The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza
Last inspected: Dec 17, 2025
78
Score
The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza appears in inspection records five times, starting in 2021. The newest entry in the record is dated Dec 17, 2025. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Violation counts have been trending down, averaging around three violations across recent inspections versus roughly eight violations before.
The pattern that stands out is “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean”, which has been cited five times.
The city-wide average sits at 81, which The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza's 78 doesn't quite reach. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.
5
Inspections
1
Critical latest
0
Major latest
2
Minor latest
Inspection History
Dec 17, 2025
Complaint
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Sewage & waste water properly disposed
Inspector notes: NOTED WASTE WATER BACKING FROM ONE OF THE 2 COMPARTMENT SINK INTO THE OTHER WITH DIRT AND GREASE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C). CITATION ISSUED. 7-38-030(C)
52
In-use utensils: properly stored
Inspector notes: NOTED SERVING PLATES ON SHELVES AT THE KITCHEN PREP AREA NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT ALL SERVING PLATES TO PREVENT DUST ACCUMULATION.
43
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: NOTED STAINED CEILING TILES AT THE PREP AREA OF THE TEA ROOM. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN AND/OR REPLACE.
55
78
Aug 6, 2024
Routine
5 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Thermometers provided & accurate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING COLD-HOLDING UNITS MISSING INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETERS THROUGHOUT THE KITCHEN AREA: UPRIGHT BEVERAGE COOLER, UPRIGHT COFFEE COOLER IN COFFEE PREP STATION, 4-DOOR UPRIGHT COOLER, 2-DOOR BAKED GOODS COOLER. ISTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AT LEAST ONE INTERNAL AMBIENT AIR THERMOMETER IN ALL COLD-HOLDING UNITS USED TO STORE TCS FOOD ITEMS IN AN EASILY-VIEWABLE LOCATION AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
36
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED GASKETS AT THE KITCHEN AREA 4-DOOR UPRIGHT COOLER TO BE IN POOR REPAIR OR MISSING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE GASKETS ON 4-DOOR UPRIGHT COOLER AND MAINTAIN ALL EQUIPMENT IN GOOD REPAIR AND PROPER ADJUSTMENT.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED COOLER AND CABINET HANDLES THROUGHOUT THE KITCHEN AREA TO BE SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN NONFOOD-CONTACT SURFACES OF EQUIPMENT AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF SOIL AND MAINTAIN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DRAIN PLUMBING OF HANDWASHING SINK IN THE WAREWASHING AREA TO BE SLOW-DRAINING, BUT FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HANDWASHING SINK DRAIN PLUMBING TO ALLOW FOR ADEQUATE DRAINAGE AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.
51
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
Inspector notes: OBSERVED HANDWASHING SINK AT THE BAR AREA MISSING HANDWASHING SIGNAGE NOTIFYING FOOD EMPLOYEES TO WASH HANDS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SIGNAGE TO ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AND MAINTAIN AT ALL TIMES.
10
78
Dec 13, 2023
Routine
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 9 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Proper cold holding temperatures
Inspector notes: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING TCS FOODS @IMPROPER TEMPERATURES DURING TIME OF THE INSPECTION... THEY ARE AS FOLLOWS APPROXIMATELY 25 LBS TURKEY STUFFING AT 50F, AND ABOUT 50LBS MASHED POTATOES RANGING BETWEEN 48F-@52.5F. BOTH SAID ITEMS WERE STORED INSIDE OF WALK IN COOLER AT THIS TIME. INSTRUCTED TO HOLD ALL COLD TCS FOODS @ 41F AND BELOW AT ALL TIMES AND MAINTAIN.PERSON IN CHARGE VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED SAID FOOD ITEMS. PRIORITY VIOLATION. #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
22
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFED FOOD MANAGER ON SITE DURING TIME OF INSPECTION WITH VALID CERTIFICATE WHILE PREPARING TCS FOODS (TUREKY SALAD, EGGS, MILK, DELI MEAT, ETC) INSTUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MANTAIN AT LEAST ONE CFM ON SITE AT ALL TIMES DURING TIMES OF OPERATION AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. #7-38-012. CITATION ISSUED.
2
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
1
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED REFRIGERATION UNITS IN BAKERY PREP WITH TORN GASKETS. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE.
47
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
Inspector notes: OBSERVED LOWER GRILL COVERED WITH ALUMINUM FOIL. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND PROVIDE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACES.
47
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED STAND IN PLACE MIXER LOCATED IN BAKERY PREP AREA WITH HEAVY DRIED FOOD DEBRIS BUILT UP ON SURFACES. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.
49
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: OBSERVED DRAINPIPE ON DISHWASHING MACHINE IN DISREPAIR WITH WATER POOLING ONTO FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN EQUIPMENT, REMOVE WATER AND MAINTAIN.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED BASEBOARDS THROUGHOUT MAIN KITCHEN AREA IN DISREPAIR INSIDE REAR WALK IN COOLER AND BY COOK LINE/GRILLS NEAR LARGE ROASTERS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED WALLS IN DISREPAIR CONNECTED TO WALK IN COOLER IN COQ PREP AREA OF THE MAIN KITCHEN, NOTED WALL CHIPPING ABOVE PREP SINK ACROSS FROM SALAD COOLERS. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR TO BE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED ALL FLOORS THROUGHOUT ALL WALK IN COOLERS/FREEZERS, CHEMICAL, LIQUOR, AND DRY STORAGE WITH EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF TRASH AND FOOD DEBRIS THROUGHOUT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
55
Allergen training as required
Inspector notes: OBSERVED NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE ON SITE FOR CFM'S. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AS REQUIRED
58
50
Feb 8, 2022
Routine
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food properly labeled; original container
Inspector notes: PACKAGED FOOD CONTINER (PARFAIT) NOT LABELED PROPERLY. MISSING INGRIDENTS AND WEIGHT.
37
Utensils, equipment & linens: properly stored, dried, & handled
Inspector notes: DELI CUPS NOT AIR DRIED AFTER WASHING, INSTRUCTED TO AIR DRY ALL UTENSILS AFTER WASHING.
44
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
Inspector notes: ICE BUILD-UP NOTED ON PASTRY PREP COOLER, INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND MAINTAIN.
49
86
Mar 25, 2021
License
2 minor violations.
View 2 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE NOT LOCATED ON ESPRESSO AND COFFEE MACHINES. MUST PROVIDE ACCESS TO AND/OR INSTALL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICES ON ALL ESPRESSO AND COFFEE MACHINES CONNECTED TO CITY WATER.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: OBSERVED EXCESSIVE DEBRIS AND/OR DUST ACCUMULATION ON FLOOR OF PANTRY IN PALM COURT. MUST DETAIL CLEAN ALL FLOORS IN PANTRY AREA. MUST MAINTAIN SAME.
55
90
Frequently Asked Questions
When was The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza on file is from Dec 17, 2025. The public record contains five inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza?
Across the inspection record, “physical facilities installed, maintained & clean” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza.
Has The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly eight earlier in the record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza 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 The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, The Drake Hotel — Espression Lavazza is inspected roughly once per year on average.
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