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Restaurant inspections / Restaurant

540 Cafe

540 W Madison St, Chicago 60661 · Risk 1 (High)

Pass

Most recent result

Jan 9, 2026

14

Inspections on record

7

Times passed

3

Times failed

Violations cited on Jan 9, 2026

  1. #45SINGLE-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 OF THE DRY/PAPER STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO RELOCATE SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLE CONTAINERS AND MAINTAIN ALL SINGLE-SERVICE/SINGLE-USE ARTICLES AT LEAST 6" ABOVE THE FLOOR DURING STORAGE.
  2. #51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED HOT WATER HANDLE AT THE DRY/PAPER STORAGE AREA HANDWASHING SINK IN POOR REPAIR, LEAKING BUT FUNCTIONAL. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR OR REPLACE HOT WATER HANDLE AT THE DRY/PAPER STORAGE AREA HANDWASHING SINK TO ELIMINATE LEAK AND MAINTAIN ALL PLUMBING FIXTURES IN GOOD REPAIR.
  3. #55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED FLOOR BENEATH HIGH-TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE AND 3-COMPARTMENT SINK IN THE REAR WAREWASHING AREA TO BE HEAVILY-SOILED WITH DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND OTHER SOILS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN FLOORS AND OTHER PHYSICAL FACILITIES AT ADEQUATE FREQUENCY TO PREVENT BUILD UP OF DRIED FOOD DEBRIS AND OTHER SOILS AND MAINTAIN.

Inspection history

DateTypeResultRisk
Jan 9, 2026CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Feb 4, 2025CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Apr 2, 2024CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Apr 18, 2023CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Jan 29, 2020CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Jan 18, 2019CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Apr 5, 2018CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Jul 27, 2017CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
Nov 14, 2016CanvassPass w/ ConditionsRisk 1 (High)
May 9, 2016CanvassPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 8, 2015License Re-InspectionPassRisk 1 (High)
Oct 7, 2015License Re-InspectionFailRisk 1 (High)
Oct 2, 2015LicenseFailRisk 1 (High)
Sep 25, 2015LicenseFailRisk 1 (High)

Source

Inspection records are published by the Chicago Department of Public Health. A failed inspection does not necessarily mean an establishment closed — most are re-inspected after correcting violations.

Other inspected places in 60661

Retro Pizza131 N Clinton StDunkin Donuts500 W Madison StSodexo America, Llc555 W Adams StMariano'S Fresh Market #850840 S Halsted StTaco Lulu601 W Adams StBright Horizons Chicago West Loop500 W Monroe St

540 Cafe — questions

Did 540 Cafe pass its last health inspection?
540 Cafe at 540 W Madison St was inspected on Jan 9, 2026 by the Chicago Department of Public Health and the result was "Pass". Across 14 inspections on record it has failed 3 times.
What violations were cited at 540 Cafe?
The most recent inspection cited 3 violations, beginning with: 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 OF THE DRY/PAPER STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED T
What does "Risk 1 (High)" mean?
Chicago assigns every food establishment a risk category based on how much food handling it does. Risk 1 (High) covers full-service restaurants and is inspected most often; Risk 2 (Medium) and Risk 3 (Low) — such as places serving only pre-packaged food — are inspected less frequently.
Where does this inspection data come from?
The City of Chicago publishes every food-establishment inspection it performs, including the result and the full text of any violations cited. This page reads that dataset directly and updates as the city posts new inspections.

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