Steppenwolf — Front Cafe
Last inspected: Nov 14, 2025
90
Score
Across the available record, Steppenwolf — Front Cafe has eight inspections on file, the first dated 2021. Steppenwolf — Front Cafe was last inspected on Nov 14, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Recent inspections have found fewer violations than earlier ones, averaging around one violation lately and about five violations before that.
When inspectors have written things up, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been the most frequent reason, cited four times.
The city-wide average for Chicago sits at 81, putting Steppenwolf — Front Cafe on the better side of that line. Taken together, the history is a positive one.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Nov 14, 2025
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED MINOR LEAK AT BOTTOM OF DISH MACHINE IN MAIN DISH WASHING ROOM IN REAR. MUST REPAIR.
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LAST TWO HAND SINKS ON FAR RIGHT SIDE IN ALL GENDER TOILET ROOM (WITH 5 STANDARD STALLS) WITH SENSORS NOT WORKING FOR AUTOMATIC HAND SINKS. MUST REPAIR.
55
90
Nov 7, 2024
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Oct 31, 2024
Routine
1 major violation.
View 1 violation
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN GROUND LEVEL DISHROOM WITH A BUILD-UP OF BLACK SUBSTANCE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ICE AND DRIPPING ONTO ICE CUBES STORED AT BELOW ICE BIN. ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.PERSON IN CHARGE TURNED OFF MACHINE AND CONTACTED PROVIDER TO BE SERVICED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED
16
90
Aug 21, 2023
Reinspection
No violations found.
100
Aug 11, 2023
Complaint
3 critical violations. 1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 13 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: NOTED BOTH THE REAR PREP AND THE MAIN BAR DISH WASHING MACHINES NOT ABLE TO PROPERLY SANITIZE DISHES. PREP DISH WASHING MACHINE NOTED WITH AN EMPTY CONTAINER OF SANITIZER AND THE BAR DISH MACHINE SET UP WITH A RINSE AID CONTAINER ATTACHED TO THE SANITIZER PUMP FOR THE MACHINE. MANAGER CORRECTED DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025. NO DISHES BEING WASHED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
16
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 5 LBS MEAT AND CHEESE STUFFED PASTRIES ON DISPLAY FOR SALE IN A NON-REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES OF 72F AND 71.6F. REVIEWED PROPER COLD AND HOT FOOD TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR TCS FOODS. ALL DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
22
Proper cooling time and temperature
Inspector notes: OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 5 LBS COOKED TCS MACARONI AND CHEESE INDIVIDUALLY PRE-PACKED WRAPPED/SEALED IN CERAMIC BOWLS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES INSIDE THE FRONT PREP REACH-IN COOLER. MANAGER STATES THE MACARONI AND CHEESE WAS PREPARED IN THE MORNING. TEMPERATURES NOTED AT 65.4F AND 54.9F. OTHER FOODS IN THE SAME COOLER FOUND TO BE AT PROPER TEMPERATURE. ALSO NOTED COOKED CHICKEN RECENTLY PURCHASED HOT AT A GROCERY STORE TIGHTLY SEALED IN A DEEP PLASTIC CONTAINER IN THE PREP COOLER AT 70.5F. REVIEWED WITH CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER PROPER COOLING METHODS OF PREPARED HOT FOODS BEFORE PACKAGING AND STORING IN PREP COOLERS. ALL DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. SEE VIOLATION #22 FOR CITATION.
20
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: INTERIOR OF THE REAR PREP AREA ICE MACHINE AND THE MAIN BAR ICE MACHINE, WHERE ICE IS FOR CONSUMPTION, WITH BLACK SLIME SUBSTANCE IN THE UPPER WATER RESERVOIR AND ON ICE/WATER CONTACT SURFACES. MUST REMOVE ALL BLACK SLIME, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
16
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: ICE SCOOPS MUST BE HELD IN A CLEAN CONTAINER.
43
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT ALL STORAGE AREAS MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.
45
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: SHELVING UNDER THE ESPRESSO MACHINE WITH COFFEE DEBRIS AND DIRT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
49
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: HOLE IN THE WALL NEXT TO THE REAR PREP ICE MACHINE. MUST SEAL TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: NOTED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MUST PROVIDE VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
57
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE. PRIROTY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.
3
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: OBSERVED PRE-PACKAGED SNACKS SUCH AS CANDY AND CRACKER SNACK MIX PREPARED ON SITE WITH IMPROPER LABELS. PRE-PACKAGED ITEMS ON DISPLAY TO BE SOLD MUST HAVE THE BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS, LIST OF INGREDIENTS.
37
Personal cleanliness
Inspector notes: FOOD PREPARERS WITH BEARDS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE BEARD RESTRAINTS.
40
37
Jul 29, 2022
Routine
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Single-use/single-service articles: properly stored & used
Inspector notes: FRONT PLASTIC UTENSILS USED FOR COSTUMERS MUST BE INVERTED, TO MINIMIZE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION
45
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.
47
90
Mar 9, 2022
Complaint
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: REPACKED COOKIES/SWEETS AT FRONT COUNTER MUST LABEL COMMON NAME, ONCE IS REMOVED FROM ORIGINAL CONTAINERS
37
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.
41
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: BROKEN PLASTIC HANDLE AT TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER AT MAIN BAR INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN HANDLE
47
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: EXCESS DEBRIS UNDER THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS,UNDER SHELVES ALONG BASEBOARD WALLS IN ALL THE BARS AND STORAGE AREAS.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: BROKEN FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AY MAIN CIRCLE BAR AT FIRST FLOOR,REPLACE
55
78
Nov 9, 2021
License
2 major violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP KIT OR PROCEDURE ON SITE. PROVIDED PROCEDURE AND CLEAN-UP KIT SUPPLIES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION WAS ISSUED.
5
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO PROOF OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. POLICY PROVIDED. COMPLETE NAD MAINTENANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION NO CITATION ISSUED.
3
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS NEED PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
58
78
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Steppenwolf — Front Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Steppenwolf — Front Cafe on file is from Nov 14, 2025. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Steppenwolf — Front Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Steppenwolf — Front Cafe.
Has Steppenwolf — Front Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Steppenwolf — Front Cafe have averaged around one violation per visit, down from roughly five earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Steppenwolf — Front Cafe 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 Steppenwolf — Front Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Steppenwolf — Front Cafe is inspected around two times per year on average.
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