CHICAGO, IL - Health department officials identified compliance issues at CONTINENTAL CARE CENTER in an inspection dated 04/07/2023.
The facility operates from 5334-5336 N WESTERN AVE in Lincoln Square, an area known for its diverse dining options. Health inspections in this district help ensure consistent food safety standards.
The inspection identified 6 distinct violations requiring correction. These findings represent specific conditions observed during the inspection that must be addressed to meet health code requirements.
The first violation concerned handwashing procedures. Inspectors documented: Adequate Handwashing Sinks Properly Supplied and Accessible - Comments: Observed Hand Washing Sink Near 3 Compartment Sink with No Hand Soap Available. Instructed Manager to Provide Hand Washing Soap at All Hand Sinks. Priroity Foundation Violation 7-38-030(c) Citation Issued.. According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. Fecal-oral transmission of pathogens occurs when hands are not properly washed after restroom use.
The second violation concerned pest management. Inspectors documented: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present - Comments: Observed 10 Rodent Droppings in Dry Storage Area Underneath Shelving. Instructed Manager to Service Area. Priority Foundation Violation 7-38-020(a). Citation Issued.. The FDA Food Code requires establishments to eliminate conditions that attract and harbor pests, including proper waste management and facility maintenance. For more information, see FDA pest control standards. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas.
The third violation concerned pest management. Inspectors documented: Insects, Rodents, & Animals Not Present - Comments: Observed Insect Carcasses Underneath Dish Machine in Dish Machine Area. Instructed Manager to Remove.. The FDA Food Code requires establishments to eliminate conditions that attract and harbor pests, including proper waste management and facility maintenance. For more information, see FDA pest control standards. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas.
The fourth violation related to food safety requirements. Inspectors documented: Plumbing Installed. Regulatory standards exist to minimize health risks to consumers.
The fifth violation related to handwashing procedures. Inspectors documented: Proper Backflow Devices - Comments: Observed Broken Drain Plug Handle of 3 Comp Sink Near Griddle Area. Instructed Manager to Replace Handle So That 3 Compartment Sink May Properly Plugged.. According to FDA guidelines, proper handwashing with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds is the single most effective way to prevent foodborne illness transmission. For more information, see FDA handwashing requirements. The CDC identifies poor hand hygiene as a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks.
The sixth violation related to food safety requirements. Inspectors documented: Previous Core Violation Corrected - Comments: Observed Previous Core Violations Not Corrected Within Specified Timeframe. Report#2560920 Dated July 19 2022. Violations of health codes can increase the risk of foodborne illness.
Health code violations require prompt correction to maintain operating permits. The health department typically conducts re-inspections to verify that identified issues have been properly addressed.
This inspection data is provided by Chicago Department of Public Health. The establishment had violations identified during the 04/07/2023 inspection. Conditions may have changed since this inspection. For current compliance status, consult the Chicago Department of Public Health. For more information about restaurant inspection regulations in this area, visit the Chicago Food Service Sanitation Rules. Learn more about food safety at FDA.gov and CDC.gov.
This inspection was conducted on August 21, 2025.
