Little Branch Cafe

1251 S Prairie Ave, Chicago, IL 60605

Café / Breakfast

Last inspected: Feb 22, 2017

Score

Medium Risk

Going back to 2015, Little Branch Cafe has four inspections in the public record. On Feb 22, 2017, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either. Little Branch Cafe's record stops at Feb 22, 2017, more than two years back, so current conditions may differ.

Things have been moving the wrong way, with the rolling count rising from around three violations to closer to six violations per visit.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed”, showing up two times.

Little Branch Cafe's latest score of 74 falls below the Chicago average of 81. The full record sits in fairly typical territory for a working restaurant.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Feb 22, 2017

Routine

6 minor violations.

View 6 violations

Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

Inspector notes: FOUND THE CUTTING BOARDS IN THE PREP AREAS WITH DEEP, DARK GROOVES AND STAINS. INSTRUCTED TO SAND OR REPLACE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES.

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

Inspector notes: FOUND THE FOLLOWING IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING: -INTERIOR/EXTERIOR OF THE GRILL, DEEP FRYER AND ALL OF THE COOKING/HOLDING EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA. -THE UPPER/LOWER SURFACES OF THE PREPARATION TABLES IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA -THE INTERIOR/EXTERIOR OF THE REACH IN COOLERS AND FREEZERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS -THE EXTERIOR OF THE DISH WASHING MACHINE -THE SOAP DISPENSER IN THE REAR PREPARATION AREA -THE INTERIOR OF THE MOP SINK -THE STORAGE RACKS THROUGH OUT. ABOVE ITEMS WITH THICK ACCUMULATION OF GREASE, FOOD, DIRT AND DEBRIS. MUST MAINTAIN CLEAN SURFACES.

Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

Inspector notes: FOUND THE INTERIOR OF ALL FLOOR DRAINS AND FLOORS UNDER/AROUND THE DISH MACHINE, COOLERS/FREEZERS, COOKING EQUIPMENT, THE STORAGE RACKS AND AROUND THE MOP SINK IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS WITH GREASE SPILLS, FOOD, DIRT AND OTHER EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOOR DRAINS AND FLOORS.

Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods

Inspector notes: FOUND THE VENTILATION, THE WALLS BEHIND THE COOKING EQUIPMENT, AROUND ALL OF THE SINKS, COOLERS/FREEZERS IN THE FRONT AND REAR PREPARATION AREAS AND THE VENTS IN THE DINING AREA IN NEED OF DETAIL CLEANING. ALL HAVE FOOD/LIQUID (OF SOME SORT) SPLATTER, DIRT, DUST AND GREASE IN EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.

Ventilation: rooms and equipment vented as required: plumbing: installed and maintained

Inspector notes: FOUND A LEAK AT THE BASE OF THE HOT WATER KNOB ON THE REAR HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO FIX AND MAINTAIN.

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

Inspector notes: FOUND THE MOP STORED INSIDE THE MOP BUCKET OF DIRTY WATER. INSTRUCTED TO HANG ALL MOPS UP TO DRY WHEN NOT IN USE. FOUND CLUTTER IN THE FRONT PREP AREA BEHIND THE COUNTER, MUST ELIMINATE CLUTTER AND ORGANIZE AREA. MAINTAIN ALL.

May 26, 2016

Routine

4 minor violations.

View 4 violations

* certified food manager on site when potentially hazardous foods are prepared and served

Inspector notes: NO CERTIFIED FOOD AND SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE WHILE HANDLING AND SERVING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS ( EGGS, POTATOES ) INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. SERIOUS CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.

Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained

Inspector notes: DRIPPING CONDENSATION FROM STAND UP COOLER CEILING, INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR.

Refrigeration and metal stem thermometers provided and conspicuous

Inspector notes: MISSING REFRIGERATION THERMOMETER IN FRONT REFRIGERATOR. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL.

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

Inspector notes: FOOD HANDLER NOT WEARIN HAIR AND BEARD RESTRAINT, INSTRUCTED TO WEAR.

Jun 15, 2015

License

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

Food in original container, properly labeled: customer advisory posted as needed

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BULK FOOD ITEMS STORED UNLABELED. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL BULK FOOD ITEMS.

Food handler requirements met

Inspector notes: OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER WITH NO PROOF OF STATE FOOD HANDLER EDUCATION. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE PROOF OF STATE FOOD HANDLER EDUCATION.

May 27, 2015

License

5 minor violations.

View 5 violations

Facilities to maintain proper temperature

Inspector notes: PREP COOLER NOT MAINTAINING TEMPERATURE WITH POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS INSIDE.

Potentially hazardous food meets temperature requirement during storage, preparation display and service

Inspector notes: POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES.

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

Inspector notes: LIVE ROACH ACTIVITY.

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

Inspector notes: ICE MACHINE LID NOT CLEAN.

Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used

Inspector notes: FLOORS NOT MAINTAINED

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Little Branch Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Little Branch Cafe on file is from Feb 22, 2017. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Little Branch Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Little Branch Cafe.

Has Little Branch Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

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

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at Little Branch Cafe means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.

Nearby Restaurants

Score: 100 — Low Risk

Little Branch Cafe

1251 S Prairie Ave

Score: 90 — Low Risk

Explore More

→ All locations in Chicago → Café / Breakfast restaurants in Chicago