Gallery Cafe

734 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60642

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Dec 16, 2025

Score

Low Risk

The health department has logged six inspections at Gallery Cafe, the earliest from 2020. The newest entry in the record is dated Dec 16, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

The trend has been favorable: violation counts have eased from around four violations to closer to one violation per visit over the last few inspections.

When inspectors have written things up, “contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display” has been the most frequent reason, cited three times.

The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Gallery Cafe on the better side of that line. Overall, the inspection record reads well.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Dec 16, 2025

Routine

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: Pottery plants stored above food production area, instructed to remove.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: Food container stored under sewer lines in basement, instructed to enclose or move food containers.

Dec 13, 2024

Routine

1 major violation.

View 1 violation

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED A CUSTOMER SEATED AT THE CAFE WITH THEIR DOG THAT WAS NOT A SERVICE ANIMAL. MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTED THAT ONLY SERVICE ANIMALS ARE ALLOWED INSIDE OF THE PREMISES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-40-060. CITATION ISSUED.

Jan 25, 2023

Reinspection

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: 6-501.114 FOUND ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRY GOODS STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE.

Jan 18, 2023

Complaint

1 major violation. 7 minor violations.

View 8 violations

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: FOUND APPROXIMATELY 20-25 LIVE SMALL FLIES FLYING AROUND THE FOOD PREP AREA AND ON WALLS/CABINETS IN THE PREP AREA. RECOMMEND CONTACTING PEST CONTROL TO SERVICE PREMISES BEFORE REINSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE SMALL FLIES AND CLEAN AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: FOUND NO HANDWASHING SIGN IN RESTROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN.

Food separated and protected

Inspector notes: FOUND MEAT PATTIES IN DEEP FREEZER IN OPEN BAG. INSTRUCTED TO COVER FOOD TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION, MAINTAIN.

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: FOUND SUGAR IN BULK CONTAINER WITHOUT LABEL. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL FOOD WHEN STORED OUTSIDE ORIGINAL CONTAINER, MAINTAIN.

Personal cleanliness

Inspector notes: FOUND STAFF HANDLING FOOD WITHOUT HAIR RESTRAINT. COS DURING INSPECTION: HAT WAS PROVIDED.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FOUND FOOD DEBRIS ACCUMULATED INSIDE THE DEEP FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: FOUND ITEMS STORED ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRY GOODS STORAGE ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE ALL ITEMS AT LEAST 6" OFF THE FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: FOUND TWO EMPLOYEES MISSING FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN VERIFICATION ON SITE.

Jun 22, 2022

Routine

1 minor violation.

View 1 violation

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: OBSERVED LIQUID SPLATTER INSIDE ICE MACHINE AND SLIME LIKE SUBSTANCE ABOVE PANEL WHERE WATER FLOWS. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTIAN.

Sep 3, 2020

License

1 major violation. 2 minor violations.

View 3 violations

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

Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION #7-38-010

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE COFFEE BEAN ROASTER IN THE CUSTOMER AREA WITHOUT PROPER SEPARATION BARRIER. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY SEPARATE FROM CUSTOMER ACCESS AND MAINTAIN

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON SITE FOR FOOD HANDLERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN

Show all 6 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Gallery Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Gallery Cafe on file is from Dec 16, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Gallery Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Gallery Cafe.

Has Gallery Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at Gallery Cafe have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly four earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Gallery 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 Gallery Cafe inspected?

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

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Score: 100 — Low Risk

Subway

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D'agostino's II

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Score: 86 — Low Risk

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