What is Little Branch Cafe's health inspection score?

Little Branch Cafe has a SafeDine safety score of 72 out of 100 (Grade B). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was Little Branch Cafe last inspected?

Little Branch Cafe was last inspected on September 17, 2025. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Little Branch Cafe have?

Little Branch Cafe has 20 total violations across 4 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is Little Branch Cafe safe to eat at?

Little Branch Cafe has a good safety record with a score of 72/100. While there are some noted violations, overall compliance is solid.

Official Health Record

Little Branch Cafe

Name: Little Branch Cafe
Address: 1251 S PRAIRIE AVE, Chicago, 60605
Rating: 72

1251 S PRAIRIE AVE, Chicago

Last Inspected: 9/17/2025

▲Improving

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0Good

South Loop

Ranked #200 of 289 in South Loop

Improving

4 inspections

Last: Sep 17, 2025

medium confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

Clean Rate

Avg Violations

7 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

HandwashingHigh Priority

Employees not properly washing hands — contamination risk

Employee hygiene

Personal hygiene practices not followed

SanitationHigh Priority

Equipment or surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized

Other violation

Regulatory compliance issue

Facility condition

Building maintenance or structural issues

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-28

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-8 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-4 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-6 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Freshness Penalty

-3 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

+25 pts

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

3rd

30% weight

How scoring works: Every restaurant starts at 100 points. Points are deducted for violations found during inspections.

Recent inspections are weighted more heavily. High priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact.

Location

1251 S PRAIRIE AVE, Chicago, IL 60605

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Violation Timeline

Jul 2022

1 inspections

2 high priority

1 basic

Jul

Jun 2023

1 inspections

2 high priority

1 intermediate

2 basic

Jun 2024

1 inspections

3 high priority

7 basic

Jun

Sep 2025

1 inspections

1 intermediate

1 basic

Inspection History

4 records on file

4 Canvass

Sep 25

Canvass InspectionLatestPass

1 Med1 Basic

2 total

93/100inspection score

−7 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
OBSERVED ITEMS OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS WITHOUT LABELS CONTAINING THE PRODUCT NAME. INSTRUCTED TO LABEL ALL FOODS AND SPICES WITH COMMON NAME THAT ARE OUT OF THE ORIGINAL CONTAINERS.

Basic (1)

−2 pts

58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED−2
OBSERVED FOOD SERVICE SANITATION MANAGER WITHOUT FOOD ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO MEET REQUIREMENT.

Base deductions−7 pts

Jun 24

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

3 High7 Basic

10 total1 risk factor

51/100inspection score

−44 pts

High Priority (3)

−30 pts

8HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHEDRisk Factor−10
OWNER/MANAGER NOT PROPERLY WASHING HER HANDS IN THE REQUIRED DESIGNATED HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED NOT TO WASH HANDS IN THE 3-COMPARTMENT SINK. PROPERLY WASH HANDS WITH SOAP IN THE HAND WASHING SINK ONLY. MAINTAIN SAME. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010 VIOLATION CITATION ISSUED
10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
REAR HAND WASHING SINK NOT ACCESSIBLE. DISH WASHING LIQUID AND UTENSILS STORED INSIDE. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS HAVE ALL HAND WASHING SINKS ACCESSIBLE AND PROPERLY STOCKED. MAINTAIN SAME. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-030(c) VIOLATION CITATION ISSUED
10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
NO HANDWASHING SIGN POSTED AT THE DESIGNATED HANDWASHING SINK IN THE REAR PREP/DISH WASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE A HANDWASHING SIGNAGE AND MAINTAIN.

