Baker Dining Commons
5500 S University Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
Dining Hall ZIP 60637 Risk 1 (High)
Passed · as of Nov 13, 2025
Baker Dining Commons was last inspected on November 13, 2025 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 2 violations.
Latest inspection
November 13, 2025 · Canvass Re-Inspection
Result: Pass
2 general-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed food spills and debris on interior and exterior surfaces of holding units, shelving units, cabinets, unused coolers, prep tables. Instructed manager to clean and maintain all food and non-food contact surfaces and equipment.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed debris on floors under all equipment, along walls and in call corners in prep, serving, dish washing and storage areas. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
Inspection history
12 inspections on record
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
1 critical2 general Show violations
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CriticalHygiene & sanitation
Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
Inspector’s note: Observed hot water (123.9f-125.5f) above maximum of 120f at hand washing sinks in prep, serving and dish washing areas. Instructed manager to repair and maintain hot water under 120f at all hand washing sinks. Priority foundation 7-38-030(c) citation issued
Official wording (code 10)
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed food spills and debris on interior and exterior surfaces of holding units, shelving units, cabinets, unused coolers, prep tables. Instructed manager to clean and maintain all food and non-food contact surfaces and equipment.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed debris on floors under all equipment, along walls and in call corners in prep, serving, dish washing and storage areas. Instructed manager to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
3 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the bottom of the fryer in the kitchen area.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: The floor drain in the manual dishwashing area needs cleaning under the garbage disposal; clean floor drain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: The vents above the grill in the flame cooking area need cleaning; clean vents.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
6 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: The sides of hot holding cabinets in need of cleaning to remove all build up and splatter. Instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: All cooking equipment in need of cleaning to remove all food spills and build up. Instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 49)
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: Leak at 3 compartment pot sink, leaking at bottom of sink. Instructed to correct and maintain.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Floors in corners of food station prep areas in need of cleaning to remove all build up. Walls in need of cleaning to remove all splatter. Instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Hood vent filters above the grill area station in need of cleaning to remove grease. Instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Additional lighting needed in kosher kitchen area instructed to correct
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
2 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.
Inspector’s note: Observed cutting boards with deep grooves and dark marks in salad bar area. Person in charge willingly discarded on-site.
Official wording (code 47)
Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed paint peeling from wall around sink in women's employee restroom, as well as in men's employee restroom. Instructed person in charge to repair and make smooth and easily cleanable.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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Pass
Complaint · Pass
2 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: Observed not hot water at left sink in women washroom and hand sink near eye wash station in dish room. Observed standing water at second sink in men washroom. Instructed manager to repair and maintain.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Observed damaged light shield above 3-compartment sink in dish washing area in rear. Instructed manager to replace and maintain.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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Pass
Complaint · Pass
4 general Show violations
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.
Inspector’s note: Repair leak under 3-compartment sink at pots/pans wash area.
Official wording (code 51)
Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Clean floor under storage shelving at back of the house.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Replace burnt out lights at ceiling in both men's and women's washroom in employees locker room area.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Provide adequate lighting in dry food storage area.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
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Pass
Canvass · Pass
3 general Show violations
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector’s note: Clean interior and exterior of cooking equipment, prep tables, cabinets in prep/serving areas.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector’s note: Clean floors under all equipment along walls and in all corners in prep, serving, storage and dish washing areas.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector’s note: Separate cleaning equipment from food items in omelet station.
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Pass
Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass
No violations
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
5 general Show violations
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GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)
No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors
Inspector’s note: Found fruit flies and rodent droppings on premises. Observed 10 fruit flies in the comfort station, five in the rear storage room and five in the dish washing room. Observed two mouse droppings in d 127 the dry storage room on the floor and two droppings on the floor of d 126 the janitors closet. Observed three droppings on the shelf under the counter in the dessert station. Observed thirty droppings in the kosher kitchen inside the bottom area of the fryer. Must clean all affected areas mentioned. Instructed to have smithereen service areas prior to reinspection next week. Serious violation 7-38-020.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact equipment utensils clean, free of abrasive detergents
Inspector’s note: Clean storage shelves in the salad station underneath the counter. Clean inside bottom of fryers in the grill station and the kosher station.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Floors: constructed per code, cleaned, good repair, coving installed, dust-less cleaning methods used
Inspector’s note: Must detail clean all floor drains in salad area, in the comfort station by the large cooking kettles, by the ice machine on the west wall, under the three comp sink in the dish area and in the pot and pan area. Some drains observed with heavy build up must be cleaned and maintained to eliminate/prevent drain fly activity. Floors need cleaning behind the doors in the beverage area, under the ice machine on the west wall (standing water), inside of the dairy cooler, in the grill station under the fryers, in the dish washing room underneath the conveyor tray line to remove standing water and underneath the compost machine in the dish washing area to remove food and paper observed.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Walls, ceilings, attached equipment constructed per code: good repair, surfaces clean and dust-less cleaning methods
Inspector’s note: Clean walls around and behind cooking and other equipment where needed in all prep areas.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food (ice) dispensing utensils, wash cloths properly stored
Inspector’s note: Must properly invert clean pots on shelves in the comfort station.
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Pass
License Re-Inspection · Pass
No violations
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Fail
License · Fail
2 critical4 general Show violations
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CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)
Facilities to maintain proper temperature
Inspector’s note: Noted a reach in cooler in the comfort food prep area ay 43-46 degrees f. Also milk dispenser not on and operating. Noted approximately 6-10 beverage dispensers not on site or installed. Must have all equipment on and operating to verify that it maintains proper temperatures. Must repair refrigeration and maintain at 40 degrees and below. Must also properly install all equipment to allow for inspection.
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CriticalCritical (pre-2018 form)
Adequate number, convenient, accessible, designed, and maintained
Inspector’s note: Hand washing facilities not properly maintained. Noted a hand sink in the comfort food prep area at 132 degrees f and a hand sink in the kosher prep area at 125 degrees f. Also noted a hand sink in the gluten free prep area at 133 degrees f. Must provide hot and cold running water at hand washing facilities.
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GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)
Food protected during storage, preparation, display, service and transportation
Inspector’s note: Noted over head pipes in rear hallway outside of the walk in cooler b121. Must protect food being transported through the hallway from possible contamination from over head pipes.
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GeneralSerious (pre-2018 form)
No evidence of rodent or insect outer openings protected/rodent proofed, a written log shall be maintained available to the inspectors
Inspector’s note: Must provide a pest control log book on site.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Food and non-food contact surfaces properly designed, constructed and maintained
Inspector’s note: Must also encase the storm drain across from the ice machine.
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GeneralMinor (pre-2018 form)
Premises maintained free of litter, unnecessary articles, cleaning equipment properly stored
Inspector’s note: Must remove all stock and clutter in the event spaces in the rear of the dining hall.
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More in ZIP 60637
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 12 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.