Food Safety Report: Cafe Tola, 2489 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, Il, USA.

Chicago, 60647 Illinois, United States

Report date: May 8, 2026
2. City of chicago food service sanitation certificate
- comments: observed no city of chicago certified food manager on site during time of inspection while preparing empanadas, pork, beans, eggs. Instructed to provide at least one certificate holder on site at all times while open and operating. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-012. Citation issued.

5. Procedures for responding to vomiting and diarrheal events
- comments: observed no clean up procedure or items outlined in policy on site during time of inspection for responding to vomit and diarrheal events that can occur in the food establishment. Instructed to provide and maintain. Priority foundation violation. 7-38-005. Citation issued.

6. Proper eating, tasting, drinking, or tobacco use
- comments: observed food employee eating in prep area near table where food was being prepared. Instructed to designate a seperate area for eating and drinking in order to prevent possible contamination.

10. Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
- comments: observed no hand cleanser available at handsink located in (in use) prep area. Instructed to provide and maintain for proper handwashing as required. Priority foundation violation. #7-38-030 (c). Citation issued.

16. Food-contact surfaces: cleaned & sanitized
- comments: observed slight acummulation of debris on ice bin surrounding gaskets. Insturcted to clean equipment.

21. Proper hot holding temperatures
- comments: observed approximately 8 lbs variety empenadas (nutella banana, ham egg cheese, chorizo and egg, guava and cheese, etc) stored in display casing located in front prep area at improper hot holding temperatures. Noted temperatures ranging from 118f-125f. Person in charge voluntarily discarded at this time. Instructed to hold all hot tcs at 135f or higher and maintain as required. Priority violation. #7-38-005. Citation issued.

22. Proper cold holding temperatures
- comments: observed approximately 1 quart dairy creamer located in metal bin on top of ice cubes at improper temperature during time of inspection. Noted temperature @53f. Instructed to hold all cold tcs properly under refrigeration at 41f and below. Must maintain. #7-38-005. Please see above violation for citation information.

35. Approved thawing methods used
- comments: observed beyond beef thawing improperly on top of prep table. Instructed to thaw food properly under refrigeration or contiunous running water.

38. Insects, rodents, & animals not present
- comments: observed approximtely 30 small black live flies on site during time of inspection in coffee prep, dishwashing area, utility sink basin, storage hallway and toilet room. Noted flies on equipment, boxes, and on walls. Recommendded to contact pest control for service. Must eliminate fly activity on site. Priority foundation violation. #7-38-020 (a). Citaton issued.

40. Personal cleanliness
- comments: observed food handler without hair restraint. Instructed to provide and maintain

54. Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
- comments: observed outside receptacle not maintained during time of inspection. Noted trash bags, buckets crates containing opened cans overlowing. Instructed to provide a tight fitted lid to prevent pest harborage as required. Must maintain. Priority foundation violation. #7-38-020 (b). Citation issued.

60. Previous core violation corrected
- comments: observed the following previous core violations not corrected from report #2628361 on 12/11/25. They are as follows. . . 37)3-302. 12: **c** food storage containers identified with common name of food observed food storage containers without labels containing the common name of foods. Instructed to provide. 39)3-307. 11: **c** miscellaneous sources of contamination 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. 3-307. 11: **c** miscellaneous sources of contamination observed no splashguard between front exposed hand sinkand coffee area must install a washable splashguard. 55)6-501. 12: **c** cleaning, frequency and restrictions 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. 6-501. 11: **c** maintained in good repair, facilities (facilities not in good repair) observed entrence threshold of walk in cooler broken instructed to repair and maintain 58)2-102. 13: **c** allergen training - all certified food service sanitation managers employed by a restaurant must receive or obtain training in basic allergen awareness principles within 30 days after employment and every 3 years thereafter. Training programs must be accredited by the american national standards institute or another reputable accreditation agency under the astm international e2659-09 (standard practice for certificate programs). 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. Instructed to correct all said voiolations and maintain. Priority foundation violation. #7-42-090. Citation issued

Source: chicago.gov