Cafe Tola

November 21, 2025 · Fail
🪳cooked
  • official resultFail
  • resultFail
  • inspection typeCanvass
  • failed findings13
  • critical findings0

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Failed findings

  • surfaces not properly sanitized
    Official wording: Food-Contact Surfaces: Cleaned & Sanitized
    Inspector note: NOTED EMPLOYEE WASHING DISHES AT THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK WITHOUT SETTING IT UP TO WASH RINSE AND SANITIZE AS REQUIRED BY THE CODE. NO SANITIZER WAS USED TO SET UP THE SINK. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO ALWAYS SET UP THE SINK WHEN WASHING EQUIPMENT. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED. • OBSERVED FACILITY WITHOUT CHEMICAL SANITIZERS NEEDED TO SANITIZER EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS. MUST PROVIDE CHEMICAL SANITIZERS AND BE AVAILABLE FOR USE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    code 16
  • hot/cold holding temps off
    Official wording: Proper Hot Holding Temperatures
    Inspector note: OBSERVED THE FOLLOWING FOOD NOT MEETING REQUIRE TEMPERATURE OF 135F DEGREES OR ABOVE IN THE DESIGNATED HOT-HOLDING UNIT IN FRONT PREP: VARIETY OF EMPANADAS (GOAT & CHEESE, CHICKEN MOLE, HAM, EGG & CHEESE, MEXICAN EGG, COCONUT CURRY, AND CHICKEN TENGA) RANGING IN TEMP FROM 119.2F-130.5F. MANAGER IMMEDIATELY AND VOLUNTARILY DISPOSED OF 15 LBS OF PRODUCTS WORTH $250.00 THROUGH DENATURING PROCESS. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-005. CITATION ISSUED.
    code 21
  • cold food not cold enough
    Official wording: Proper Cold Holding Temperatures
    Inspector note: OBSERVED TIME/TEMPERATURE CONTROL FOR SAFETY FOODS (RICE) AT IMPROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE AT 44.6F LOCATED IN REACH-IN COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO DISCARD AND DENATURE ALL SAID TCS FOODS AND TO MAINTAIN A COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURE OF 41F AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION.7-38-005. CITATION COMBINED WITH ABOVE VIOLATION
    code 22
  • food improperly labeled
    Official wording: Food Properly Labeled; Original Container
    Inspector note: OBSERVED FOOD STORAGE CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE COMMON NAME OF FOODS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
    code 37
  • pests in the house
    Official wording: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present
    Inspector note: OBSERVED PEST CONTROL LOGBOOK WITH REPORTS WITH ONLY 02/2025 REPORT IN BINDER PIC COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY OTHER REPORT FOR THE 2025 YEAR. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE THAT A LICENSED PEST CONTROL COMPANY AND OPERATOR MUST PROVIDE AT LEAST 2 PEST INSPECTIONS A YEAR AND THE REPORTS MUST BE MAINTAINED IN THE LOG BOOK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A CURRENT PEST CONTROL LOG BOOK AND PEST INSPECTION REPORTS.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION #7-38-020(C).
    code 38
  • Contamination Prevented During Food Preparation, Storage & Display
    Inspector note: OBSERVED FOOD CONTAINERS STORED ON THE FLOOR IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROPERLY STORE AND PROTECT FOOD ITEMS FROM CONTAMINATION WHILE STORED BY ELEVATING AT LEAST SIX INCHES FROM THE FLOOR ON RAISED SHELVING UNITS. • OBSERVED NO SPLASHGUARD BETWEEN FRONT EXPOSED HAND SINKAND COFFEE AREA MUST INSTALL A WASHABLE SPLASHGUARD.
    code 39
  • Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled
    Inspector note: OBSERVED EATING UTENSILS NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT TO AVOID CONTAMINATION BY INVERTING UTENSILS WITH HANDLES EXPOSED AFTER SANITIZING AND AIR DRYING.
    code 44
  • surfaces / setup not up to code
    Official wording: Food & Non-Food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used
    Inspector note: OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AS LINER ON FOOD PREP EQUIPMENT AND TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE.
    code 47
  • Warewashing Facilities: Installed, Maintained & Used; Test Strips
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO QUAT CHEMICAL TEST KIT AVAILABLE DURING INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE QUAT TEST KIT FOR PROPER CONCENTRATION IN SANITIZING SOLUTIONS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005 CITATION ISSUED.
    code 48
  • plumbing acting up
    Official wording: Non-Food/Food Contact Surfaces Clean
    Inspector note: OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF DEBRIS AND ICE BUILDUP ON THE FLOOR/WALLS/CEILING OF THE WALK IN FREEZER. MUST REMOVE EXCESS ICE, DETAIL CLEAN, AND MAINTAIN.
    code 49
  • floors, walls, or ceilings grimy
    Official wording: Physical Facilities Installed, Maintained & Clean
    Inspector note: OBSERVED GREASE BUILDUP, FOOD DEBRIS, AND DIRT ON FLOOR UNDER COOKING EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN PREP, DISH WASHING, STORAGE AND BASEMENT AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN FLOORS UNDER ALL EQUIPMENT, ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS IN ALL AREAS. OBSERVED DUST BUILDUP ON FAN IN WALK-IN COOLER, LIGHT SHIELDS IN COOKING AREA AND CEILING AND WALL VENTS IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL FANS, LIGHT SHIELDS, CEILING/WALL VENTS AND CLEAN DEBRIS BUILD UP FROM FLOOR DRAINS. • OBSERVED ENTRENCE THRESHOLD OF WALK IN COOLER BROKEN INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.
    code 55
  • Adequate Ventilation & Lighting; Designated Areas Used
    Inspector note: OBSERVED A BURNED-OUT LIGHT-BULB IN WALK-IN FREEZER. INSTRUCTED TO REPLACE BULB AND MAINTAIN LIGHTING IN THE UNIT.
    code 56
  • allergen training missing
    Official wording: Allergen Training As Required
    Inspector note: OBSERVED NO CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGER WITH ALLERGEN TRAINING. INSTRUCTED ANY PERSONS WITH THE CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE TO COMPLY WITH COMPLETION OF TRAINING. MUST PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION.
    code 58

What changed since the previous inspection?

Compared with Pass on February 20, 2025: 13 findings appeared for the first time.

Browse this restaurant's inspections

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.

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