Chef Rafael & Son's
Last inspected: May 16, 2025
55
Score
Public records show six inspections at Chef Rafael & Son's stretching back to 2016. On May 16, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around two violations to closer to six violations.
The pattern that stands out is “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, which has been cited three times.
Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so Chef Rafael & Son's trails the local norm. The inspection history reads as standard for a restaurant of this size.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
2
Major latest
8
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 16, 2025
Routine
2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 10 violations
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE POSTED NOR PROVIDED ON SITE FOR PRESENT MANAGER ON DUTY AT STARBUCKS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION: 7-38-012, CITATION ISSUED.
2
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: PERSON IN CHARGE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO SANITATION CERTIFICATE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION ISSUED
1
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: GREASE ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT IN PREP AREA.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATE PROVIDED ON SITE,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS
58
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: MUST LABEL DRY FOOD CONTAINERS WITH COMMON NAME:RICE,SUGAR ETC.
37
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: MESH AT SCREEN SIDE DOOR BROKEN,INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE TO MINIMIZE PEST/INSECT ENTRY
38
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE TAPE AS PADDING FOR THE CORNER OF THE METAL SPLASHGUARD AT HANDWSHING SINK IN REAR PREP AREA.REMOVE TAPE OR PROVIDE A NEW SPLAHGUARD.SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH CLEANABLE AND NON-ABSORBENT MATERIAL
45
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: ACCUMULATED GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS ON WALLS, UTILITY CONNECTIONS AND EQUIPMENT SURFACES BEHIND COOKING LINE. ALSO INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR OF FLAT GRILL.MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: REPAIR LEAKING PIPE UNDER THE HANDWASH SINK INSIDE THE CABINET AT FRONT SERVING AREA.REPLACE HOT WATER HANDLE AT FAUCET OF HANDWSHING SINK IN THE KITCHEN
51
55
Aug 9, 2024
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: NOTED FOIL PAPER USED TO LINE SHELVES. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND REMOVE ALL CARDBOARD BOXES TO PREVENT HIDING PLACES FOR PEST.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED STAINED CEILING TILES AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA AND DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN, REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. ALSO NOTED DIRTY AND DUSTY VENTILATION UNITS ON CEILING AT THE DINING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
90
Sep 1, 2021
Routine
2 major violations. 5 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO VERIFIABLE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT TIME OF INSPECTION. LEFT TEMPLATE AND INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN COPIES OF HEALTH POLICY SIGNED BY ALL EMPLOYEES ON SITE AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2300624 DATED 7/2/2019: #58 "NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERITIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES." INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT AND COME INTO COMPLIANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090. NO CITATION ISSUED.
60
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ATTACHED TO MOP SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL RELEVANT LAWS, RULES, AND REGULATIONS.
51
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FAUCET IN WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM LOOSE AND HOT WATER HANDLE VERY HARD TO TURN. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD CONDITION.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED TRASH RECEPTACLE INSIDE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2 NOT WORKING REFRIGERATORS IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE FROM PREMISES.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ONE EMPLOYEE WITHOUT FOOD HANDLER TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ALL EMPLOYEES SHOULD COMPLETE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING AND MAINTAIN RECORDS THEREOF ON SITE AT ALL TIMES.
57
64
Jul 2, 2019
Routine
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: NO VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEANING PROCEDURE ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE A VOMIT AND DIARRHEA CLEANING PROCEDURE WITH ALL NECESSARY ITEMS AS OUTLINED IN POLICY ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005. NO CITATION ISSUED.
5
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE AN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010. NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 3-COMPARTMENT SINK MISSING STOPPERS (X2). INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WORKING STOPPERS FOR SAID SINK.
51
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: NO FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERITIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES.
58
74
May 18, 2017
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2 PREP AREA CEILING LIGHT COVERS NOT TIGHT FITTED ALSO OBSERVED DUST BUILD UP ON PREP AREA LIGHT COVERS. MUST REATTACH/MAKE TIGHT FITTED ALL PREP AREA CEILING LIGHT COVERS AND CLEAN CEILING LIGHT COVERS.
35
95
Jun 23, 2016
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: MUST REMOVE ALUMINUM FOIL FROM THE BOTTOM LOWER LEVEL SHELVING RACK UNDER THE COOKING UNIT. ALL SURFACES MUST BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE AT ALL TIMES.
32
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN AND REMOVE DUST ACCUMULATION AT THE VENT COVER IN THE CUSTOMER DINING AREA CLOSEST TO THE REAR KITCHEN. MUST SEAL SMALL OPENING A WALL COVERING ACROSS FROM STOVE TO THE RIGHT HAND SIDE TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.
35
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Chef Rafael & Son's last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Chef Rafael & Son's on file is from May 16, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Chef Rafael & Son's?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Chef Rafael & Son's.
Has Chef Rafael & Son's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Chef Rafael & Son's have averaged around six violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Chef Rafael & Son's means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Chef Rafael & Son's inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Chef Rafael & Son's is inspected about once every two years on average.
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