Pass

Willow Cafe and Bistro

4729 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60625

Restaurant ZIP 60625 Risk 1 (High)

Passed · as of Jun 26, 2026

Willow Cafe and Bistro was last inspected on June 26, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 7 violations.

Latest inspection

June 26, 2026 · Complaint Re-Inspection

Pass

Result: Pass

6 general1 paperwork
  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

    Inspector’s note: 4-602.13 clean the food debris inside of the oven and beneath the stovetop, clean the grease and food debris on the prep tables.

    Official wording (code 49)

    Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

    Inspector’s note: 5-501.17 observed no covered waste receptacle in the employee washroom. Management instructed to provide.

    Official wording (code 53)

    Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

    Inspector’s note: 6-202.14 observed no self-closing door device on the employee washroom door. Management instructed to install.

    Official wording (code 53)

    Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: 6-501.12 clean the food debris on the floor and walls of the food prep areas.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

    Inspector’s note: 6-501.11 seal all openings in the walls of the dishwashing area, food prep area and employee washroom to eliminate pest harborage conditions.

    Official wording (code 55)

    Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  • GeneralFacility upkeep

    Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

    Inspector’s note: 6-202.11 replace the missing light shield above the bakery food prep area.

    Official wording (code 56)

    Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  • PaperworkManagement & training

    Not all food employees had food-handler training.

    Inspector’s note: 2-102.13 observed several food handling employees without a food handler training certificate. Management instructed that all food handling employees must show valid proof of food handler training.

    Official wording (code 57)

    All food employees have food handler training

Inspection history

6 inspections on record

  1. Fail

    Complaint · Fail

    2 critical6 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalFood temperature

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed ready-to-eat tcs foods (garlic aioli, tomato soup, sauteed mushrooms, etc.) stored in the walk-in cooler past the 7 day maximum use by date. Management instructed to use or discard all expired tcs foods within 7 days with the prep date counting as day #1. Priority violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 23)

      Proper date marking and disposition

    • CriticalFood handling

      No warning to customers about raw or undercooked food.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no consumer advisory disclosure and reminder statement for raw or undercooked animal foods on the lunch and brunch menus. Management instructed to disclose or describe all foods which can be ordered raw or undercooked and link those items to a reminder statement on the menu. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005.

      Official wording (code 25)

      Consumer advisory provided for raw/undercooked food

    • GeneralPests

      Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.

      Inspector’s note: Observed 5 live cockroaches on the wall and floor under and behind the dishwashing machine. Also observed 5 live small flying insects on the walls of the front coffee prep area. Additional pest control service is needed to eliminate all pest activity. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a). Citation issued.

      Official wording (code 38)

      Insects, rodents, & animals not present

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Clean the top and exterior of the dishwashing machine.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed no covered waste receptacle in the employee washroom. Management instructed to provide.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed no self-closing door device on the employee washroom door. Management instructed to install.

      Official wording (code 53)

      Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Clean the food debris on the floor and walls of the food prep areas.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Seal all openings in the walls of the dishwashing area, food prep area and employee washroom to eliminate pest harborage conditions.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Not all food employees had food-handler training.

      Inspector’s note: Observed several food handling employees without a food handler training certificate. Management instructed that all food handling employees must show valid proof of food handler training.

      Official wording (code 57)

      All food employees have food handler training

  2. Pass

    Canvass · Pass

    5 general Show violations
    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment or surfaces were in poor repair or made of material that can’t be cleaned.

      Inspector’s note: Must repair torn gaskets on the inside of main three door prep cooler in the cooks station.

      Official wording (code 47)

      Food & non-food contact surfaces cleanable, properly designed, constructed & used

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed dust accumulation on the fan guards in the walk-in cooler. Instructed to clean and maintain.

      Official wording (code 49)

      Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Observed handwashing sink in the coffee station continuosly running low water pressure when turned off. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Must remove and detail clean food debris from the floors along the walls and baseboards in the main kitchen prep area and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Observed broken and missing floor tiles underneath handwashing sink in the bakery. Instructed to repair and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

  3. Conditional

    Canvass · Pass w/ Conditions

    5 critical2 general1 paperwork Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed front coffee area handwashing sink missing signage notifying food employees to wash hands. Instructed to proivde adequate signage at all handwashing sinks and maintain at all times.

