Front Cafe
1640-1700 N HALSTED, Chicago, IL 60614 · Cook County
Establishment
- Type
- Restaurant (retail food serving meals) (Restaurant)
- Inspected by
- Chicago Department of Public Health
- License / ID
- 2812872
- Status
- Risk 1 (High)
- Official record
- Chicago Department of Public Health inspection reports
Year by year
| Year | Inspections | Violations | Serious |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 2024 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | 2 | 13 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 | 7 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Inspections
-
Nov 14, 2025 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
OBSERVED MINOR LEAK AT BOTTOM OF DISH MACHINE IN MAIN DISH WASHING ROOM IN REAR. MUST REPAIR.
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
OBSERVED LAST TWO HAND SINKS ON FAR RIGHT SIDE IN ALL GENDER TOILET ROOM (WITH 5 STANDARD STALLS) WITH SENSORS NOT WORKING FOR AUTOMATIC HAND SINKS. MUST REPAIR.
-
Severity not stated
-
Nov 7, 2024 Canvass Re-Inspection · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
Result: Pass.
-
Oct 31, 2024 Canvass · Fail — Risk 1 (High)
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
OBSERVED ICE MACHINE LOCATED IN GROUND LEVEL DISHROOM WITH A BUILD-UP OF BLACK SUBSTANCE IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH ICE AND DRIPPING ONTO ICE CUBES STORED AT BELOW ICE BIN. ICE IS USED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.PERSON IN CHARGE TURNED OFF MACHINE AND CONTACTED PROVIDER TO BE SERVICED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
-
Aug 21, 2023 Complaint Re-Inspection · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
Result: Pass.
-
Aug 11, 2023 Complaint · Fail — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
NO WRITTEN EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR ALL EMPLOYEES. MUST PROVIDE. PRIROTY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
INTERIOR OF THE REAR PREP AREA ICE MACHINE AND THE MAIN BAR ICE MACHINE, WHERE ICE IS FOR CONSUMPTION, WITH BLACK SLIME SUBSTANCE IN THE UPPER WATER RESERVOIR AND ON ICE/WATER CONTACT SURFACES. MUST REMOVE ALL BLACK SLIME, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AFFECTED AREAS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
-
Serious
Priority
FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED
NOTED BOTH THE REAR PREP AND THE MAIN BAR DISH WASHING MACHINES NOT ABLE TO PROPERLY SANITIZE DISHES. PREP DISH WASHING MACHINE NOTED WITH AN EMPTY CONTAINER OF SANITIZER AND THE BAR DISH MACHINE SET UP WITH A RINSE AID CONTAINER ATTACHED TO THE SANITIZER PUMP FOR THE MACHINE. MANAGER CORRECTED DURING THE INSPECTION. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025. NO DISHES BEING WASHED AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. NO CITATION ISSUED.
-
Serious
Priority
PROPER COOLING TIME AND TEMPERATURE
OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 5 LBS COOKED TCS MACARONI AND CHEESE INDIVIDUALLY PRE-PACKED WRAPPED/SEALED IN CERAMIC BOWLS AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES INSIDE THE FRONT PREP REACH-IN COOLER. MANAGER STATES THE MACARONI AND CHEESE WAS PREPARED IN THE MORNING. TEMPERATURES NOTED AT 65.4F AND 54.9F. OTHER FOODS IN THE SAME COOLER FOUND TO BE AT PROPER TEMPERATURE. ALSO NOTED COOKED CHICKEN RECENTLY PURCHASED HOT AT A GROCERY STORE TIGHTLY SEALED IN A DEEP PLASTIC CONTAINER IN THE PREP COOLER AT 70.5F. REVIEWED WITH CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER PROPER COOLING METHODS OF PREPARED HOT FOODS BEFORE PACKAGING AND STORING IN PREP COOLERS. ALL DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005. SEE VIOLATION #22 FOR CITATION.
