Harry's Cafe
Last inspected: Mar 12, 2026
100
Score
Harry's Cafe has been inspected 10 times since 2018. The most recent visit was on Mar 12, 2026. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around one violation lately and about four violations before that.
When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
Among Chicago restaurants, the typical score is 81; Harry's Cafe is comfortably above that bar. The record reflects steady performance over time.
10
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 12, 2026
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Mar 10, 2026
Complaint
1 critical violation.
View 1 violation
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: FOUND DISHWASH AREA HANDWASH SINK INOPERATABLE, BOTH HOT AND COLD WATER HANDLES DISCONNECTED WITH WATER VALVE TURNED OFF DUE TO WATER LEAKING IN WALL BEHIND SAID SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST REPAIR/MAINTAIN DISHWASH AREA HANDWASH SINK BY DATE OF REINSPECTION, MUST HAVE HOT RUNNING WATER AT A MINIMAL 100.0 F AND COLD WATER PROVIDED AT SAID SINK. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C). ESTABLISHMENT PUT ON 2 DAY WORK AROUND BY CDPH.
10
86
Aug 27, 2025
Reinspection
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.13 OBSERVED DEBRIS BUILD UP ON BASEMENT STORAGE UNIT FLOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN DEBRIS.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS.
57
90
Aug 21, 2025
Complaint
2 critical violations. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED SEVERAL TCS FOODS HELD AT INADEQUATE TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 44-48 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL COLD TCS FOODS ARE HELD AT 41 F AND BELOW. MANAGER DISCARDED: 2 GALLONS OF MILK, 1/2 GALLON HEAVY WHIPPING CREAM, AND 5 POUNDS OF QUICHE ($28) PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
22
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED 2 COOLERS WITH INADEQUATE AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURES OF 46 AND 50 F. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO ENSURE ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS ARE HELD AT 41 F AND BELOW. COOLERS TAGGED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
33
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE WITH EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO COMPLY WITH FOOD HANDLER REQUIREMENTS.
57
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DEBRIS BUILD UP ON BASEMENT STORAGE UNIT FLOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN DEBRIS.
55
67
Oct 29, 2024
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Oct 16, 2024
Routine
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 4 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HIGH TEMPERATURE WAREWASHING MACHINE NOT MEETING HOT WATER SANITIZER REQUIREMENTS OF AT LEAST 180F FOR THR FINAL RINSE TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED NOT TO USE UNIT UNTIL REINSPECTED BY CHICAGO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (CDPH). TAGGED UNIT. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
16
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: OBSERVED INADEQUATE WASTEWATER DISPOSAL FROM 3 COMP SINK. OBSERVED WATER BACKING UP AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AREA. WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM 1ST SINK BASIN, WATER BACKS UP INTO 2ND BASIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED
52
Summary report displayed and visible to the public
Inspector notes: NOTED NO CURRENT SUMMARY REPORT FROM PREVIOUS INSPECTION 10/11/23 POSTED ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO POST THE MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT MUST BE DISPLAYED IN A LOCATION THAT IS VISIBLE TO CONSUMERS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-42-010(b). CITATION ISSUED.
61
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES BEING USED AS SHELVING/ELEVATION IN FRONT PREP/ DISH AREAS. MUST REMOVE AND PROVIDE SHELVING THAT IS 6" OFF THE FLOOR AND PROVIDES FLOOR ACCESSIBILITY TO ENSURE ADEQUATE FACILITY CLEANING.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CUTTING BOARDS IN THE FRONT PREP AREA WITH OPEN SEAMS AND DARK STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO REFINISH OR REPLACE DAMAGED OR STAINED CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
47
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW DEVICE IS LEAKING INTO UTILITY SINK, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING CEILINGS TILE PANELS CEILING TILE IN UTILITY SINK IN REAR DISH AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR, REPLACE MISSING PANELS CEILING TILES.
55
55
Oct 11, 2023
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DRIED FOOD DEBRIS ON THE INTERIOR SURFACES OF COOLING UNITS AND STORAGE CABINETS THROUGHOUT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MOPS IMPROPERLY STORED INSIDE BUCKET.INSTRUCTED TO HANG TO DRY AND MAINTAIN.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED CERTFIED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE WITHOUT ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATION. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AS REQUIRED.
58
86
Oct 11, 2022
Routine
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: Packaged salads in display cooler not labeled, instructed to label.
37
95
Nov 16, 2018
Complaint
No violations found.
100
Jun 22, 2018
License
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT BUILD UP ON WALLS BEHIND AND AROUND MOP SINK. MUST CLEAN WALLS AND MAINTAIN.
35
Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained
Inspector notes: 3-COMPARTMENT SINK PIPE DRAINING SLOWLY. INSTRUCTED MANAGER 3-COMPARTMENT SINK PIPE MUST DRAIN QUICKLY.
38
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector notes: 3-DOOR PREP REACH IN COOLER TABLE TOP CUTTING BOARD SURFACE STAINED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE CUTTING BOARD.
32
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DIRT AND LITTER BUILD UP ON FLOOR IN PREP AREA ALONG WALLS/CORNERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOOR THROUGHOUT AND MAINTAIN.
34
82
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Harry's Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Harry's Cafe on file is from Mar 12, 2026. The public record contains 10 inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Harry's Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Harry's Cafe.
Has Harry's Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Harry's 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 Harry's 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 Harry's Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Harry's Cafe is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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