School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Sonny's Cafe/Saic

280 S Columbus Dr, Chicago, IL 60603

School / Childcare

Last inspected: Nov 21, 2025

Score

Medium Risk

School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Sonny's Cafe/Saic has a thin inspection record, with only two visits on file so far. On Nov 21, 2025, the health department conducted the most recent visit. The medium risk tier sits in the middle: not spotless, but not alarming either.

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

Compared to other Chicago restaurants (averaging 81), there's room to close the gap. The record is unremarkable in either direction.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Nov 21, 2025

Routine

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

View 5 violations

Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control

Inspector notes: OBSERVED TWO DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT WITH THREE DRAWERS IN PREP AREA AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 48.6F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON TWO DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT WITH THREE DRAWERS IN PREP AREA. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED

Proper cold holding temperatures

Inspector notes: OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 47.3-52.5F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, SHREDDED CHEESE(48.7-50.2F), SHREDDED LETTUCE(52.5F), SOUR CREAM(47.3F)AND BUTTER(48.0-48.6F) 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 $40 WEIGHING 6LBS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.

Previous core violation corrected

Inspector notes: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION FROM INSPECTION REPORT #2597950 DATED 07/23/2024 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. 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.

Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

Inspector notes: OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINK IN ALL GENDER WASHROOMS AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN OF 63.3-72.5F. OBSERVED IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AT LEFT HANDWASHING SINK IN ALL GENDER WASHROOM 230(NEAR STAIRWELL 2) AND RIGHT HANDWASHING SINK IN ALL GENDER WASHROOM 231(NEAR STAIRWELL 3)INSTRUCTED A HANDWASHING SINK SHALL BE EQUIPPED TO PROVIDE WATER AT A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 100F THROUGH A MIXING VALVE OR COMBINATION FAUCET. NOTE: THERE IS ONE OTHER PROPERLY FUNCTIONING HANDWASHING SINK IN BOTH ALL GENDER WASHROOMS ON SECOND FLOOR.

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

Inspector notes: OBSERVED BOXES STORED ON FLOOR IN SONNY'S CAFE NEAR VENDING MACHINES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NONFOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILIY.

Jul 23, 2024

License

2 minor violations.

View 2 violations

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Sonny's Cafe/Saic last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Sonny's Cafe/Saic on file is from Nov 21, 2025. The public record contains two inspections in total.

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

No. Recent inspections at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Sonny's Cafe/Saic have averaged around five violations per visit, up from roughly two earlier in the record.

What does a medium risk rating mean?

A medium risk rating at School of the Art Institute of Chicago — Sonny's Cafe/Saic 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

Columbus Building Cafe — Sonny's Cafe/Saic

Pie Life — North Building

301 S Columbus Dr

Score: 86 — Low Risk

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