Chicago Department of Public Health
The following violations were documented: FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: 4-501.12--OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARDS ON STORAGE KITCHEN STORAGE RACK.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.; FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: 4-101.19--OBSERVED RUST ON ONE WIRE STORAGE RACK INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER.INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST AND REPAINT OR REPLACE THE SHELVES AND MAINTAIN.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: 6-201.11--INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR WALL WITH PEELING DEBRIS NEAR THE HAND SINK SO THAT IT IS SMOOTH,EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.; ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED NO HAND SOAP PROVIDED AT THE HANDWASHING SINK LOCATED DIRECTLY ACROSS THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AREA.INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE AND MAINTAIN HAND SOAP AT ALL HANDWASHING SINKS AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C),CITATION ISSUED.; APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED - Comments: OBSERVED IMPROPER THAWING BEING DONE WITH BEEF.THAWING MUST OCCUR WITH FOOD BEING PLACED IN THE WALK IN COOLER OVER NIGHT, OR UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER. INSTRUCTED TO MAINTAIN CORRECT THAWING PROCEDURES.; INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED THE MAIN ENTRANCE DOOR WITH GAP OPENING APPROX:1 INCH AT BOTTOM CENTER WHERE DOUBLE DOORS MEET AND REAR EXIT DOOR WITH GAP OPENING AT BOTTOM RIGHT CORNER LEADING TO THE GARBAGE DUMPSTERS.INSTRUCTED TO PEST PROOF MENTIONED DOORS AND MAINTAIN.; INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON THE PREMISES.OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 25 RODENT (MICE)DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR UNDERNEATH THE STORAGE RACKS INSIDE THE DRY STORAGE ROOM.INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND SANITIZE AND REMOVE ALL RODENT DROPPINGS FROM ALL AFFECTED AREAS.ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE IS NEEDED TO ELIMINATE THE PEST ACTIVITY.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A),CITATION ISSUED.; FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED RUST ON ONE WIRE STORAGE RACK INSIDE THE WALK-IN COOLER.INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE RUST AND REPAINT OR REPLACE THE SHELVES AND MAINTAIN.; FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED STAINED CUTTING BOARDS ON STORAGE KITCHEN STORAGE RACK.INSTRUCTED TO RESURFACE OR REPLACE THE CUTTING BOARDS AND MAINTAIN.; NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN STORAGE RACKS INSIDE THE WALK-IN-COOLER TO REMOVE ACCUMULATION OF MOLD LIKE BUILD-UP AND DETAIL CLEAN THE EXTERIOR TOP OF THE DISHMACHINE TO REMOVE DEBRIS AND MAINTAIN.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN FLOORS ALONG WALLS AND IN ALL CORNERS OF THE PREP AREA AND DRY STORAGE ROOM TO REMOVE SPILLED FOOD DEBRIS AND REPAIR WALL WITH PEELING DEBRIS NEAR THE HAND SINK SO THAT IT IS SMOOTH,EASILY CLEANABLE SURFACE.; ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE - Comments: OBSERVED HAND WASHING SINK NEAR 3 COMPARTMENT SINK WITH NO HAND SOAP AVAILABLE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO PROVIDE HAND WASHING SOAP AT ALL HAND SINKS. PRIROITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED.; INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED 10 RODENT DROPPINGS IN DRY STORAGE AREA UNDERNEATH SHELVING. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO SERVICE AREA. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.; INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT - Comments: OBSERVED INSECT CARCASSES UNDERNEATH DISH MACHINE IN DISH MACHINE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE.; PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED BROKEN DRAIN PLUG HANDLE OF 3 COMP SINK NEAR GRIDDLE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPLACE HANDLE SO THAT 3 COMPARTMENT SINK MAY PROPERLY PLUGGED.; PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED - Comments: OBSERVED PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATIONS NOT CORRECTED WITHIN SPECIFIED TIMEFRAME. REPORT#2560920 DATED JULY 19 2022 INSTRUCTED FACILITY TO REPAINT OR REPLACE RUSTY RACKS INSIDE WALK IN COOLER AND DRY STORAGE AREA BY OCTOBER 19 20222. OBSERVED RUSTED RACKS INSIDE WALK IN COOLER AND IN DRY STORAGE AREA. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAINT OR REPLACE RUSTY RACKS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED..
Fecal-oral transmission of pathogens occurs when hands are not properly washed after restroom use. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas. Flies can transfer pathogens from garbage and feces to food preparation areas. The CDC identifies poor hand hygiene as a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks.
This inspection data is sourced directly from Chicago Department of Public Health. For the most current information, please visit the official health department website.
Federal Guidelines: Our reporting follows standards established by the FDA Food Code, CDC Food Safety Guidelines, and USDA Food Safety Standards.
📖 Food Safety Codes: Reference the specific regulations that govern this establishment: Chicago Food Code, FDA Food Code 2022
⚠️ Important Note: Restaurant conditions can change rapidly. This inspection represents a snapshot in time and may not reflect current conditions. For the most up-to-date information, consider checking recent reviews or contacting the establishment directly.
View all health inspections, pass rates, and violation history for CONTINENTAL CARE CENTER
View Business Profile →