Serena Restaurant

2536 W Devon Ave, Chicago, IL 60659

Italian

Last inspected: Apr 21, 2025

100

Score

Low Risk

Going back to 2023, Serena Restaurant has six inspections in the public record. Inspectors last stopped by on Apr 21, 2025. Low risk indicates the latest report didn't flag anything that would worry the average customer.

Inspection results have stayed in a similar range over the last few visits, averaging around four violations each.

The pattern that stands out is “non-food/food contact surfaces clean”, which has been cited three times.

The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Serena Restaurant on the better side of that line. Taken together, the history is a positive one.

Inspections

Critical latest

Major latest

Minor latest

Inspection History

Apr 21, 2025

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Apr 14, 2025

Routine

3 minor violations.

View 3 violations

All food employees have food handler training

Inspector notes: NO EMPLOYEES FOOD HANDLERS TRAINING CERTIFICATES ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST BE CERTIFIED WITH NAMES OF EMPLOYEES ON PREMISES.

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OBSERVED 10 RAT DROPPINGS ON BASEMENT FLOOR UNDER WOODEN PALLETS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER MUST REMOVE RAT DROPPINGS BY DATE OF REINSPECTION. ADVISED TO CALL PEST CONTROL OPERATOR FOR SERVICE. PRIORIYT FOUNDATION 7-38-020(A).

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: GARNISH REACH IN COOLER (LEFT SIDE DOOR) LOOSE FROM HINDGE. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN COOLER.

Sep 24, 2024

Complaint

7 minor violations.

View 7 violations

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: DRY FOOD IN PLASTIC CONTAINER, STORED INSIDE STORAGE AREA MUST BE LABELED WITH COMMON NAME:SPICES,SUGAR ETC

Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

Inspector notes: ALL STORED ITEMS, BOXED TOGO CONTAINERS, MUST BE PROPERLY PROTECTED INVERT THEM ON SHELVES AND THROUGHOUT ALL AREAS.

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

Inspector notes: ENCRUSTED FOOD AT BLADE OF CAN OPENER,CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: GREASE INSIDE DEEP FRYER, CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

Inspector notes: COVERS IS REQUIRED AT ALL RECEPTACLE IN WOMEN'S WASHROOM

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: GREASE ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT.CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

Inspector notes: EMPLOYEES SWEATER,BAGS ETC, STORED AT REAR STORAGE AREA,INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A SEPARATE AREA/LOCKER FOR EMPLOYEE PERSONAL ITEMS. NO EMPLOYEE PERSONAL ITEMS MUST BE STORED IN PREP AREA AND FOOD STORAGE AREA.

Jul 1, 2024

Reinspection

No violations found.

100

Jun 13, 2024

Routine

1 major violation. 10 minor violations.

View 11 violations

Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

Inspector notes: RECEPTACLES LIDS NOT MAINTAINED AT OUTSIDE DUMPSTER AREA. WE OBSERVED BROKEN LIDS,BENDED AND MISSING LIDS. NO COVER FOR DUMPSTER,UNIT REMAINS HALF UNCOVERED.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LIDS OR REPLACE CONTAINER, TO MINIMIZE PEST AND INSECT ACTIVITIES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION:7-38-020(B)CITATION ISSUED

Food properly labeled; original container

Inspector notes: ALL DRY FOOD MUST BE LABELED WITH A COMMON NAME AT STORAGE AREA

Insects, rodents, & animals not present

Inspector notes: OUTER OPENING NOT PROTECTED:WE OBSERVED REAR SCREEN DOORS WITH A GAP OF 1/4" BETWEEN DOORS.INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR ISSUE TO MINIMIZE PEST ENTRY.

Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

Inspector notes: MUST STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN PREP AREAS IN SANITIZER BUCKET BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.

In-use utensils: properly stored

Inspector notes: ICE SCOOP MUST BE STORED IN A CLEAN CONTAINER BETWEEN USE. -

Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used

Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE TAPE AS PADDING FOR THE CORNER OF THE SHELF BY THE LOW TEMP DISHMACHINE. SURFACE MUST BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE

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

Inspector notes: RUSTY SHELVES INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER, INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLERS. MUST REPAIR AND RESTORE TO A SMOOTH, EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE OR REPLACE

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

Inspector notes: MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.

Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

Inspector notes: GREASE BUILD UP UNDER FLAT GRILL,AND DEEP FRYER CLEAN AND MAINTAIN

Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

Inspector notes: EXCESS UNUSED ITEMS IN BASEMENT AREA ,INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND ELEVATE ITEMS NEEDED 6"OFF THE FLOOR.

Allergen training as required

Inspector notes: ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES PROVIDED ON SITE ARE EXPIRED. INSTRUCTED TO RENEW CERTIFICATE FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD SERVICE MANAGERS

Mar 10, 2023

Routine

1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.

View 2 violations

Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized

Inspector notes: FOUND LOW TEMPERATURE DISHMACHINE NOT SANITIZING. 0PPM CHLORINE.PRIORITY VIOLATION.CITATION ISSUED.7-38-025.CHLORINE BLEACH SANITIZER WAS PROVIDED FOR DISHMACHINE BY THE END OF INSPECTION.

Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled

Inspector notes: FOUND FOOD CONTAINERS NOT STORED PROPERLY ON SHELVING UNITS.MUST STORE INVERTED.

Show all 6 inspections Show less

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Serena Restaurant last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at Serena Restaurant on file is from Apr 21, 2025. The public record contains six inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at Serena Restaurant?

Across the inspection record, “non-food/food contact surfaces clean” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at Serena Restaurant.

Has Serena Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?

Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Serena Restaurant have averaged around four violations per visit across the recent record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at Serena Restaurant 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 Serena Restaurant inspected?

Based on the inspection history on file, Serena Restaurant is inspected around three times per year on average.

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