CHICAGO, IL - Health department officials identified compliance issues at BREAKFAST HOUSE in an inspection dated 04/12/2023.
Situated at 3350 N HARLEM AVE, the establishment is part of Dunning's active food service sector. The Dunning area undergoes regular health inspections as part of the city's comprehensive food safety monitoring program.
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 regarded food storage practices. Inspectors documented: Food Properly Labeled. Storing food at incorrect temperatures accelerates spoilage and pathogen growth.
The second violation regarded food storage. Inspectors documented: Original Container - Comments: Instructed to Properly Label Food Containers/bins Identified with Common Name (salt, Sugar, Flour Etc).. Storing food at incorrect temperatures accelerates spoilage and pathogen growth.
The third violation regarded certified food protection manager. Inspectors documented: In-use Utensils: Properly Stored - Comments: Observed Ice Scoop Placed on Top of Ice Machine.manager Placed Inverted Ice Scoop in a Container.. The FDA Food Code mandates that at least one employee with supervisory responsibility be a certified food protection manager to ensure active managerial control. For more information, see FDA certified food protection manager requirements. Improper food handling by untrained staff increases illness risk.
The fourth violation involved hand sanitation. Inspectors documented: Utensils, Equipment & Linens: Properly Stored, Dried, & Handled - Comments: Observed Plates Above Fryer and Pots and Pans in Dishroom Not Inverted. Instructed Manager to Invert Plates, Pots and Pans.. 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. Inadequate handwashing can transmit Norovirus, Hepatitis A, and other pathogens directly to food.
The fifth violation concerned sanitization. Inspectors documented: Food & Non-food Contact Surfaces Cleanable, Properly Designed, Constructed & Used - Comments: Observed Torn Gasket on Door of Two Door Cooler in Front of Grill.observed Missing Fan Cover for Condensor in Walkin Cooler. Instructed Manager to Repair Gasket on Door of Cooler. and to Replace Fan Cover for Condensor in Walkin Cooler.. FDA sanitation guidelines require regular cleaning and sanitizing of all food contact surfaces to prevent cross-contamination and bacterial growth. For more information, see FDA sanitation standards. Allergen cross-contact can occur when surfaces are not properly cleaned between uses.
The sixth violation concerned cleaning procedures. Inspectors documented: Non-food/food Contact Surfaces Clean - Comments: Observed Areas of Kitchen with Build-up on Surfaces, These Areas Include Shelving Above Fryer,potato Dicer on Attached-to-wall, Dust B. FDA sanitation guidelines require regular cleaning and sanitizing of all food contact surfaces to prevent cross-contamination and bacterial growth. For more information, see FDA sanitation standards. Biofilms can form on inadequately cleaned surfaces, protecting bacteria from sanitizers.
The correction of health violations is monitored through follow-up inspections and documentation requirements. Establishments must demonstrate that they have addressed the root causes of violations, not just the immediate symptoms.
This inspection data is provided by Chicago Department of Public Health. The establishment had violations identified during the 04/12/2023 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: PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED NO COLD WATER AT 3-COMPARTMENT SINK AT BAR. MUST REPAIR.; ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED - Comments: OBSERVED MISSING ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATES FOR ALL CERTIFIED FOOD MANAGERS.; PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: NOTED LEAKAGE AT THE BOTTOM PIPPING OF THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. ALSO NOTED SPRAYER OF THE DISHWASHING MACHINE LEAKING AND TIED WITH PLASTIC WRAP TO PREVENT LEAKING. