Fail

Cleo's Southern Cuisine

4248 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60653

Restaurant ZIP 60653 Risk 1 (High)

Failed · as of Oct 23, 2026

Cleo's Southern Cuisine was last inspected on October 23, 2026 with a result of “Fail”. Inspectors found 4 violations, 2 of them critical.

Latest inspection

October 23, 2026 · Canvass

Fail

Result: Fail

2 critical2 general
  • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

    Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

    Inspector’s note: Observed the following sink not maintained with hot water: improper temperature of hot water observed at rear prep handsink (63f). Instructed person in charge hot water at all hand-washing sinks must be at least 100f. Priority violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.

    Official wording (code 10)

    Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

  • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

    Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

    Inspector’s note: Observed hand sink in rear prep area not accessible. Sink was obstructed by a utility storager rack. Instructed that sink must be accessible and maintained at all times. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.

    Official wording (code 10)

    Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

  • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

    Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: Observed food handlers prepping food without hair restraints. Instructed person in charge that all food handlers must wear a hair restraint.

    Official wording (code 40)

    Personal cleanliness

  • GeneralFood handling

    Single-use items weren’t stored or used properly.

    Inspector’s note: Observed single service articles stored on floor in front prep counter area. Instructed manager to invert and elevate all single service articles off floor.

    Official wording (code 45)

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

Inspection history

9 inspections on record

  1. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    5 general Show violations
    • GeneralFood temperature

      Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide and maintain working thermometers inside all coolers.

      Official wording (code 36)

      Thermometers provided & accurate

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean the dry storage shelving and the exterior of the bulk storage container to remove debris.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Floors need cleaning along the wall base and in corner behind cooking equipment to remove spills and/or debris.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the hood and filters above the cooking equipment dirty. Must clean to remove grease and debris.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • GeneralRepeat violation

      A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

      Inspector’s note: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION (#58 : ALLERGEN TRAINING) NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2590388 DATE 3/1/24. PRIORITY FOUNDATION CITATION ISSUED #7-42-090. Violation Codes: 2-102.13 Inspector Comments: OBSERVED THE PIC/ CITY CERTIFIED MANAGER ON DUTY WITHOUT HIS ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN OR CITATIONS WILL FOLLOW.

      Official wording (code 60)

      Previous core violation corrected

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean the interior of the reach in coolers and freezer in the rear prep area to remove spills and debris, and inside the rif defrost and clean.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must clean the floor in the kitchen along the wall base and in corners to remove spills and/or debris.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Filters above cooking equipment need cleaning to remove grease and debris.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the pic/ city certified manager on duty without his allergen training as required. Instructed manager to provide and maintain or citations will follow.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  3. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    1 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Hand sinks were missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Inspector’s note: No handwashing sign in employee washroom; instructed to provide. Corrected on site.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: The hot water faucet knob at the exposed handsink in the rear prep area is in poor repair; instructed to repair knob.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean walls and floors around and behind equipment where needed (3 comp sink and furnace closet).

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  4. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical3 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no employee health policy on site. Must provide written employee health policy for all employees. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-010.

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no city of chicago food sanitation manager on site while tcs foods (sushi, rice, etc.) are being prepped. Instructed must have a city of chicago food sanitation manager certificate on site at all times when tcs foods are being prepped. Must provide valid proof of certification. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide proof of food handler training for all employees at time out market.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide proof of allergen training for all chicago food sanitation managers.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  5. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    3 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found no backflow prevention device at utility sink in basement; instructed to provide a backflow prevention device at utility sink.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the interior of the mop sink in the basement and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the vents in the ventilation system above cooking equipment.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  6. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical4 general Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature

      Prepared food wasn’t date-marked, or was kept past its discard date.

      Inspector’s note: Found tcs foods and ready to eat foods stored in coolers and not labeled. Instructed to properly label all product that has been prepared and/or removed from its original packaging and held for more than 24 hours. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 no citation issued

      Official wording (code 23)

      Proper date marking and disposition

    • GeneralFood temperature

      Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

      Inspector’s note: Found no metal stem thermometer on site for taking internal temperatures of tcs foods. Instructed to provide and maintain. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 no citation issued

      Official wording (code 36)

      Thermometers provided & accurate

    • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

      Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Found food handlers not wearing hair restraints. Instructed to wear hair restraints while in the food preparation area.

      Official wording (code 40)

      Personal cleanliness

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Found a leak at the pipe under the 2-compartment sink (closest to the wall). Instructed to fix and maintain the leak.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Toilet rooms weren’t built, stocked, or cleaned properly.

      Inspector’s note: Found no trash receptacle in the toilet room. Instructed to provide a trash receptacle with a lid/cover. Maintain same.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

  7. Conditional

    License Re-Inspection · Pass w/ Conditions

    1 critical1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no policy in place for employee health. Must provide. Priority foundation 7-38-010.

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide proof of food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  8. Fail

    License · Fail

    5 critical2 general3 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalManagement & training

      No one in charge was present who knew the food-safety rules.

      Inspector’s note: Person in charge does not have a city of chicago food service sanitation certificate. Must provide. Priority foundation.

      Official wording (code 1)

      Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties

    • CriticalManagement & training

      Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no policy in place for employee health. Must provide. Priority foundation 7-38-010.

      Official wording (code 3)

      Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting

    • CriticalManagement & training

      No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.

      Inspector’s note: No procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrhea events. Must provide. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005.

      Official wording (code 5)

      Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Not enough equipment, or the wrong method, to cool and hold food at safe temperatures.

      Inspector’s note: Must have cold/hot holding units operational for inspection. Priority violation 7-38-005.

      Official wording (code 33)

      Proper cooling methods used; adequate equipment for temperature control

    • CriticalFood handling

      Food wasn’t protected from contamination during prep, storage, or display.

      Inspector’s note: Basement dry food storage area must be secure to prevent contamination from public, must provide lock at door. Priority violation 7-38-030.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Must repair leak at 3-comp sink faucet(sprayer).

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Garbage wasn’t handled or stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: PREMISES MUST PROVIDE COMMERCIAL DUMPSTER AS REQUIRED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(b).

      Official wording (code 54)

      Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      No manager on duty held a City of Chicago food sanitation certificate.

      Inspector’s note: No original and valid city of chicago food service sanitation certificate. Must provide. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012.

      Official wording (code 2)

      City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide proof of food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Must provide proof of allergen training as required.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

More in ZIP 60653

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 13 days ago. Always confirm with the official record.