What is Explorer Cafe's health inspection score?

Explorer Cafe has a SafeDine safety score of 94 out of 100 (Grade A). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was Explorer Cafe last inspected?

Explorer Cafe was last inspected on October 8, 2025. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does Explorer Cafe have?

Explorer Cafe has 17 total violations across 5 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is Explorer Cafe safe to eat at?

Yes, Explorer Cafe has an excellent safety record with a score of 94/100. This indicates strong compliance with health and safety standards.

Official Health Record

Explorer Cafe

Name: Explorer Cafe
Address: 1400 S JEAN BAPTISTE POINTE DUSABLE LAKESHORE DRIVE, Chicago, 60605
Rating: 94

1400 S JEAN BAPTISTE POINTE DUSABLE LAKESHORE DRIVE, Chicago

Last inspected 7mo ago

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0Excellent

South Loop

Ranked #60 of 291 in South Loop

Stable

5 inspections

Last: Oct 8, 2025

medium confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

20%

Clean Rate

3.4

Avg Violations

8 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

HandwashingHigh Priority

Employees not properly washing hands — contamination risk

Plumbing issues

Plumbing or waste disposal problems

Sanitation

Equipment or surfaces not properly cleaned/sanitized

Pest issues

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Facility condition

Building maintenance or structural issues

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-9

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-0 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-1 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-4 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Freshness Penalty

-3 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

-2 pts

Latest

100% weight

2nd

60% weight

100

3rd

30% weight

Real-time Score: 91/100 — This score includes today's freshness penalty and may differ slightly from the displayed score (94/100) which is computed during our regular data sync.

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

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1400 S JEAN BAPTISTE POINTE DUSABLE LAKESHORE DRIVE, Chicago, IL 60605

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Violation Timeline

Jun 2022

1 inspections

3 basic

Jun

May 2023

2 inspections

1 high priority

2 intermediate

6 basic

Apr 2024

1 inspections

1 intermediate

1 basic

Apr

Oct 2025

1 inspections

3 basic

Inspection History

5 records on file

2 Canvass1 Complaint1 Canvass Re-Inspection1 License

Oct 25

Canvass InspectionLatestPass w/ Conditions

3 Basic

3 total

94/100inspection score

−6 pts

Basic (3)

−6 pts

48WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS−2
OBSERVED THE GREASE TRAP LEAKING WHEN THE 3 COMPARTMENT IS DRAINED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PLUMMER ARRIVED ON SITE WHILE WRITING REPORT TO CORRECT ISSUE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-025. CITATION ISSUED.
49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
OBSERVED RESIDUE ON INTERIOR SURFACES OF ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
OBSERVED SOILED MOP HEADS NOT PROPERLY STORED. INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HANG MOP HEADS TO PREVENT INSECT BREEDING.

Base deductions−6 pts

Apr 24

Complaint InspectionPass

1 Med1 Basic

2 total

93/100inspection score

−7 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
Bulk food ( flour, sugar ) not labeled, instructed to label and maintain.

Basic (1)

−2 pts

56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
Inadequate lighting in walk-in freezer, instructed to provide.

Base deductions−7 pts

May 23

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

May 23

Canvass InspectionFail

1 High2 Med6 Basic

9 total

68/100inspection score

−32 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
5-202.12(E) OBSERVED THREE HAND WASHING SINKS AT AN INADEQUATE HOT WATER TEMPERATURE RANGING FROM 120F-130F DURING THE INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO ALWAYS MAINTAIN HOT WATER AT 100F AT ALL HAND WASHING SINKS. ENGINEER WAS ABLE TO ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE ON TWO OF THE THREE HAND WASHING SINKS AND BY THE END OF THE INSPECTION HOT WATER WAS MAINTAINING 100F AT TWO OF THE THREE HAND WASHING SINKS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

37FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER−5
3-601.11 OBSERVED NO LABELS ON THE PREPACKAGED DESSERTS FOR SALE AT THE FRONT CUSTOMER SERVICE AREA. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE LABEL WITH BUSINESS NAME, BUSINESS ADDRESS, INGREDIENTS AND IF ANY ALLERGENS ARE PRESENT.
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
6-501.111 OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF PEST ACTIVITY ON SITE, OBSERVED ABOUT 20 RODENT DROPPINGS LOCATED IN BETWEEN THE ICE MACHINE AND THE WALL AND ALSO AROUND THE HOT WATER HEATER IN THE FOOD PREP AREA. OBSERVED EVIDENCE OF LIVE INSECT ACTIVITY ON SITE, OBSERVED ABOUT 25 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON THE WALL BY THE UTILITY SINK AND ABOUT 15 LIVE SMALL FLIES ON THE WALL BY THE DISH WASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE ALL PEST ACTIVITY, CLEAN AND SANITIZE AFFECTED AREAS AND RECOMMENDED CONTACTING PEST CONTROL FOR A SERVICE. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(A).

Basic (6)

−12 pts

49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
4-601.11(C) OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE DEBRIS IN BETWEEN THE COOKING EQUIPMENT AND A BLACK SUBSTANCE ON THE WALL AROUND THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL.
51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
5-205.15(A) OBSERVED THE HAND WASHING SINK NOT ABLE TO TURN ON LOCATED IN THE DISH WASHING AREA. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND MAINTAIN HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT SAID HAND WASHING SINK AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY VIOLATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-030(C).
54GARBAGE & REFUSE PROPERLY DISPOSED; FACILITIES MAINTAINED−2
5-501.15 OBSERVED ACCUMULATED GREASE DEBRIS ON THE LID OF THE OUTSIDE GREASE DUMPSTER. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-38-020(B).
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
6-501.12 OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE DEBRIS ON TOP OF THE GREASE TRAP AND ON THE FLOOR AND WALL LOCATED AROUND THE GREASE TRAP. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
56ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED−2
6-303.11 OBSERVED BURNT OUT LIGHTING IN THE DISH WASHING AREA IN THE REAR BY THE HOT WATER HEATER. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE LIGHTING.
61SUMMARY REPORT DISPLAYED AND VISIBLE TO THE PUBLIC−2
8-304.11(A) OBSERVED THE MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY NOT POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW. INSTRUCTED A MOST RECENT INSPECTION REPORT SUMMARY MUST BE POSTED FOR PUBLIC VIEW AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION. CITATION ISSUED 7-42-010(B).

Base deductions−32 pts

Jun 22

License InspectionPass

3 Basic

3 total

94/100inspection score

−6 pts

Basic (3)

−6 pts

49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
MUST CLEAN THE INTERIOR OF THE REACH IN PREP COOLERS TO REMOVE SPILLS AND DEBRIS.
52SEWAGE & WASTE WATER PROPERLY DISPOSED−2
INSTRUCTED MANAGER TO HAVE THE GREASE TRAPS UNDERNEATH THE DISH WASHING MACHINE AND 3 COMP SINK SERVICE.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
MUST CLEAN THE CEILING TILES AND VENT COVERS WHERE NEEDED IN THE PREP AND DISH WASHING AREAS TO REMOVE DUST.

Base deductions−6 pts

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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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