-
Serious
Priority
PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES
OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 5 LBS MEAT AND CHEESE STUFFED PASTRIES ON DISPLAY FOR SALE IN A NON-REFRIGERATED DISPLAY CASE AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES OF 72F AND 71.6F. REVIEWED PROPER COLD AND HOT FOOD TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS FOR TCS FOODS. ALL DISCARDED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
-
Severity not stated
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
OBSERVED PRE-PACKAGED SNACKS SUCH AS CANDY AND CRACKER SNACK MIX PREPARED ON SITE WITH IMPROPER LABELS. PRE-PACKAGED ITEMS ON DISPLAY TO BE SOLD MUST HAVE THE BUSINESS NAME AND ADDRESS, LIST OF INGREDIENTS.
-
Severity not stated
PERSONAL CLEANLINESS
FOOD PREPARERS WITH BEARDS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE BEARD RESTRAINTS.
-
Severity not stated
IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED
ICE SCOOPS MUST BE HELD IN A CLEAN CONTAINER.
-
Severity not stated
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
STORED ITEMS THROUGHOUT ALL STORAGE AREAS MUST BE ELEVATED FROM THE FLOORS.
-
Severity not stated
NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN
SHELVING UNDER THE ESPRESSO MACHINE WITH COFFEE DEBRIS AND DIRT. MUST CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
HOLE IN THE WALL NEXT TO THE REAR PREP ICE MACHINE. MUST SEAL TO BE SMOOTH AND CLEANABLE.
-
Severity not stated
ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING
NOTED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATE. MUST PROVIDE VALID FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES FOR ALL EMPLOYEES.
-
Severity not stated
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
ALL CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS MUST HAVE PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
-
Severity not stated
-
Jul 29, 2022 Canvass · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED
FRONT PLASTIC UTENSILS USED FOR COSTUMERS MUST BE INVERTED, TO MINIMIZE SOURCE OF CONTAMINATION
-
Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
MUST NOT USE MILK CRATES AS A MEANS OF ELEVATION FOR STORED ITEMS.
-
Severity not stated
-
Mar 9, 2022 Complaint · Pass — Risk 1 (High)
-
Severity not stated
FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER
REPACKED COOKIES/SWEETS AT FRONT COUNTER MUST LABEL COMMON NAME, ONCE IS REMOVED FROM ORIGINAL CONTAINERS
-
Severity not stated
WIPING CLOTHS: PROPERLY USED & STORED
MUST STORE WIPING CLOTHS IN PREP AREAS IN SANITIZER BUCKET BETWEEN USES TO PREVENT CROSS CONTAMINATION. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN.
-
Severity not stated
FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED
BROKEN PLASTIC HANDLE AT TWO DOOR REACH-IN COOLER AT MAIN BAR INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BROKEN HANDLE
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
EXCESS DEBRIS UNDER THREE COMPARTMENT SINKS,UNDER SHELVES ALONG BASEBOARD WALLS IN ALL THE BARS AND STORAGE AREAS.
-
Severity not stated
PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN
BROKEN FLOOR DRAIN UNDER THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AY MAIN CIRCLE BAR AT FIRST FLOOR,REPLACE
-
Severity not stated
-
Nov 9, 2021 License · Pass w/ Conditions — Risk 1 (High)
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING
OBSERVED NO PROOF OF EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY ON SITE. POLICY PROVIDED. COMPLETE NAD MAINTENANCE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION NO CITATION ISSUED.
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
PROCEDURES FOR RESPONDING TO VOMITING AND DIARRHEAL EVENTS
OBSERVED NO CLEAN-UP KIT OR PROCEDURE ON SITE. PROVIDED PROCEDURE AND CLEAN-UP KIT SUPPLIES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION. NO CITATION WAS ISSUED.
-
Severity not stated
ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED
ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS NEED PROOF OF ALLERGEN TRAINING.
-
Not serious
Priority Foundation
Source: Chicago Department of Public Health. History last read Oct 1, 2026. Violation text is the inspector's wording. “Serious” is the source's own top tier. About this data.