540 CAFE

Address: 540 W MADISON ST , CHICAGO, IL 60661, Chicago, IL

Latest Inspection: Pass on Jan 9, 2026

Facility Details

• Facility Type: Restaurant
• Risk: Risk 1 (High)
• Status: Independent

Inspection History (13 inspections)

• Pass — 2026-01-09 00:00:00 () 45. SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED SEVERAL CONTAINERS OF SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES (PAPER CUPS, BOWLS) IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING STORED DIRECTLY ON THE FLOOR
• Pass w/ Conditions — 2024-04-02 00:00:00 () 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES | 2. CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD SERVICE SANITATION CERTIFICATE - Comments: No certified food service manager present on site, instruc
• Pass — 2023-04-18 00:00:00 () 37. FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: OBSERVED NO LABELS FOR BULK STORAGE CONTAINER (FLOUR) LOCATED UNDER PREP TABLE NEAR DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED PERSON IN CHARGE OF ALL BULK
• Pass w/ Conditions — 2020-01-29 00:00:00 () 1. PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES - Comments: OBSERVED PERSON IN CHARGE WITHOUT CITY OF CHICAGO FOOD MANAGERS CERTIFICATE.INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATI
• Pass — 2019-01-18 00:00:00 () 51. PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: MUST REPAIR LOOSES FAUCET IN PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN. | 56. ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: MU
• Pass — 2018-04-05 00:00:00 () 34. FLOORS: CONSTRUCTED PER CODE, CLEANED, GOOD REPAIR, COVING INSTALLED, DUST-LESS CLEANING METHODS USED - Comments: OBSERVED FOOD AND DEBRIS UNDER AND AROUND PREP TABLES IN 540 CAFE KITCHEN PREP ARE
• Pass w/ Conditions — 2017-07-27 00:00:00 () 3. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD MEETS TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENT DURING STORAGE, PREPARATION DISPLAY AND SERVICE - Comments: OBSERVED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS STORED AT IMPROPER TEMPERATURES. IN THE SW
• Pass w/ Conditions — 2016-11-14 00:00:00 () 2. FACILITIES TO MAINTAIN PROPER TEMPERATURE - Comments: OBSERVED THE 2 DOOR PREP COOLER AT THE DELI STATION TO BE HOLDING IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF 47 DEGREES, WITH POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOOD STORED IN
• Pass — 2016-05-09 00:00:00 () 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: OBSERVED CRACKED, WOODEN CUTTING BOARDS IN EQUIPMENT STORAGE. OBSERVED ALUMINUM FOIL BEING USED TO LINE
• Pass — 2015-10-08 00:00:00 () 32. FOOD AND NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED - Comments: MUST REPAIR BROKEN CABINET IN THE COFFEE PREP AREA AND REMOVE TAPE. REPAIR BROKEN CABINET DOOR UNDERNEA
• Fail — 2015-10-07 00:00:00 () 8. SANITIZING RINSE FOR EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS: CLEAN, PROPER TEMPERATURE, CONCENTRATION, EXPOSURE TIME - Comments: LARGE CONVEYOR DISH MACHINE NOT REACHING 180 DEGREES F DURING THE FINAL RINSE CYCLE
• Fail — 2015-10-02 00:00:00 () 8. SANITIZING RINSE FOR EQUIPMENT AND UTENSILS: CLEAN, PROPER TEMPERATURE, CONCENTRATION, EXPOSURE TIME - Comments: LARGE CONVEYOR DISH MACHINE NOT ON AND OPERATING AT THIS TIME. MUST REPAIR MACHINE
• Fail — 2015-09-25 00:00:00 ()

Additional city records (311 complaints, building violations) available via API.

Machine-readable JSON data