Cleo's Southern Cuisine
Last inspected: Mar 21, 2025
74
Score
Across the available record, Cleo's Southern Cuisine has eight inspections on file, the first dated 2019. The most recent report on file is from Mar 21, 2025. When a facility lands in medium risk territory, it usually means a mixed inspection result.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near four violations per visit.
Across the inspection history, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the issue that surfaces most often, recorded four times.
Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
1
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 21, 2025
Routine
1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Previous core violation corrected
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION (#58 : ALLERGEN TRAINING) NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2590388 DATE 3/1/24. PRIORITY FOUNDATION CITATION ISSUED #7-42-090. Violation Codes: 2-102.13 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED THE PIC/ CITY CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY WITHOUT HIS ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW.
60
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN WORKING THERMOMETERS INSIDE ALL COOLERS.
36
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN THE DRY STORAGE SHELVING AND THE EXTERIOR OF THE BULK STORAGE CONTAINER TO REMOVE DEBRIS.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: FLOORS NEED CLEANING ALONG THE WALL BASE AND IN CORNER BEHIND COOKING EQUIPMENT TO REMOVE SPILLS AND/OR DEBRIS.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE HOOD AND FILTERS ABOVE THE COOKING EQUIPMENT DIRTY. MUST CLEAN TO REMOVE GREASE AND DEBRIS.
56
74
Mar 1, 2024
Routine
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN COOLERS AND FREEZER IN THE REAR PREP AREA TO REMOVE SPILLS AND DEBRIS, AND INSIDE THE RIF DEFROST AND CLEAN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN THE FLOOR IN THE KITCHEN ALONG THE WALL BASE AND IN CORNERS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND/OR DEBRIS.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: FILTERS ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT NEED CLEANING TO REMOVE GREASE AND DEBRIS.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE PIC/ CITY CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY WITHOUT HIS ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW.
58
82
Sep 29, 2023
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: NO HANDWASHING SIGN IN EMPLOYEE WASHROOM; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. CORRECTED ON SITE.
10
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: THE HOT WATER FAUCET KNOB AT THE EXPOSED HANDSINK IN THE REAR PREP AREA IS IN POOR REPAIR; INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR KNOB.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN WALLS AND FLOORS AROUND AND BEHIND EQUIPMENT WHERE NEEDED (3 COMP SINK AND FURNACE CLOSET).
55
86
Nov 10, 2021
Routine
2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. MUST PROVIDE WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. 7-38-010.
3
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TCS FOODS (SUSHI, RICE, ETC.) ARE BEING PREPPED. INSTRUCTED MUST HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER CERTIFICATE ON SITE AT ALL TIMES WHEN TCS FOODS ARE BEING PREPPED. MUST PROVIDE VALID PROOF OF CERTIFICATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES AT TIME OUT MARKET.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING FOR ALL CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGERS.
58
74
Aug 27, 2021
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FOUND NO BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT UTILITY SINK IN BASEMENT; INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE AT UTILITY SINK.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE MOP SINK IN THE BASEMENT AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE VENTS IN THE VENTILATION SYSTEM ABOVE COOKING EQUIPMENT.
56
86
Jan 24, 2020
Routine
2 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Proper date marking and disposition
Inspector notes: FOUND TCS FOODS AND READY TO EAT FOODS STORED IN COOLERS AND NOT LABELED. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL ALL PRODUCT THAT HAS BEEN PREPARED AND/OR REMOVED FROM ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING AND HELD FOR MORE THAN 24 HOURS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
23
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: FOUND NO METAL STEM THERMOMETER ON SITE FOR TAKING INTERNAL TEMPERATURES OF TCS FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED
36
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: FOUND FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO WEAR HAIR RESTRAINTS WHILE IN THE FOOD PREPARATION AREA.
40
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: FOUND A LEAK AT THE PIPE UNDER THE 2-COMPARTMENT SINK (CLOSEST TO THE WALL). INSTRUCTED TO FIX AND MAINTAIN THE LEAK.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: FOUND NO TRASH RECEPTACLE IN THE TOILET ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A TRASH RECEPTACLE WITH A LID/COVER. MAINTAIN SAME.
53
70
Apr 17, 2019
Reinspection
1 major violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO POLICY IN PLACE FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010.
3
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
57
86
Mar 19, 2019
License
2 critical violations. 5 major violations. 3 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: MUST HAVE COLD/HOT HOLDING UNITS OPERATIONAL FOR INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005.
33
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: BASEMENT DRY FOOD STORAGE AREA MUST BE SECURE TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION FROM PUBLIC, MUST PROVIDE LOCK AT DOOR. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030.
39
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: NO ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-012.
2
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: PERSON IN CHARGE DOES NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION.
1
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO POLICY IN PLACE FOR EMPLOYEE HEALTH. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010.
3
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: NO PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEA EVENTS. MUST PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.
5
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
Inspector notes: PREMISES MUST PROVIDE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(b).
54
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: MUST REPAIR LEAK AT 3-COMP SINK FAUCET(SPRAYER).
51
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF FOOD HANDLER TRAINING.
57
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: MUST PROVIDE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED.
58
39
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Cleo's Southern Cuisine last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Cleo's Southern Cuisine on file is from Mar 21, 2025. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Cleo's Southern Cuisine?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Cleo's Southern Cuisine.
Has Cleo's Southern Cuisine's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Cleo's Southern Cuisine have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Cleo's Southern Cuisine 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 Cleo's Southern Cuisine inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Cleo's Southern Cuisine is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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