      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 the following handwashing sinks to be inaccessible at time of inspection: rear area (near exterior door) handwashing sink obstructed by equipment, front bakery area handwashing sink obstructed by wooden shelf. Observed food employee utilizing front coffee area handwashing sink to rinse in-use utensils. Instructed to remove all obstructions from handwashing sinks and maintain all handwashing sinks accessible at all times for handwashing only. Person-in-charge removed all handwashing sink obstructions and discussed handwashing sink procedures with staff on-site. Priority foundation 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 soap not provided at the following handwashing sinks: rear area (near exterior door), front bakery area, rear bakery area (near restroom). Instructed to provide hand soap at all handwashing sinks and maintain at all times. Person-in-charge provided hand soap to all handwashing sinks on-site. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-030(c) citation combined with above violation.

      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 disposable paper towels not provided at the front bakery area handwashing sink. Instructed to provide disposable paper towels at all handwashing sinks and maintain at all times. Person-in-charge provided disposable paper towels at time of inspection. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-030(c) citation combined with above violation.

      Official wording (code 10)

      Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible

    • CriticalFood temperature

      Cold food was held above a safe temperature.

      Inspector’s note: Observed the following tcs food items at improper temperatures for cold-holding in the bakery area 3-door reach-in cooler: cooked potatoes at 50.1f, pork sausage at 46.6f. Instructed to denature and discard all tcs food items at improper cold-holding temperatures. Approximately 50 lbs. Of food valued at approximately $110.00 discarded on-site. Person-in-charge denatured and discarded out-of-temperature food items on-site. Priority violation. 7-38-005 citation issued.

      Official wording (code 22)

      Proper cold holding temperatures

    • GeneralFood handling

      In-use utensils weren’t stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Observed in-use utensils stored in still, room-temperature water in between uses at the main cook line. Instructed to store in-use utensils on a clean, sanitized surface, under running water, or in water at or above 135.0f in between uses and maintain.

      Official wording (code 43)

      In-use utensils: properly stored

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Observed faucet at the 3-compartment sink to be in poor repair, leaking when turned off but functional. Instructed to repair or replace 3-compartment sink faucet to eliminate leak and maintain all plumbing fixtures in good repair.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • PaperworkManagement & training

      Required allergen training was missing.

      Inspector’s note: Observed two persons-in-charge with city of chicago certified manager training and certificate missing additional allergen awareness training and certificates on-site at time of inspection. Instructed to provide all certified managers with allergen awareness training and maintain certificate(s) on-site at all times for inspector review.

      Official wording (code 58)

      Allergen training as required

  4. Pass

    License · Pass

    5 general Show violations
    • GeneralFood handling

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

      Inspector’s note: Observed hand sink near rear exit door to not be properly protected from contamination between prep sink and service/utility sink. Instructed manager to provide splash guard on each side to protect against potential contamination.

      Official wording (code 39)

      Contamination prevented during food preparation, storage & display

    • GeneralFood handling

      Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to properly store all washcloths in a sanitizing solution especially when not in use.

      Official wording (code 41)

      Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

      Inspector’s note: Observed no backflow prevention device present at following locations: service/utility sink near rear exit door; coffee expresso unit at front counter; water dispenser at front counter. Instructed manager to provide backflow prevention device at each location.

      Official wording (code 51)

      Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

      Inspector’s note: Instructed to provide missing floor tiles directly underneath the newly installed handwashing sinks and maintain.

      Official wording (code 55)

      Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

    • GeneralFacility upkeep

      Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

      Inspector’s note: Observed light above rear hand sink near rear exit door and light above ovens in rear bakery area to not have protective shields or covers. Provide protective light shield or shatter resistant light bulbs.

      Official wording (code 56)

      Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used

  5. Not Ready

    License · Not Ready

    No violations

More in ZIP 60625

Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 4 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.