Lea French Cafe
Last inspected: Mar 30, 2026
61
Score
Inspectors have visited Lea French Cafe four times, with records going back to 2025. The newest entry in the record is dated Mar 30, 2026. Medium risk typically reflects a handful of issues that inspectors wrote up but didn't deem critical.
The picture has gotten worse over the last few visits, with the average climbing from around eight violations to closer to 10 violations.
Looking across the full record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” is the recurring theme, flagged five times.
That's lower than the typical Chicago restaurant, which scores around 81. The record is unremarkable in either direction.
4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
10
Minor latest
Inspection History
Mar 30, 2026
Reinspection
10 minor violations.
View 10 violations
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: 4-903.11 (A;B;D) : MUST INVERT MULTI-USE UTENSILS ON STORAGE SHELVES.
44
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: 4-501.12 : MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE WORN AND DEEP GROOVES ON CUTTING BOARDS TO BE IN GOOD REPAIR.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: : 4-601.11(C) : MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM PREP TABLES,EXTERIOR OF FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS,MEAT SLICER,MICROWAVE,DISH RACKS,WALK IN COOLER- SHELVING UNITS AND COMPRESSOR UNIT.DELIME-DISH MACHINE.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.11 : MUST CLEAN EXCESSIVE FOOD SPLATTER FROM UPPER WALLS AND CEILING IN REAR PREP AREA.MUST REMOVE BLACK CAULKING BUILD UP ON WALL ABOVE DISH MACHINE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-201.13 : MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE WALK IN COOLER FLOORING IN POOR REPAIR.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.13 : MUST CLEAN FOOD DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FLOOR UNDER,AROUND,ALONG WALL BASES THROUGHOUT AND FLOOR DRAINS INCLUDING WALK IN COOLER.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: 6-202.11 : MUST REPAIR OR REPLACE CRACKED LIGHT SHIELD IN DISH WASHING AREA.
56
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: 3-302.12 : MUST LABEL FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WHEN FOOD IS NOT IN ORIGINAL PACKAGE (BULK FOOD CONTAINER,ETC)BREAD PREP AREA.
37
Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display
Inspector notes: 3-307.11 : MUST PROVIDE A SPLASH GUARD AT 1- COMPARTMENT SINK NEXT TO PREP TABLE TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION.
39
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: 3-304.12 : MUST REMOVE SCOOPS FROM BULK FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS IN BREAD PREP AREA TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION.
43
61
Sep 18, 2025
Complaint
6 minor violations.
View 6 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-205.15: OBSERVED LEAKING FROM DRAINPIPES OF THE RINSE AND SANITIZER COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPES OF THE RINSE AND SAINTIZER COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. OBSERVED STRIPPED HOT WATER KNOB AND NO HOT RUNNING WATER AT 1 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HOT WATER KNOB AND RESTORE HOT WATER AT 1 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA AND MAINTAIN.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: 5-501.17: OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLES IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM FOR SANITARY PRODUCTS.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.12: OBSERVED BLACK BUILDUP ON FLOOR AND ALONG BASES OF WALL IN DISHWASHING AREA UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, GREASE TRAPS AND DISHWASHING MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOOR AND ALONG BASES OF WALL IN DISHWASHING AREA UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, GREASE TRAPS AND DISHWASHING MACHINE AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: 6-303.11: OBSERVED NON WORKING CEILING LIGHT IN REAR NEAR UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE NON WORKING CEILING LIGHT IN REAR NEAR UTILITY SINK TO INCREASE LIGHT INTENSITY AND MAINTAIN.
56
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: 6-501.14: OBSERVED DUST ON FILTERS IN HOOD. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FILTERS IN HOOD AND MAINTAIN.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: 2-102.13: FACILITY PROVIDED NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VALID ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES
58
74
Aug 18, 2025
Complaint
3 critical violations. 6 minor violations.
View 9 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 45.7-75.6F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, BACON(47.1-50.6F), RAW EGGS IN SHELL(50.1-75.6F),SALMON(47.3F), COOKED GREEN BEANS(46.2F) AND HARD BOILED EGGS(45.7F)HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $200 WEIGHING 15LBS. CONSOLIDATED WITH VIOLATION ABOVE PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
22
Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control
Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOUR DRAWER COLD HOLDING UNIT UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 53.1F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON FOUR DRAWER COLD HOLDING UNIT UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL. ONCE FOUR DRAWER COLD HOLDING UNIT UNDERNEATH FLAT TOP GRILL HAS BEEN REPAIRED AND ABLE TO MAINTAIN TCS FOODS AT 41F OR LESS E-MAIL FOOD@CITYOFCHICAGO.ORG TO REQUEST TAG REMOVAL PRIOR TO USING UNIT.PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
33
Proper hot holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HOT TCS FOOD(COOKED BACON) HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF 97.3F. INSTRUCTED ALL HOT TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 135F OR ABOVE. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $15 WEIGHING 0.5LBS. CONSOLIDATED WITH VIOLATION BELOW PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
21
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING FROM DRAINPIPES OF THE RINSE AND SANITIZER COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPES OF THE RINSE AND SAINTIZER COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. OBSERVED STRIPPED HOT WATER KNOB AND NO HOT RUNNING WATER AT 1 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HOT WATER KNOB AND RESTORE HOT WATER AT 1 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR PREP AREA AND MAINTAIN.
51
Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLES IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE COVERED RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM FOR SANITARY PRODUCTS.
53
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BLACK BUILDUP ON FLOOR AND ALONG BASES OF WALL IN DISHWASHING AREA UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, GREASE TRAPS AND DISHWASHING MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOOR AND ALONG BASES OF WALL IN DISHWASHING AREA UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK, GREASE TRAPS AND DISHWASHING MACHINE AND MAINTAIN.
55
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NON WORKING CEILING LIGHT IN REAR NEAR UTILITY SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE NON WORKING CEILING LIGHT IN REAR NEAR UTILITY SINK TO INCREASE LIGHT INTENSITY AND MAINTAIN.
56
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST ON FILTERS IN HOOD. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FILTERS IN HOOD AND MAINTAIN.
56
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: FACILITY PROVIDED NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING FOR CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE VALID ALLERGEN AWARENESS TRAINING FOR ALL EMPLOYEES WITH CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATES
58
47
May 6, 2025
License
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LEAKING FROM DRAINPIPES OF THE RINSE AND SANITIZER COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR LEAKING DRAINPIPES OF THE RINSE AND SAINTIZER COMPARTMENTS OF THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK.
51
95
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Lea French Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Lea French Cafe on file is from Mar 30, 2026. The public record contains four inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Lea French Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Lea French Cafe.
Has Lea French Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
No. Recent inspections at Lea French Cafe have averaged around 10 violations per visit, up from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Lea French Cafe means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
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