Cafe L'appetito
Last inspected: Feb 10, 2026
90
Score
Across the available record, Cafe L'appetito has eight inspections on file, the first dated 2020. On Feb 10, 2026, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
The trend has not been favorable: recent inspections average around four violations each, up from closer to one violation before.
The pattern that stands out is “allergen training as required”, which has been cited four times.
That puts the facility ahead of the local pack: the average Chicago restaurant scores 81. On the whole, the file is mixed but not concerning.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 10, 2026
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: SMALL DRY STORAGE/SPICE/CONDIMENT CONTAINERS NOT LABELED WITH COMMON NAME. INSTD TO LABEL WITH COMMON NAME AND MAINTAIN
37
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: USE BLACK CRATES (MILK TYPE) TO STORE READY TO EAT VEGETABLES IN COOLERS. INSTD TO USE PROPER CONTAINERS THAT ARE SMOOTH, EVEN AND EASILY CLEANABLE
47
90
Jul 8, 2025
Routine
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CHICKEN AT 45F INSIDE OF THE 2-DOOR PREP COOLER. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN ALL COLD TCS FOODS BELOW 41F. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
22
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE DEEP FRYERS WITH A BUILDUP OF GREASE.
49
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEE WITH AN EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST SHOW VALID PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH AN EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST SHOW VALID PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
74
Jul 16, 2024
Routine
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER INTERNAL TEMPERATURES IN THE FRONT PREP COLD HOLDING UNIT, SUCH AS 15LBS OF AN ASSORTMENT OF LUNCHMEATS (HAM, PEPPERONI, CHICKEN, TURKEY) HELD AT 50.1F. THE MANAGER DISCARDED AND DENATURED A TOTAL OF 15LBS AT $150. ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST MAINTAIN 41F OR BELOW. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-005.
22
Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA. WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM THE 2ND SINK BASIN, WATER BACKS UP INTO THE 1ST AND 3RD SINK BASINS. THE PLUMBER REPAIRED THE SINK DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
48
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HAND SINK IN REAR PREP AREA NOT ACCESSIBLE. BASIN WAS FILLED WITH UTENSILS AND A PLASTIC FOOD CONTAINER. INSTRUCTED THAT SINK MUST BE ACCESSIBLE AND MAINTAINED AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED.
10
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING THROUGHOUT THE PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BROKEN DOOR HANDLES ON TWO DOOR REFRIGERATOR IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
47
64
Aug 9, 2023
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGER WITH AN EXPIRED ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATES ON SITE.
58
95
Oct 13, 2022
Routine
No violations found.
100
Feb 22, 2021
Routine
2 major violations.
View 2 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FACILITY WITH USE OF CDPH SAMPLE CLEAN-UP PROCEDURES AND MISSING ALL NECESSARY SUPPLIES NEEDED TO PROPERLY CLEAN UP ANY VOMIT OR DIARRHEA EVENTS THAT CAN POTENTIALLY OCCUR INSIDE OF THE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SUPPLIES FOR VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEAN UP AND HAVE A CORRESPONDING CLEAN-UP POLICY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: NOTED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION #58 REPORT #2356472 CONDUCTED ON 1/10/2020: INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-42-090. NO CITATION ISSUED.
60
82
Jan 13, 2020
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
90
Jan 10, 2020
License
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Food separated and protected
Inspector notes: THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA IS NOT PROTECTED FROM CUSTOMER ACCESS. AREA MUST HAVE A BARRIER BETWEEN CUSTOMER PICK UP AREA AND FOOD PREP AREA. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
15
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.
3
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS MUST OBTAIN THE REQUIRED FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
70
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cafe L'appetito last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cafe L'appetito on file is from Feb 10, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cafe L'appetito?
Across the inspection record, “allergen training as required” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Cafe L'appetito.
Has Cafe L'appetito's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Cafe L'appetito have averaged around four violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Cafe L'appetito 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 L'appetito inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cafe L'appetito is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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