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN.; SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED - Comments: NOTED WASTEWATER BACKING UP FROM THE FLOOR DRAIN WITH DIRT, GREASE, AND FOOD PARTICLES INTO THE FLOOR WHEN WATER IS RELEASED FROM THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN .PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-38-030(C) CITATION ISSUED. NOTED WASTE WATER FROM THE DRAIN PIPE OF THE DISH WASHER DRAINING INTO THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK AT THE KITCHEN. INSTRUCTED TO REDIRECT THE DRAIN LINE INTO THE FLOOR DRAIN OR CONTAINER; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN FLOOR DRAINS ESPECIALLY AT THE DISH WASHING AREA.; PREVIOUS CORE VIOLATION CORRECTED - Comments: NOTED THE FOLLOWING CORE VIOLATIONS 44, 47, 51, 56 WITH THE RULES NUMBERS BELOW FROM INSPECTION #2574123 DATED 4/12/2023 NOT CORRECTED:- --4-904.11: OBSERVED PLATES ABOVE FRYER AND POTS AND PANS IN DISHROOM NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT PLATES, POTS AND PANS. --4-501.11: OBSERVED TORN GASKET ON DOOR OF TWO DOOR COOLER IN FRONT OF GRILL.OBSERVED MISSING FAN COVER FOR CONDENSOR IN WALKIN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR GASKET ON DOOR OF COOLER. AND TO REPLACE FAN COVER FOR CONDENSOR IN WALKIN COOLER. --5-205.15: OBSERVED LEAKY RIGHT BASE OF FAUCET AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN DISHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK AND TO MAINTAIN. --6-501.14: OBSERVED HOOD AND FILTER ABOVE FRYER AND GRILL WITH GREASE BUILD-UP AND PROVIDE MISSING VENTILATION COVER ABOVE THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISHMACHINE.INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. INSTRUCTED MANAGEMENT THAT ALL THE ABOVE VIOLATIONS MUST BE CORRECTED. PRIORITY VIOLATION #7-42-090. CITATION ISSUED.; FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER - Comments: INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY LABEL FOOD CONTAINERS/BINS IDENTIFIED WITH COMMON NAME (SALT, SUGAR, FLOUR ETC).; IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED - Comments: OBSERVED ICE SCOOP PLACED ON TOP OF ICE MACHINE.MANAGER PLACED INVERTED ICE SCOOP IN A CONTAINER.; UTENSILS, EQUIPMENT & LINENS: PROPERLY STORED, DRIED, & HANDLED - Comments: OBSERVED PLATES ABOVE FRYER AND POTS AND PANS IN DISHROOM NOT INVERTED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO INVERT PLATES, POTS AND PANS.; FOOD & NON-FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEANABLE, PROPERLY DESIGNED, CONSTRUCTED & USED - Comments: OBSERVED TORN GASKET ON DOOR OF TWO DOOR COOLER IN FRONT OF GRILL.OBSERVED MISSING FAN COVER FOR CONDENSOR IN WALKIN COOLER. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR GASKET ON DOOR OF COOLER. AND TO REPLACE FAN COVER FOR CONDENSOR IN WALKIN COOLER.; NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED AREAS OF KITCHEN WITH BUILD-UP ON SURFACES, THESE AREAS INCLUDE SHELVING ABOVE FRYER,POTATO DICER ON ATTACHED-TO-WALL, DUST BEHIND UPRIGHT FREEZER, WALL NEXT TO HANDSINK IN DISHROOM, TOP OF DISH MACHINE, LEFT AND RIGHT WALLS NEXT TO DISH MACHINE,FLOOR AND WALL BEHIND GREASE TRAP IN DISHROOM, CLEAN EXHAUST FAN COVER IN WOMENS WASHROOM.INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.; PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES - Comments: OBSERVED LEAKY RIGHT BASE OF FAUCET AT THE THREE COMPARTMENT SINK IN DISHROOM. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR PLUMBING LEAK AND TO MAINTAIN.; GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED - Comments: OBSERVED OUTSIDE GARBAGE DUMPSTER AREA NOT MAINTAINED; WASTE GREASE CONTAINER WITH EXCESSIVE GREASE ON TOP OF CONTAINER AND GREASE SPILLAGE ON GROUND FLOOR. INSTRUCTED TO DETAIL CLEAN AND MAINTAIN WASTE GREASE CONTAINER AT ALL TIMES.PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(b), CITATION ISSUED.; PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN - Comments: OBSERVED OUTDOOR DRY STORAGE SHED THAT NEEDED CLEANING, ORGANIZATION AND ELEVATION OF ITEMS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.; ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED - Comments: OBSERVED HOOD AND FILTER ABOVE FRYER AND GRILL WITH GREASE BUILD-UP AND PROVIDE MISSING VENTILATION COVER ABOVE THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISHMACHINE.INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN..
Storing food at incorrect temperatures accelerates spoilage and pathogen growth. Storing food at incorrect temperatures accelerates spoilage and pathogen growth. Improper food handling by untrained staff increases illness risk. Inadequate handwashing can transmit Norovirus, Hepatitis A, and other pathogens directly to food. Allergen cross-contact can occur when surfaces are not properly cleaned between uses. Biofilms can form on inadequately cleaned surfaces, protecting bacteria from sanitizers.
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.
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