TRUENORTH CAFE Fails Health Inspection - Chicago Restaurant

PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: OBSERVED NO PERSON IN CHARGE WITH VALID CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO DESIGNATE PERSON IN CHARGE DURING ALL HOURS OF OPERATION. PRIORITY FOUNDATION

Without knowledgeable supervision, critical food safety practices may be overlooked, significantly increasing risk of foodborne illness outbreaks affecting multiple customers.

The person in charge must be present during all hours of operation, hold valid certification, and demonstrate food safety knowledge.

Person in charge must: Be present during all operating hours; Hold valid City of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate; Demonstrate knowledge of foodborne disease prevention, HACCP principles, and Code requirements; Ensure employee compliance with food safety practices.

CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: OBSERVED NO CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER ON SITE OR VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED WHEN TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. A CHICAGO FOOD SANITATION MANAGER MUST BE ON SITE AND VALID CERTIFICATE POSTED AT ALL TIMES TCS FOOD PREPARED AND SERVED. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-012 CITATION ISSUED.

Lack of certification indicates potential gaps in food safety knowledge, increasing risk of improper food handling and foodborne illness.

Valid City of Chicago Food Service Sanitation Certificate required and must be posted.

Certificate must be: Current and valid; Posted conspicuously in public view; Held by person in charge during all operating hours; Renewed before expiration date.

PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED - Comments: PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2622495 ON 8-20-25:38-OBSERVED OVER 100 MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON FLOOR ALONG WALLS AND CORNER NEAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, SHELVING UNITS, PREP COOLERS, ON THERMOSTAT AND INSIDE BOTTOM COMPARTMENTS OF PREP AND UNUSED DISPLAY COOLERS, ON ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND EQUIPMENT IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. OBSERVED NUMEROUS FLYING INSECTS IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR SERVICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS. 60-PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2617460 ON 5-14-25:38-OBSERVED 1/4" GAP UNDER FRONT OVERHEAD DOOR AND ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS ON DOORS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.40- OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.51-OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCETS ON 3-COMPARTMENT AND PREP SINKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.55- OBSERVED DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN FRONT COFFEE PREP, DINING, REAR PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE ALL DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN ALL AREAS. OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.OBSERVED DEBRIS ON FLOOR ALONG WALLS AND CORNERS, DUST BUILDUP ON FIXTURES, PIPING AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS ALONG WALLS IN PREP AND DINING AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED

Chemical contamination can cause poisoning and chemical burns.

Chemicals must be properly labeled and stored.

Original containers labeled; Working containers labeled; Stored below/away from food; Used per label; MSDS available.

This violation was corrected during the inspection.

PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED - Comments: PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2622495 ON 8-20-25:38-OBSERVED OVER 100 MICE DROPPINGS SCATTERED ON FLOOR ALONG WALLS AND CORNER NEAR 3-COMPARTMENT SINK, FIRE EXTINGUISHERS, SHELVING UNITS, PREP COOLERS, ON THERMOSTAT AND INSIDE BOTTOM COMPARTMENTS OF PREP AND UNUSED DISPLAY COOLERS, ON ELECTRICAL OUTLETS AND EQUIPMENT IN PREP AND STORAGE AREAS. OBSERVED NUMEROUS FLYING INSECTS IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CALL AN EXTERMINATOR FOR SERVICE, CLEAN AND SANITIZE ALL AREAS. 60-PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED FROM REPORT #2617460 ON 5-14-25:38-OBSERVED 1/4" GAP UNDER FRONT OVERHEAD DOOR AND ENTRANCE DOOR. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SEAL ALL OUTER OPENINGS ON DOORS TO PREVENT PEST ENTRY.40- OBSERVED FOOD HANDLERS NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. ALL FOOD HANDLERS MUST WEAR EFFECTIVE HAIR RESTRAINTS.51-OBSERVED LEAKING FAUCETS ON 3-COMPARTMENT AND PREP SINKS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.55- OBSERVED DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN FRONT COFFEE PREP, DINING, REAR PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE ALL DAMAGED FLOOR TILES IN ALL AREAS. OBSERVED MISSING CEILING TILES IN REAR PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE AND MAINTAIN.OBSERVED DEBRIS ON FLOOR ALONG WALLS AND CORNERS, DUST BUILDUP ON FIXTURES, PIPING AND ELECTRICAL OUTLETS ALONG WALLS IN PREP AND DINING AREAS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED

Chemical contamination can cause poisoning and chemical burns.

Chemicals must be properly labeled and stored.

Original containers labeled; Working containers labeled; Stored below/away from food; Used per label; MSDS available.

This violation was corrected during the inspection.