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Cafe El Meson

August 27, 2026 · Pass w/ Conditions

😬mid

official resultPass w/ Conditions
resultPass w/ Conditions
inspection typeCanvass
failed findings7
critical findings0

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Failed findings

cold food not cold enough

Official wording: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
Inspector note: OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 51.3-66.7F. OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS, TURKEY(51.3F), HAM(55.9F), GARLIC IN OIL(66.7F),SLICED TOMATOES(62.6), SPINACH(62.6F) AND MAYO(62.8-63.1F) HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURE. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD TCS FOOD MUST BE HELD AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE MANAGER VOLUNTARILY DISCARDED AND DENATURED FOOD VALUED AT $10 WEIGHING 7LBS PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
code 22
food prep surfaces dirty

Official wording: Proper Cooling Methods Used; Adequate Equipment For Temperature Control
Inspector note: OBSERVED SMALL THREE DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT AT IMPROPER AMBIENT TEMPERATURE OF 63.9F. INSTRUCTED ALL COLD HOLDING UNITS MUST BE MAINTAINED AT 41F OR BELOW. CORRECTED ON SITE HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG PLACED ON SMALL THREE DOOR COLD HOLDING UNIT. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED
code 33
Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display

Inspector note: OBSERVED FAUCET USED FOR OBTAINING WATER TO RINSE EQUIPMENT ATTACHED TO WATER LINE OF HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO REMOVE FAUCET USED FOR OBTAINING WATER FROM HANDWASHING SINK TO PREVENT CONTAMINATION OF EQUIPMENT USED FOR MAKING BEVERAGES INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE TO UTILIZE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK TO OBTAIN WATER.
code 39
surfaces / setup not up to code

Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
Inspector note: OBSERVED BOXES AND CONTAINERS STORED ON FLOOR IN UTILITY CLOSET. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE SHELVING UNITS TO ELEVATE ALL FOOD AND NON FOOD ITEMS AT LEAST SIX INCHES OFF OF FLOOR FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
code 47
bathroom / plumbing issues

Official wording: Plumbing Installed; Proper Backflow Devices
Inspector note: UNABLE TO LOCATE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON ICE MACHINE SO THAT IT SHALL BE LOCATED SO THAT IT MAY BE SERVICED AND MAINTAINED.
code 51
floors, walls, or ceilings grimy

Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
Inspector note: OBSERVED SPLASHES ON WALL ABOVE AND TO THE RIGHT OF THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. OBSERVED BUILDUP ON EXTERIOR OF GREASE TRAP NEAR FLOOR. OBSERVED EQUIPMENT ON FLOOR UNDERNEATH THREE COMPARTMENT SINK AND PREP TABLE ACROSS FROM THREE COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN IN SAID AREAS AND MAINTAIN. • OBSERVED DAMAGED WALL BEHIND HANDWASHING SINK IN FIRST FLOOR WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO SMOOTHLY REPAIR WALL BEHIND HANDWASHING SINK IN FIRST FLOOR WASHROOM FOR EASE OF CLEANABILITY.
code 55
Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used

Inspector note: OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON CEILING VENT COVER IN SECOND FLOOR WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN CEILING VENT COVER IN SECOND FLOOR WASHROOM AND MAINTAIN.
code 56

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on October 9, 2025: 4 findings appeared for the first time. 3 findings recurred.

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About this record

This record comes from Chicago Department of Public Health. Cooked keeps the official result and wording separate from its plain-English explanation so you can verify what the inspector actually published.

Source: Chicago Data Portal.