Damn Fine Coffee Bar

3317 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Dec 31, 2024

Score

Low Risk

Going back to 2016, Damn Fine Coffee Bar has six inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Dec 31, 2024. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

Recent inspections have turned up roughly the same number of issues each time, hovering near three violations per visit.

“Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing two times across the record.

Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. The record reflects steady performance over time.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Dec 31, 2024

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MULTIPLE MISSING CEILING PANELS ABOVE THE SERVICE SINK IN THE REAR. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN IN GOOD REPAIR.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ACCUMULATED COFFEE DEBRIS ON FLOOR THROUGHOUT THE PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE CLEAN FLOORS AND MAINTAIN.

Dec 5, 2023

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: 6-304.11 THE VENTILATION FAN IN THE WASHROOM IS NOT OPERATIONAL. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FAN.

Nov 28, 2023

Routine

1 critical violation. 3 major violations. 3 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Food additives: approved and properly used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED UNAPPROVED FOOD ADDITIVES ADDED TO DRINKS. OBSERVED CBD HONEY LATTES OFFERED FOR SALE ON THE MENU BOARD. PREMISES MIXES COLORADO HEMP HONEY WITH NATURAL HONEY AND ADDS IT TO A COFFEE DRINK. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT UNAPPROVED FOOD ADDITIVES SUCH AS CBD CANNOT BE SERVED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK NOT MAINTAINED. THE LAST PEST INSPECTION REPORT IN THE PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK WAS FROM 2016. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE AT LEAST 2 PEST INSPECTION REPORTS PER YEAR FROM A LICENSED PEST CONTROL COMPANY AND MAINTAIN THEM IN THE LOG BOOK. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(C). CITATION ISSUED.

Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CHEMICAL TEST STRIPS ON THE PREMISES TO MEASURE THE SANITIZER CONCENTRATION AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005.

Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON THE PREMISES. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO HAVE A SIGNED EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EACH EMPLOYEE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010.

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED WASTE RECEPTACLE IN THE WASHROOM. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEVERAL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ALL FOOD HANDLING EMPLOYEES MUST SHOW PROOF OF TRAINING.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: CLEAN THE PREP TABLES, GREASE TRAP AND THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK.

Jul 31, 2017

Reinspection

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ITEMS IN REAR STORAGE AREA NOT ELEVATED 6INCHES OFF FLOOR. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS 6INCHES OFF FLOOR/WALL

Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS PREPARED AND SERVED

Jul 24, 2017

Routine

4 minor violations.

View 4 violations

No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR NOT RODENT PROOF. DOOR HAS APPROXIMATELY ONE INCH OPENING ON BOTTOM DOOR. MUST MAKE DOOR TIGHT FITTING TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY. SERIOUS VIOLATION 7-38-020.

Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT ON THE INTERIOR PANELS OF ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN REAR STORAGE AREA. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ITEMS IN REAR STORAGE AREA NOT ELEVATED 6INCHES OFF FLOOR. MUST ELEVATE ITEMS 6INCHES OFF FLOOR/WALL.

Appropriate method of handling of food (ice) hair restraints and clean apparel worn

Inspector notes: OBSERVED EMPLOYEES NOT WEARING A HAIR RESTRAINT WHILE FOOD IS PREPARED AND SERVED. MUST WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT AT ALL TIMES FOOD IS PREPARED AND SERVED.

Jul 18, 2016

License

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Toilet room doors self closing: dressing rooms with lockers provided: complete separation from living/sleeping quarters

Inspector notes: NOTED BATHROOM DOOR NOT SELF CLOSING. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SELF CLOSING DEVICE FOR THE BATH ROOM DOOR.

Show all 6 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Damn Fine Coffee Bar last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Damn Fine Coffee Bar on file is from Dec 31, 2024. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Damn Fine Coffee Bar?

Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Damn Fine Coffee Bar.

Has Damn Fine Coffee Bar's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Damn Fine Coffee Bar have averaged around three violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Damn Fine Coffee Bar 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 Damn Fine Coffee Bar inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Damn Fine Coffee Bar is inspected about once every two years on average.

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