Cafe Descartes Midway Jv
Last inspected: Dec 15, 2025
100
Score
Going back to 2021, Cafe Descartes Midway Jv has 11 inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 15, 2025. A low risk tier reflects an inspection that turned up minimal issues.
There hasn't been much movement either way: counts have stayed near two violations per visit across recent inspections.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “allergen training as required”, showing up four times.
Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. Overall, the inspection record reads well.
11
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 15, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Apr 25, 2025
Routine
No violations found.
100
Dec 10, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLERS WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTD TO WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS AND MAINTAIN. MALE FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT BEARD RESTRAINT. INSTD TO WEAR BEARD RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES
40
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN
58
90
Mar 21, 2024
Routine
No violations found.
100
Nov 30, 2023
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.
58
95
Jul 27, 2023
Routine
2 major violations. 4 minor violations.
View 6 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE OR VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED. A CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED
2
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION
1
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.
40
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SINGLE SERVICE CUPS STORED ON FLOOR IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ELEVATE ALL SINGLE SERVICE ARTICLES SIX INCHES OFF FLOOR.
45
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO THERMOMETERS INSIDE PREP COOLERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE THERMOMETERS IN ALL COOLERS.
36
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD ITEMS STORED INSIDE CABINET UNDER FRONT HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE ALL FOOD ITEMS TO PROTECT FROM POTENTIAL LEAKAGE.
39
67
Nov 30, 2022
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: PEELING PAINT ON CEILING IN REAR NEAR OVEN. INSTD TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN
55
95
Jul 11, 2022
Routine
1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY NOR VALID CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE POSTED WHILE HANDLING TCS FOODS (MILK, EGGS, ETC). INSTD TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN ORIGINAL CERTIFICATES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. CITATION ISSUED PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012
2
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: PIC IN CHARGE WITHOUT VALID CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFICATE. INSTD TO HAVE ORIGINAL ON SITE AT ALL TIMES AND MAINTAIN ON SITE
1
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: CLEAN KNIFE STORED IN ALUMINUM FOIL COVERING. INSTD TO STORE PROPERLY.
43
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: NO VENTILATION ABOVE TURBO OVEN. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION AND MAINTAIN
56
78
Nov 19, 2021
Routine
No violations found.
100
Jun 30, 2021
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: 4-301.14: NO VENTILATION ABOVE TURBO OVEN. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION AND MAINTAIN
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: 2-102.13: MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGERS. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION
58
90
Jun 24, 2021
License
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: 3 REFRIGERATION UNITS NOT ON. INSTD TO HAVE ALL REFRIGERATION UNITS ON AND ABLE TO MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005
33
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: 3-COMPARTMENT SINK ON SITE NOT LARGE ENOUGH FOR COMPLETE SUBMERSION OF LARGE MULTI USE EQUIPMENT (COFFEE URNS). INSTD TO PROVIDE LARGER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK THAT ALLOWS COMPLETE SUBMERSION OF LARGEST PIECE OF EQUIPMENT IN BASINS TO PROPERLY WASH, RINSE AND SANITIZE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025
48
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKLOW DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. INSTD TO LOCATE AND PROVIDE ACCESS TO BACKFLOW DEVICE FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE
51
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: NO VENTILATION ABOVE TURBO OVEN. INSTD TO PROVIDE PROPER VENTILATION AND MAINTAIN
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED FOR CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED MANAGERS. INSTD TO OBTAIN TRAINING AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION
58
67
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cafe Descartes Midway Jv last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cafe Descartes Midway Jv on file is from Dec 15, 2025. The public record contains 11 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cafe Descartes Midway Jv?
Across the inspection record, “allergen training as required” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Cafe Descartes Midway Jv.
Has Cafe Descartes Midway Jv's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cafe Descartes Midway Jv have averaged around two violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Cafe Descartes Midway Jv 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 Cafe Descartes Midway Jv inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cafe Descartes Midway Jv is inspected around two times per year on average.
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