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The Grail Cafe

715 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605
Café / Breakfast
Last inspected: Oct 19, 2021
86
Score
Low Risk

The Grail Cafe appears in inspection records four times, starting in 2019. The latest inspection on file is from Oct 19, 2021. When a facility lands in the low risk tier, it usually means nothing alarming showed up at the most recent visit. Note that The Grail Cafe's inspection history hasn't been updated since Oct 19, 2021; current conditions may have shifted from what the file shows.

Things are looking better lately, with recent visits averaging around three violations compared to roughly seven violations earlier on.

The most common issue across all inspections has been “insects, rodents, & animals not present”, showing up three times.

Compared to the broader Chicago restaurant scene, where the average is 81, this is a stronger showing. The full picture is one of consistent compliance.

4
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
3
Minor latest
Inspection History
Oct 19, 2021
Reinspection
3 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: 4-602.11(B-E) OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE WITH AN ACCUMULATED BROWNISH SUBSTANCE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
16
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACK FLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE.
51
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 OBSERVED ONE FEMALE FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT.
57
86
Oct 14, 2021
Complaint
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 14 violations
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-205.15(A) OBSERVED PLUMBING IN POOR REPAIR AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK, OBSERVED ONE OF TWO FAUCETS WITHOUT HOT RUNNING WATER. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND ALWAYS MAINTAIN HOT RUNNING WATER AT ALL FAUCETS AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).
51
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
Inspector notes: 2-101.11 OBSERVED THE PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012.
1
Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food
Inspector notes: 3-603.11 OBSERVED NO CONSUMER ADVISORY POSTED NOR A DISCLOSURE (WITH FOOTNOTE) OR REMINDER ON THE MENU FOR ALL ITEMS THAT CAN BE ORDERED UNDERCOOKED OR RAW (EGGS). INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.
25
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: 6-501.111 OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY. OBSERVED ABOUT 40 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON THE WALLS LOCATED IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA, ABOUT 20 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON THE PORTRAITS ON THE WALL LOCATED IN THE CUSTOMER DINING AREA, AND ABOUT 20 LIVE SMALL FLIES INSIDE OF THE PASTRY DISPLAY CASE. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE LIVE SMALL FLIES ACTIVITY, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS, AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR A SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(A).
38
City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
Inspector notes: 2-101.11 OBSERVED NO VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE POSTED NOR A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE WHILE TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (EGGS) ARE BEING HANDLED, PREPARED, AND SERVED TO THE PUBLIC. INSTRUCTED ALWAYS TO HAVE A VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER'S CERTIFICATE POSTED AND A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER ON-SITE AT ALL TIMES THE FACILITY IS OPEN AND OPERATING. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-012.
2
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
Inspector notes: 2-102.14(O) OBSERVED NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010.
3
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
Inspector notes: 3-304.14 OBSERVED WIPING CLOTHS BEING STORED ON COUNTER. INSTRUCTED TO STORE ALL WIPING CLOTHS IN A SANITIZING SOLUTION.
41
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
Inspector notes: 5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE IN THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE.
51
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.114 OBSERVED ITEMS ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO ELEVATE EVERYTHING AT LEAST 6 INCHES ABOVE THE GROUND.
55
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspector notes: 6-501.12 OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DIRT DEBRIS ON THE FLOORS IN THE FRONT AND REAR FOOD PREP AREAS AND IN THE DRY STORAGE CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL.
55
All food employees have food handler training
Inspector notes: 2-102.13 OBSERVED ONE FEMALE FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT A FOOD HANDLERS CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENTS.
57
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
Inspector notes: 4-602.11(B-E) OBSERVED THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE WITH AN ACCUMULATED BROWNISH SUBSTANCE. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
16
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: 6-202.13 OBSERVED INSECT CONTROL DEVICES (CUP OF VINEGAR, FLY STRIPS) BEING INSTALLED BY THE FACILITY. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND ONLY ALLOW PEST CONTROL TO INSTALL ALL INSECT CONTROL DEVICES.
38
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
Inspector notes: 6-202.15 OBSERVED FRONT ENTRANCE AND BACK EXIT DOOR OPENED WITHOUT ANY SCREENS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY. INSTRUCTED TO CLOSE DOORS OR PROVIDE SCREENS TO PREVENT ANY POTENTIAL PEST ENTRY INTO THE FACILITY.
38
35
Dec 15, 2020
Routine
No violations found.
100
Dec 3, 2019
License
No violations found.
100

Frequently Asked Questions

When was The Grail Cafe last inspected?

The most recent health inspection at The Grail Cafe on file is from Oct 19, 2021. The public record contains four inspections in total.

What is the most common violation at The Grail Cafe?

Across the inspection record, “insects, rodents, & animals not present” has been cited three times, more than any other issue at The Grail Cafe.

Has The Grail Cafe's inspection record improved over time?

Yes. Recent inspections at The Grail Cafe have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.

What does a low risk rating mean?

A low risk rating at The Grail 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.

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