected: Oct 27, 2014
86
Score
Low Risk

The health department has logged three inspections at Cafe Descartes Company, the earliest from 2012. Inspectors last stopped by on Oct 27, 2014. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit. Note that Cafe Descartes Company's inspection history hasn't been updated since Oct 27, 2014; current conditions may have shifted from what the file shows.

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

When inspectors have written things up, “food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored” has been the most frequent reason, cited two times.

Cafe Descartes Company's latest score of 86 sits above the Chicago average of 81. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.

3
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 27, 2014
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A LEAK AT THE PLUMBING UNDER THE MIDDLE BASIN OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING.
38
Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS IN THE PREP AREA WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE HANDLING FOOD.
42
Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED WIPING CLOTHS ON COUNTER TOPS AND ON THE ESPRESSO MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE SOILED WIPING CLOTHS IN SANITIZER.
43
86
Nov 6, 2013
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
* certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served
Inspector notes: NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER PRESENT WITH A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ARE BEING PREPARED AND SERVED. PREMISES SERVES MILK BASED COFFEE DRAINKS, SANDWICHES, YOGURT AND PASTRIES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT A CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER MUST BE PRESENT AT ALL TIMES WHILE POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD IS BEING PREPARED OR SERVED. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-012.
21
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE THERMOMETERS INSIDE OF ALL COOLERS.
40
90
Apr 25, 2012
License
7 minor violations.
View 7 violations
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. RUSTY SHELVES NOTED ABOVE 3-COMP SINK, INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
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. INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MAKER NOT CLEAN, INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
33
Lighting: required minimum foot-candles of light provided, fixtures shielded
Inspector notes: Shielding to protect against broken glass falling into food shall be provided for all artificial lighting sources in preparation, service, and display facilities. MISSING LIGHT SHIELD AT PACKAGED SANWICHES COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.
36
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. LEAKY PIPE UNDER 3-COMP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
38
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. ICE CREAM DIPPER WELL NOT DRAINING PROPERLY, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.
38
Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous
Inspector notes: All food establishments that display, prepare, or store potentially hazardous foods shall have calibrated metal stem thermometers, provided and conspicuous, for refrigerated and hot food units. MISSING THERMOMETERS IN PREP AND DISPLAY COOLERS.
40
Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
Inspector notes: Between uses and during storage ice dispensing utensils and ice receptacles shall be stored in a way that protects them from contamination. ICE SCOOP STORED ON ICE CUBES. INSTRUCTED TO STORE OFF CUBES IN A CLEAN AREA.
43
70

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Cafe Descartes Company last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Cafe Descartes Company on file is from Oct 27, 2014. The public record contains three inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Cafe Descartes Company?

Across the inspection record, “food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Cafe Descartes Company.

Has Cafe Descartes Company's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cafe Descartes Company have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

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

Nearby Restaurants
Bistro Pacific Restaurant
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Score: 61 — Medium Risk
The Italian Coffee Bar
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Score: 100 — Low Risk
Cafe' Descartes Company
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Score: 90 — Low Risk
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