Motherland Cafe

No violations were recorded at this inspection.

1. Mar 3, 2026 Pass

   Canvass · Pass

   No violations

2. Dec 19, 2025 Fail

   Canvass Re-Inspection · Fail

   4 general Show violations

   • GeneralFood handling

     Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

     Inspector’s note: 3-302.12 all foods in containers inside coolers must be labeled with the product name.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed evidence of rodent activity on the premises. Observed approximately 15 mouse droppings on the floor of the rear utility closet. Management instructed to clean and remove all rodent droppings from all affected areas. Additional pest control service is needed to eliminate the pest activity. Priority foundation #7-38-020(a). Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

     Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

     Inspector’s note: 2-402.11 all food handlers must wear effective hair restraints.

     Official wording (code 40)

     Personal cleanliness

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: 6-201.11 floors throughout the food prep area with dirt and debris. Must clean all and maintain

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

3. Dec 5, 2025 Fail

   Canvass · Fail

   2 critical7 general2 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: The person in charge during the initial inspection does not have a city of chicago food service sanitation certificate. Priority foundation violation.

     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: No written employee health policy on site for all employees. Must provide a verified written employee health policy for all employees. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010 citation issued.

     Official wording (code 3)

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

   • GeneralFood handling

     Food wasn’t labeled or wasn’t in its original container.

     Inspector’s note: All foods in containers inside coolers must be labeled with the product name.

     Official wording (code 37)

     Food properly labeled; original container

   • GeneralHygiene & sanitation

     Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.

     Inspector’s note: All food handlers must wear effective hair restraints.

     Official wording (code 40)

     Personal cleanliness

   • GeneralFood handling

     Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.

     Inspector’s note: Must not store soiled wiping cloths on the hand sink splash guard.

     Official wording (code 41)

     Wiping cloths: properly used & stored

   • GeneralFood handling

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

     Inspector’s note: All stored items in the dry storage room must be elevated from the floors.

     Official wording (code 45)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Dishwashing equipment wasn’t set up, maintained, or used correctly.

     Inspector’s note: No chlorine chemical test strips on site for the chlorine sanitizer to monitor sanitizing levels at the three compartment sink. Must provide. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005. Citation issued.

     Official wording (code 48)

     Warewashing facilities: installed, maintained & used; test strips

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Floors throughout the food prep area with dirt and debris. Must clean all and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralRepeat violation

     A previously cited basic violation still wasn’t fixed.

     Inspector’s note: Previous core violations from report #2602117 on 9-4-24 not corrected. #55- 6-501.12-- instructed to detail clean floor drains in food prep/dishwashing area to remove accumulation of spilled debris and maintain.#55- 6-501.114--- instructed to detail clean and organize utility mop sink room and remove unnecessary articles due to potential pest harborage and elevate mops,brooms cleaning equipments off the floor at least 6" inches to facilitate cleaning and maintain.#57- 2-102.13--- observed no food handler certificates provided on the premises.must show proof of training for all food handling employees. Priority foundation violation 7-42-090 citation issued.

     Official wording (code 60)

     Previous core violation corrected

   • PaperworkManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: No city of chicago certified food manager on site at initial inspection while tcs foods were being prepared and served. Manager was telephoned upon my arrival and arrived on site 45 minutes later. Priority foundation violation 7-38-012 citation issued.

     Official wording (code 2)

     City of chicago food service sanitation certificate

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Required allergen training was missing.

     Inspector’s note: All city of chicago certified food managers are required to have allergen training. Must provide for the above certified food manager.

     Official wording (code 58)

     Allergen training as required

4. Sep 4, 2024 Conditional

   Complaint · Pass w/ Conditions

   1 critical3 general1 paperwork Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed no written employee health policy on the premises.instructed management to provide a signed employee health policy for each employee and maintain as required.priority foundation violation 7-38-010. No citation issued.

     Official wording (code 3)

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

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Equipment and surfaces were dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to detail clean the interior of the microwave and prep coolers and maintain.

     Official wording (code 49)

     Non-food/food contact surfaces clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to detail clean floor drains in foodp prep/dishwashing area to remove accumulation of spilled debris and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to detail clean and organize utility mop sink room and remove unnecessary articles due to potential pest harborage and elevate mops,brooms cleaning equipments off the floor at least 6" inches to facilitate cleaning and maintain.

     Official wording (code 55)

     Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean

   • PaperworkManagement & training

     Not all food employees had food-handler training.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no food handler certificates provided on the premises.must show proof of training for all food handling employees.

     Official wording (code 57)

     All food employees have food handler training

5. Aug 15, 2024 No Entry

   Complaint · No Entry

   No violations

6. Jun 18, 2024 Conditional

   License Re-Inspection · Pass w/ Conditions

   1 critical Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed no written employee health policy on the premises.instructed management to provide a signed employee health policy for each employee and maintain as required.priority foundation violation 7-38-010. No citation issued.

     Official wording (code 3)

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

7. Jun 10, 2024 Fail

   License · Fail

   1 critical4 general Show violations

   • CriticalManagement & training

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed no written employee health policy on the premises.instructed management to provide a signed employee health policy for each employee and maintain as required.priority foundation violation 7-38-010.

     Official wording (code 3)

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

   • GeneralFood temperature

     Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.

     Inspector’s note: Observed no metal stem thermometer for taking food temperatures.instructed to provide and maintain.priority foundation violation 7-38-005.

     Official wording (code 36)

     Thermometers provided & accurate

   • GeneralPests

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

     Inspector’s note: Observed no pest control log book available on premises.instructed to provide a licensed pest control log book with all required documents (contract/service agreement,service report,copy of idph license etc.)priority foundation violation 7-38-020 (c).

     Official wording (code 38)

     Insects, rodents, & animals not present

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Plumbing problems, or missing protection against backflow.

     Inspector’s note: Observed water leak at cold handle for the 3-compartment sink.instructed to repair plumbing leak and maintain.

     Official wording (code 51)

     Plumbing installed; proper backflow devices

   • GeneralFacility upkeep

     Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.

     Inspector’s note: Instructed to detail clean ceiling ventilation cover inside the washroom to remove accumulation of dusts and maintain.

     Official wording (code 56)

     Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used