Basic (7)

−14 pts

40PERSONAL CLEANLINESS−2
FEMALE FOOD HANDLERS/EMPLOYEES IN FRONT FOOD PREP AREA NOT WEARING HAIR RESTRAINTS. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL FOOD HANDLERS/EMPLOYEES HANDLING FOOD AND IN THE FOOD PREP AREAS TO WEAR A HAIR RESTRAINT. MAINTAIN SAME.
43IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED−2
MULTI USE KNIVES NOT PROPERLY STORED WHEN NOT IN USE. INSTRUCTED TO STORE KNIVES IN A KNIFE RACK WHEN NOT IN USE. MAINTAIN SAME.
49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
INTERIOR LOWER SURFACES OF ALL COOLERS/FREEZERS AND STORAGE RACKS IN REAR PREP AREA WITH FOOD, DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN ALL.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
WALLS BEHIND THE COOLERS/COOKING EQUIPMENT WITH FOOD/GREASE AND DIRT. FLOORS IN THE CORNERS AND UNDER/AROUND ALL HEAVY EQUIPMENT WITH FOOD, DIRT AND DEBRIS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN WALLS AND FLOORS THROUGHOUT.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
VENTILATION PANELS IN REAR PREP WITH GREASE AND DIRT BUILD UP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN.
57ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING−2
FOOD HANDLERS ON SITE WITH NO FOOD HANDLER TRAINING CERTIFICATES. INSTRUCTED TO OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN CURRENT CERTIFICATES.
58ALLERGEN TRAINING AS REQUIRED−2
CFM WITH NO ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL CFMs OBTAIN AND MAINTAIN A VALID ALLERGEN TRAINING CERTIFICATE.

Base deductions−44 pts

Risk factor bonus (1× +5)−5 pts

Jun 23

Canvass InspectionPass

2 High1 Med2 Basic

5 total

71/100inspection score

−29 pts

High Priority (2)

−20 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
6-301.14 OBSERVED A HAND WASHING SIGN IS NEEDED AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA HAND WASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED−10
4-602.11(B-E) OBSERVED A MINOR SLIGHT BROWNISH SUBSTANCE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE ICE MACHINE LOCATED BY THE ICE MAKER WHERE THE WATER FLOWS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

35APPROVED THAWING METHODS USED−5
3-501.13 OBSERVED RAW BEEF THAWING AT ROOM TEMPERATURE IN THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA, AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION SAID PRODUCT WAS AT 34F. INSTRUCTED TO PROPERLY THAW ALL TCS FOODS UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER (NOT EXCEEDING 70F) OR IN A REFRIGERATION UNIT AT ALL TIMES. MANAGER PLACED SAID PRODUCT IN THE REFRIGERATOR DURING THE INSPECTION.

Basic (2)

−4 pts

40PERSONAL CLEANLINESS−2
2-402.11 OBSERVED THE FEMALE FOOD HANDLERS AT THE FRONT FOOD PREP AREA PREPPING COFFEE AND SERVING ICE CREAM WITHOUT PROPER HAIR RESTRAINTS SUCH AS HAIR NETS OR BASEBALL CAPS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
45SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED−2
4-502.13 OBSERVED CARDBOARD BEING USED AS A SHELF LINER IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA AND ON THE UNUSED FLAT TOP GRILL. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE CARDBOARD AND ENSURE ALL SURFACES ARE SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE.

Base deductions−29 pts

Jul 22

Canvass InspectionPass w/ Conditions

2 High1 Basic

3 total1 risk factor

73/100inspection score

−22 pts

High Priority (2)

−20 pts

8HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHEDRisk Factor−10
OBSERVED MANAGER WASH HANDS WITH GLOVES ON. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REMOVE GLOVES IN ORDER TO PROPERLY WASH HANDS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010 CITATION ISSUED.
16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED−10
OBSERVED DISH MACHINE NOT DISPENSING SANITIZER.CHLORINE SANITIZER CONCENTRATION MEASURED AT 0PPM AT DISH MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO REPAIR DISH MACHINE. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.

Basic (1)

−2 pts

55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DEBRIS ON THE FLOORS BEHIND THE COOKING EQUIPMENT AND REFRIGERATION UNITS. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN.

Base deductions−22 pts

Risk factor bonus (1× +5)−5 pts

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Community Safety Reports

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Data source: Chicago CDPH · Official government inspection records

Grading System

85 – 100

Excellent

70 – 84

Good

Below 70

Fair

About SafeDine Scores

Scores are calculated using official government inspection data. High Priority violations (direct health hazards) have the greatest impact, followed by Intermediate and Basic violations. Community reviews can adjust the score by up to 5 points when 3+ reviews are submitted.

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