School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe

37 S Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

School / Childcare

Last inspected: Nov 3, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

With just two inspections in the record, there isn't enough history to establish a clear pattern. On Nov 3, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. A medium risk rating points to a few notable findings at the last inspection, though nothing severe.

Recent inspections have turned up more issues than earlier ones, averaging around eight violations lately compared to roughly three violations before.

Looking across the full record, “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible” is the recurring theme, flagged two times.

Restaurants in Chicago average 81, so School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe trails the local norm. The record is unremarkable in either direction.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Nov 3, 2025

Routine

1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 5 minor violations.

View 8 violations

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector notes: OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 48.7-61.3F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, SPINACH(61.3F), CHEESE(48.7-49.5F), SLICED TOMATOES(48.7F), BACON(52.9F) AND HAM(50.5F) 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 $30 WEIGHING 4LBS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MISSING FOOD GUARD IN BETWEEN ACTION STATION BURNERS AND FRONT COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL FOOD GUARD IN BETWEEN ACTION STATION BURNERS AND FRONT COUNTER TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF FOOD DURING PREPARATION. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON ACTION STATION BURNERS.(NOTE: ACTION STATION BURNERS NOT IN USE AT TIME OF INSPECTION) PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 NO CITATION ISSUED.

Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

Inspector notes: OBSERVED ALL NECESSARY ITEMS FOR COMPLYING WITH PROCEDURE NOT AVAILABLE ON SITE WHEN EMPLOYEES RESPOND TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN ON SITE ALL NECESSARY ITEMS FOR COMPLYING WITH WRITTEN PROCEDURE FOR EMPLOYEES TO FOLLOW WHEN RESPONDING TO VOMITTING OR DIARRHEAL EVENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED

Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED MILK CRATES USED TO ELEVATE BOXES IN WALK IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: UNABALE TO VERIFY EXISTENCE OF BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON COFFEE MACHINE IN FRONT PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON COFFEE MACHINE IN FRONT PREP AREA SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: OBSERVED DUST ON FILTERS IN HOODS IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FILITERS IN HOODS IN REAR PREP AREA.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED HANDWASHING SOAP AND PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER INSTALLED ABOVE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN DISHWASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE HANDWASHING SOAP AND PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER INSTALLED ABOVE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK A SINK FOR UTENSIL WASHING MAY NOT BE PROVIDED WITH HANDWASHING AIDS AND DEVICES REQUIRED FOR A HANDWASHING SINK. CORRECTED ON SITE HANDWASHING SOAP AND PAPER TOWEL DISPENSER INSTALLED ABOVE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK REMOVED FROM SAID AREA BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION.

Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO HANDWASHING SIGNAGE IN WOMEN, MEN'S AND ALL GENDER WASHROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO POST CLEARLY VISIBLE SIGNAGE THAT NOTIFIES FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH THEIR HANDS AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS USED BY FOOD EMPLOYEES.

Jul 23, 2024

License

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: MUST CLEAN FLOORS IN THE DISHWASHING AREA NEAR GREASE TRAP AND IN FRONT OF WALK-IN COOLER ENTRY DOOR.

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: UNABLE TO LOCATE AND VERIFY FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES DURING INSPECTION. MUST PROVIDE AND KEEP CERTIFICATES ON SITE.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: FOUND NO PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING ON SITE FOR ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS MUST COMPLETE ALLERGEN TRAINING AND KEEP CERTIFICATE ON SITE.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe on file is from Nov 3, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe.

Has School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

No. Recent inspections at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic Cafe have averaged around eight violations per visit, up from roughly three earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Saic 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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