Destination Cafe
451 W 31st St, Chicago, IL 60616
Restaurant ZIP 60616 Risk 1 (High)
Passed · as of Jun 11, 2026
Destination Cafe was last inspected on June 11, 2026 with a result of “Pass”. Inspectors found 7 violations.
Latest inspection
June 11, 2026 · Canvass Re-Inspection
Result: Pass
5 general2 paperwork-
GeneralHygiene & sanitation
Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Food handlers on premises in kitchen not wearing appropriate hair restraints; instructed to provide and maintain at all times. Corrected on site.
Official wording (code 40)
Personal cleanliness
-
GeneralFood handling
Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.
Inspector’s note: Found wiping cloths on prep table and not stored in a sanitizing solution as required when not in use; instructed to store in a sanitizing solution.
Official wording (code 41)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the exterior surfaces of cooking equipment, prep tables (tops and bottom area), bottom area of fryers, bottom area of dishmachine, shelves inside of walk-in cooler.
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 clean the floors under around and behind all kitchen equipment and in storage areas to remove droppings, dirt and food particles. Instructed to clean the floor inside of the walk-in cooler and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Observed the vents in the hooded system in need of cleaning; instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: No food handler certificates. Instructed that all food handlers must obtain the required food handler training certificates.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Required allergen training was missing.
Inspector’s note: No food allergen certificates. Instructed that all city of chicago food service managers must obtain the required food allergen training certificate.
Official wording (code 58)
Allergen training as required
Inspection history
3 inspections on record
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Fail
Canvass · Fail
2 critical8 general2 paperwork Show violations
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CriticalManagement & training
Staff weren’t trained on, or didn’t follow, the rules for reporting illness.
Inspector’s note: No employee health policies on premises as required. Instructed the person in charge to provide documentation of employees responsibility to report any illness transmissible through food. Priority foundation violation 7-38-010 citation issued for food handler requirements.
Official wording (code 3)
Management, food employee and conditional employee; knowledge, responsibilities and reporting
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CriticalManagement & training
No written plan or kit for cleaning up vomit or diarrhea.
Inspector’s note: Found no vomit and diarrhea kit on site; instructed to provide and maintain to use in the event of a vomit and diarrheal incident on premises. Priority foundation violation 7-38-005 issued for food requirements.
Official wording (code 5)
Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
-
GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Observed the rear exit door not rodent proofed as required; must rodent proof door by sealing the 1/2 inch gap in the center of the door.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
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GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: Observed rodent activity on premises. Found over 100 mouse droppings on the floor under cooking equipment, sinks, by the dishwasher, by the ice machine, on the bottom of some prep tables. Instructed to clean and have pest control company service prior to reinspection next week. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a) citation issued for control of vermin and insects.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
-
GeneralPests
Insects, rodents, or animals were present, or the building wasn’t sealed against them.
Inspector’s note: No pest control log book on premises as required. No licensed pest control company services establishment at this time; instructed to obtain service from a licensed company. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(c) citation issued for contol of vermin and insects.
Official wording (code 38)
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
-
GeneralHygiene & sanitation
Staff personal cleanliness was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Food handlers on premises in kitchen not wearing appropriate hair restraints; instructed to provide and maintain at all times. Corrected on site.
Official wording (code 40)
Personal cleanliness
-
GeneralFood handling
Wiping cloths weren’t used or stored properly.
Inspector’s note: Found wiping cloths on prep table and not stored in a sanitizing solution as required when not in use; instructed to store in a sanitizing solution.
Official wording (code 41)
Wiping cloths: properly used & stored
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Equipment and surfaces were dirty.
Inspector’s note: Instructed to clean the exterior surfaces of cooking equipment, prep tables (tops and bottom area), bottom area of fryers, bottom area of dishmachine, shelves inside of walk-in cooler.
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 clean the floors under around and behind all kitchen equipment and in storage areas to remove droppings, dirt and food particles. Instructed to clean the floor inside of the walk-in cooler and maintain.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
GeneralFacility upkeep
Ventilation or lighting was inadequate.
Inspector’s note: Observed the vents in the hooded system in need of cleaning; instructed to clean and maintain.
Official wording (code 56)
Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Not all food employees had food-handler training.
Inspector’s note: No food handler certificates. Instructed that all food handlers must obtain the required food handler training certificates.
Official wording (code 57)
All food employees have food handler training
-
PaperworkManagement & training
Required allergen training was missing.
Inspector’s note: No food allergen certificates. Instructed that all city of chicago food service managers must obtain the required food allergen training certificate.
Official wording (code 58)
Allergen training as required
-
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Pass
License · Pass
1 critical2 general Show violations
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CriticalFood handling
Surfaces that touch food weren’t cleaned and sanitized.
Inspector’s note: Observed the ice bin interior in need of cleaning. Instructed to remove ice, clean and maintain at all times.
Official wording (code 16)
Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
-
GeneralFood temperature
Thermometers were missing or inaccurate.
Inspector’s note: Observed no thermometers in reach-in coolers in prep areas. Instructed manager to provide thermometers in all coolers.
Official wording (code 36)
Thermometers provided & accurate
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GeneralFacility upkeep
Floors, walls, or ceilings were damaged or dirty.
Inspector’s note: Observed unused equipment and unnecessary articles in rear prep area storage closet. Instructed manager to remove all unused, unnecssary equipment and articles to prevent pest harborage.
Official wording (code 55)
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
-
More in ZIP 60616
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 5 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.