Explorer Cafe

1400 S Jean Baptiste Pointe Dusable Lakeshore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Oct 8, 2025

Score

Low Risk

Inspectors have visited Explorer Cafe five times, with records going back to 2022. The latest inspection on file is from Oct 8, 2025. Low risk means the most recent visit produced few or no significant findings.

Recent visits have flagged more than earlier ones: around three violations per visit lately, up from roughly one violation before.

Looking across the full record, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” is the recurring theme, flagged three times.

That falls roughly in the middle of the pack for Chicago restaurants. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Oct 8, 2025

Routine

1 major violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE GREASE TRAP LEAKING WHEN THE 3 COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PLUMMER ARRIVED ON SITE WHILE WRITING REPORT TO CORRECT ISSUE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED RESIDUE ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEADS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.

Apr 16, 2024

Complaint

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: Bulk food ( flour, sugar ) not labeled, instructed to label and maintain.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: Inadequate lighting in walk-in freezer, instructed to provide.

May 23, 2023

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

May 16, 2023

Routine

1 critical violation. 4 major violations. 4 minor violations.

View 9 violations

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: 5-205.15(A) OBSERVED THE HAND WASHING SINK NOT ABLE TO TURN ON LOCATED IN THE DISH WASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT SAID HAND WASHING SINK AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: 6-501.111 OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON SITE, OBSERVED ABOUT 20 RODENT DROPPINGS LOCATED IN BETWEEN THE ICE MACHINE AND THE WALL AND ALSO AROUND THE HOT WATER HEATER IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF LIVE INSECT ACTIVITY ON SITE, OBSERVED ABOUT 25 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON THE WALL BY THE UTILITY SINK AND ABOUT 15 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON THE WALL BY THE DISH WASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE ALL PEST ACTIVITY, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR A SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(A).

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: 5-202.12(E) OBSERVED THREE HAND WASHING SINKS AT AN INADEQUATE HOT WATER TEMPERATURE RANGING FROM 120F-130F DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN HOT WATER AT 100F AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS. ENGINEER WAS ABLE TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE ON TWO OF THE THREE HAND WASHING SINKS AND BY THE END OF THE INSPECTION HOT WATER WAS MAINTAINING 100F AT TWO OF THE THREE HAND WASHING SINKS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).

Summary report displayed and visible to the public

Inspector notes: 8-304.11(A) OBSERVED THE MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY NOT POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW. INSTRUCTED A MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY MUST BE POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-010(B).

Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

Inspector notes: 5-501.15 OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE DEBRIS ON THE LID OF THE OUTSIDE GREASE DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(B).

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: 4-601.11(C) OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE DEBRIS IN BETWEEN THE COOKING EQUIPMENT AND A BLACK SUBSTANCE ON THE WALL AROUND THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: 6-501.12 OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE DEBRIS ON TOP OF THE GREASE TRAP AND ON THE FLOOR AND WALL LOCATED AROUND THE GREASE TRAP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: 6-303.11 OBSERVED BURNT OUT LIGHTING IN THE DISH WASHING AREA IN THE REAR BY THE HOT WATER HEATER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: 3-601.11 OBSERVED NO LABELS ON THE PREPACKAGED DESSERTS FOR SALE AT THE FRONT CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABEL WITH BUSINESS NAME, BUSINESS ADDRESS, INGREDIENTS AND IF ANY ALLERGENS ARE PRESENT.

Jun 7, 2022

License

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN PREP COOLERS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND DEBRIS.

Sewage & waste water properly disposed

Inspector notes: INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HAVE THE GREASE TRAPS UNDERNEATH THE DISH WASHING MACHINE AND 3 COMP SINK SERVICE.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN THE CEILING TILES AND VENT COVERS WHERE NEEDED IN THE PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS TO REMOVE DUST.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Explorer Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Explorer Cafe on file is from Oct 8, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Explorer Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Explorer Cafe.

Has Explorer Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at Explorer Cafe have averaged around three violations per visit, up from roughly one earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Explorer Cafe 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 Explorer Cafe inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Explorer Cafe is inspected roughly once per year on average.

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Score: 70 — Medium Risk

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