RestaurantLicence 2972210

Baba's Famous Steak and Lemonade

810 W 59th St, Chicago 60621

Latest verdictPassSep 30, 2026 · 14 days ago

Inspections7since Jun 13, 2024

Fail rate42.9%3 of 7 verdictscitywide 22.4% · above average

City risk ratingHigh riskWhat this kind of business could do if it went wrong — not a grade it earned.

Read the pairs, not the count. A failure is normally followed within days by a re-inspection, and that re-inspection is a second row here. On the timeline below they sit almost on top of each other — one bad day, two marks.

The whole record

Pass57%
Conditional0%
Fail43%

7 inspections from 2024 to 2026 · hover a mark

20252026

PassSep 30, 2026ComplaintRisk 1 (High)
1. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Noted slight grease build-up in compartment under fryers. Instructed to deep clean and maintain.
2. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Noted floors walls and ceilings in kitchen, dish room (under 3 compartment sink), where rear mop sink near rear exit is located, in employee washroom and storage area in front of walk-in cooler in need of cleaning. Instructed to deep clean and maintain
3. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Noted large unused equipment stored next to dishroom handwash sink, and items on the floor next to rear mop sink. Also noted clutter on shelves in storage area to walk-in cooler
PassMay 18, 2026Complaint Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
FailMay 11, 2026ComplaintRisk 1 (High)
1. 1
  Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
  Observed person in charge without proof of food safety management training during time of inspection. Must provide.
2. 2
  City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate
  Observed facility without a valid city of Chicago food service sanitation certificate holder on site while tcs foods (fish, chicken, beef, dairy products, cooked/reheated food) where being held and handled. Owner/ certified food manager arrived at 3:47pm without certificate. Informed person in charge an original city of Chicago food service certificate must be posted, along with the certified manager being on site when time and temperature control for safety(tcs) foods are stored, prepared, cooked and served. Priority foundation violation #7-38-012. Citation issued.
3. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
  Observed handsinks in prep area, dish area and employee restroom not stocked with hand soap. Informed person in charge that hand soap must be available at handsinks at all times. Food handler obtained hand soap for hand sink during time of inspection. Priority foundation violation #7-38-030(c). Citation issued.
4. 13
  Food in good condition, safe, & unadulterated
  Adulterated food, noted large fly floating in fish held in 2 sliding door refrigerator in kitchen. Person in charge discarded and denatured approx. 2lbs valued at $20. Priority violation #7-40-050(a) citation issued
5. 54
  Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
  Observed grease spilled on grounds surrounding outside grease container. Instructed manager to clean and maintain outside waste grease area and waste grease container. Priority foundation violation #7-38-020(b). Citation issued.
6. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  Observed no proof of training for all food handlers. Instructed to provide and maintain records on site at all times.
7. 58
  Allergen training as required
  Observed no proof of allergen training. Instructed all city of Chicago certified food managers obtain this certificate.
PassJul 7, 2025Complaint Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Found rear exit door with a 1/2 inch gap at the bottom; instructed to seal gap to avoid possible rodent entry.
2. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Instructed to clean the floor inside of the walk-in cooler and freezer.
3. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  Instructed that all food handlers must obtain the required food handler training.
FailJul 2, 2025Complaint Re-InspectionRisk 1 (High)
1. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Found rear exit door with a 1/2 inch gap at the bottom; instructed to seal gap to avoid possible rodent entry.
2. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Instructed to clean the floor inside of the walk-in cooler and freezer.
3. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  Instructed that all food handlers must obtain the required food handler training.
4. 59
  Previous priority foundation violation corrected
  Previous priority foundation violation not corrected from june 25, 2025. #54 disposal area not maintained. Observed no covers (lids) on the dumpster in the rear of building; instructed to obtain a dumpster with tight fitting lids to cover garbage. Priority violation 7-42-090 citation issued.
FailJun 25, 2025ComplaintRisk 1 (High)
1. 10
  Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
2. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Found rear exit door with a 1/2 inch gap at the bottom; instructed to seal gap to avoid possible rodent entry.
3. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Observed evidence of rodents on premises. Found 50 or more rodent droppings on the floor in the corner by the dry products and in corner areas under and around equipment. Instructed to clean all areas to remove droppings. Recommended having pest control company return for service prior to reinspection. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a) citation issued.
4. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  The following equipment in need of cleaning: exterior surfaces of fryers, grill, stove, hot holding units, can opener blade, prep tables at top and bottom area, shelves inside of the walk-in cooler, interiors of other refrigeration units, sinks, cutting board on prep table and blender on prep table and rolling cart shelves. Instructed to clean and maintain all equipment. Instructed to clean the bottom area of all fryers and area under grill to remove grease and other food debris.
5. 52
  Sewage & waste water properly disposed
  Observed dirty standing waste water in the mop bucket in the dishwashing area; instructed to dispose of water when done using.
6. 54
  Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
  Disposal area not maintained. Observed no covers (lids) on the dumpster in the rear of building; instructed to obtain a dumpster with tight fitting lids to cover garbage. Observed trash and other debris on ground around dumpster; instructed to clean and maintain area. Remove all trash from ground around dumpster. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(b) citation issued.
7. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Instructed to clean and maintain the following: floors around under and behind all kitchen and other equipment to remove dirt, grease and other debris. Clean walls around and behind equipment to remove grease and other build up and maintain. Clean ceiling vents to remove dust. Clean walls inside of the walk-in cooler. Clean floor inside of walk in cooler to remove standing water and molded food that has fallen on the floor and not been removed.
8. 56
  Adequate ventilation & lighting; designated areas used
  Observed the vents in the hooded system above the cooking equipment in need of detail cleaning; instructed to clean and maintain.
9. 57
  All food employees have food handler training
  Instructed that all food handlers must obtain the required food handler training.
PassJun 13, 2024LicenseRisk 1 (High)
1. 38
  Insects, rodents, & animals not present
  Observed rear exit door with a 1/4" gap at the bottom. Must repair and maintain to prevent possible entry point for pests.
2. 49
  Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
  Must clean interior of display coolers to remove spills and/or debris.
3. 53
  Toilet facilities: properly constructed, supplied, & cleaned
  Must clean and maintain fixtures, floors and shelving inside the washroom.
4. 54
  Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
  Must clean and maintain rear yard of premises to prevent pest harborage.
5. 55
  Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
  Floors need cleaning along the wall base and in corners through out to remove debris.

Fails sit above the line, passes below. Every inspection the city has published for this licence.

On the street

Apple Maps street-level imagery. Click to look around the block.

What it gets cited for

556×
Physical facilities installed, maintained & clean
385×
Insects, rodents, & animals not present
574×
All food employees have food handler training
493×
Non-food/food contact surfaces clean
543×
Garbage & refuse properly disposed; facilities maintained
102×
Adequate handwashing sinks properly supplied and accessible
11×
Person in charge present, demonstrates knowledge, and performs duties
21×
City of Chicago food service sanitation certificate

Counted across every inspection on record here. A code that keeps coming back is the more telling signal.

Source

Published by the Chicago Department of Public Health as Food Inspections, updated weekly. This page shows every row the city holds under licence 2972210 — a business that changed hands may carry history from its predecessor.