⚠️ Recent Failed Inspections ⚠️

MELI CAFE ON GRAND

540 N WELLS, CHICAGO, IL 60654

Type: Restaurant

Risk Level: Risk 1 (High)

🍽️ Cuisine: American

📍 Neighborhood: Near North Side

License #: 2065167

29
Total Inspections
13
Passed
9
Failed
7
Conditional
PASS
Last Result

Inspection History

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Aug 20, 2025 Inspection

August 20, 2025• Complaint Re-Inspection• 6 violations

Violation: 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: 4-101.19---OBSERVED CHIPPED PAINT AND RUST ON THE WIRE STORAGE RACKS IN THE WALK-IN COOLER. IN...(+5 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Jan 27, 2025 Inspection

January 27, 2025• Canvass• 6 violations

Violation: 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSER...(+5 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 28, 2024 Inspection

February 28, 2024• Canvass Re-Inspection• 2 violations

Violation: 47. FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: 4-101.19: OBSERVED CARDBOARD USED AT BASE OF CABINET IN STAGING AREA OF DINING ROOM AS SHELF L...(+1 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Feb 21, 2024 Inspection

February 21, 2024• Canvass• 8 violations

Violation: 22. PROPER COLD HOLDING TEMPERATURES - Comments: OBSERVED COLD TCS FOODS HELD AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES RANGING BETWEEN 50.2-52.2F(HALF AND HALF 50.2F, MILK 51.6F AND YOGURT 52.2F). INSTRUCTED ALL COL...(+7 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 15, 2023 Inspection

February 15, 2023• Complaint• 8 violations

Violation: 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: NO ORIGINAL AND VALID CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE WAS POSTED NOR PROVIDED ON SITE FOR THE PRESENT MANAGER ON ...(+7 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Nov 28, 2022 Inspection

November 28, 2022• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: OBSERVED LOW TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE IN BAR MAINTAINING AN IMPROPER CHEMICAL SANITIZER CONCENTRATION OF 0PPM OF CHLORINE. INSTRUCTED TO ...(+1 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

May 27, 2021 Inspection

May 27, 2021• Canvass• 11 violations

Violation: 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: THE PERSON IN CHARGE DID NOT HAVE A CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION LICENSE AVAILABLE OR POSTED, WHILE TCS FOODS; EGGS, CHICKEN, AND ...(+10 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Feb 5, 2020 Inspection

February 5, 2020• Canvass• 4 violations

Violation: 10. ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED NO HAND WASHING SIGNAGE AT HAND WASH SINK IN BAR AND NEAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK IN REAR OF MAIN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED ...(+3 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Mar 19, 2019 Inspection

March 19, 2019• Complaint• 5 violations

Violation: 16. FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED - Comments: FOUND HIGH TEMP SINGLE RACK DISH WASHING MACHINE WITH FINAL RINSE AT 147F WHILE MACHINE WAS BEING USED INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE 180F OR HIG...(+4 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Sep 11, 2018 Inspection

September 11, 2018• Canvass• 9 violations

Violation: 3. MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING - Comments: 2-102.14(F) NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICY FOR EMPLOYEES. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HEALTH P...(+8 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Oct 3, 2017 Inspection

October 3, 2017• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE - Comments: OBSERVED SMALL REACH IN COOLER IN SERVICE BAR AREA CONTAINING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD INCLUDING YOGURT AND CUT LEAFY GREENS INCLUDING SPINAC...(+2 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Feb 2, 2017 Inspection

February 2, 2017• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE - Comments: OBSERVED COOLER CONTAINING POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD INCLUDING SLICED FRUIT AND CHEESES AT 50F. COOLER WAS TAGGED DURING INSPECTION. CRITICAL ...(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jun 17, 2016 Inspection

June 17, 2016• Canvass• 1 violation

Violation: 38. VENTILATION: ROOMS AND EQUIPMENT VENTED AS REQUIRED: PLUMBING: INSTALLED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: 3-COMPARTMENT SINK RIGHT SIDE FAUCET LEAKING AT BASE. MUST REPAIR AND MAINTAIN SINK.

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Dec 22, 2015 Inspection

December 22, 2015• Canvass• 7 violations

Violation: 16. FOOD PROTECTED DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION, DISPLAY, SERVICE AND TRANSPORTATION - Comments: ICE MAKER NOT MAINTAINED. INTERIOR PANEL WITH BLACK MOLDY LIKE SUBSTANCE ALL OVER THE SURFACES. INSTRUCT...(+6 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jan 30, 2015 Inspection

January 30, 2015• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: MUST INSTALL A PERMANENT LID FOR THE ICE BIN. ESTABLISHMENT IS USING TRAY FOR ICE BIN LID.(+1 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Sep 18, 2014 Inspection

September 18, 2014• Canvass Re-Inspection• 1 violation

Violation: 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: MISSING A SPLASH GUARD BETWEEN HAND SINK AND ICE BIN AT JUICE STAION, NO COVER AT ICE BIN AT SAME AREA...

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Sep 11, 2014 Inspection

September 11, 2014• Canvass• 5 violations

Violation: 8. SANITIZING RINSE FOR EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS: CLEAN, PROPER TEMPERATURE, CONCENTRATION, EXPOSURE TIME - Comments: INADEQUATE UTENSILS SANITIZING. FOUND AN EMPLOYEE WASHING UTENSILS AT PREP AREA HAN...(+4 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Dec 5, 2013 Inspection

December 5, 2013• Canvass• 3 violations

Violation: 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED - Comments: SPICE CONTAINERS NOT LABELED IN MAIN KITCHEN, INSTRUCTED TO LABEL AND MAINTAIN.(+2 more)

PASS Risk 1 (High)

Jan 17, 2013 Inspection

January 17, 2013• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 30. FOOD IN ORIGINAL CONTAINER, PROPERLY LABELED: CUSTOMER ADVISORY POSTED AS NEEDED - Comments: MISSING LABEL ON BULK-FOOD CONTAINER AND AND SPRAY BOTTLES. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL.(+1 more)

PASS W/ CONDITIONS Risk 1 (High)

Nov 15, 2011 Inspection

November 15, 2011• Canvass Re-Inspection• 3 violations

Violation: 14. PREVIOUS SERIOUS VIOLATION CORRECTED, 7-42-090 - Comments: A separate and distinct offense shall be deemed to have been committed for each Serious violation that is not corrected upon re-inspectio...(+2 more)

FAIL Risk 1 (High)

Nov 7, 2011 Inspection

November 7, 2011• Canvass• 2 violations

Violation: 18. NO EVIDENCE OF RODENT OR INSECT OUTER OPENINGS PROTECTED/RODENT PROOFED, A WRITTEN LOG SHALL BE MAINTAINED AVAILABLE TO THE INSPECTORS - Comments: All necessary control measures shall be used to e...(+1 more)

Health Department Contact

Department: Chicago Department of Public Health

Division: Food Protection Program

Report Issues: Call 311 or File Online

More Information: Chicago Food Protection

Data sourced from Chicago Open Data Portal - Chicago Department of Public Health inspections