What is The Congress Hotel's health inspection score?

The Congress Hotel has a SafeDine safety score of 90 out of 100 (Grade A). This score is calculated from official government health inspection data, factoring in violation severity, recency, and trends.

When was The Congress Hotel last inspected?

The Congress Hotel was last inspected on September 22, 2025. SafeDine tracks official health department inspections and updates scores automatically.

How many health violations does The Congress Hotel have?

The Congress Hotel has 25 total violations across 8 inspections on record. Violations are categorized by severity: high priority, intermediate, and basic.

Is The Congress Hotel safe to eat at?

Yes, The Congress Hotel has an excellent safety record with a score of 90/100. This indicates strong compliance with health and safety standards.

Official Health Record

The Congress Hotel

Name: The Congress Hotel
Address: 520 S MICHIGAN AVE, Chicago, 60605
Rating: 90

520 S MICHIGAN AVE, Chicago

Last inspected 8mo ago

▲Improving

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0Excellent

South Loop

Ranked #85 of 291 in South Loop

Improving

8 inspections

Last: Sep 22, 2025

medium confidence

Directions Order

Inspections

38%

Clean Rate

3.1

Avg Violations

8 months ago

Last Inspected

Top Concerns

Most common issues from recent inspections

HandwashingHigh Priority

Employees not properly washing hands — contamination risk

Pest issues

Evidence of pests found during inspection

Facility condition

Building maintenance or structural issues

Food storage

Food not properly stored or protected

Permit/documentation

Administrative or documentation issue

Score Analysis

How the SafeDine score is calculated

Live Data Feed

Starting Score

100

Total Deductions

-10

Final Score

Impact Breakdown

High Priority

-3 pts

Direct health hazards • 10 pts each

Intermediate

-2 pts

Potential hazards • 5 pts each

Basic

-1 pts

Best practices • 2 pts each

Freshness Penalty

-3 pts

Score reduced due to stale inspection data

Inspection Timeline

+9 pts

100

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

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520 S MICHIGAN AVE, Chicago, IL 60605

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Violation Timeline

Jan 2023

2 inspections

1 high priority

2 intermediate

11 basic

Jan

Apr 2023

1 inspections

Apr 2024

1 inspections

2 high priority

2 intermediate

1 basic

Apr

May 2024

1 inspections

Sep 2024

1 inspections

1 intermediate

3 basic

Sep

Sep 2025

2 inspections

1 high priority

1 intermediate

Inspection History

8 records on file

3 Canvass Re-Inspection3 Canvass1 Complaint1 Recent Inspection

Sep 25

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionLatestCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

Sep 25

Canvass InspectionFail

1 High1 Med

2 total

85/100inspection score

−15 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
OBSERVED NO HOT RUNNING WATER AT HANDWASHING SINK AT GAZEBO ROOM SERVICE PREP AREA. TEMPERATURE OF WATER WAS 74.5F AT THE TIME OF INSPECTION. INSTRUCTED TO HAVE HOT AND COLD RUNNING WATER AT A MINIMUM TEMPERATURE OF 100F AT ALL HAND WASH SINKS. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-030(C)

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 20-30 RODENT DROPPINGS THROUGHOUT BACK OF GAZEBO PREP AREA COOLER. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE DROPPINGS, RECEIVE ADDITIONAL PEST CONTROL SERVICE, AND MAINTAIN PREMISES FREE OF PEST ACTIVITY. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A). CITATION ISSUED.

Base deductions−15 pts

Sep 24

Complaint InspectionPass

1 Med3 Basic

4 total

89/100inspection score

−11 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
Outer opening, holes in wall, kitchen doors that leads to basements not rodent proofed, instructed to install and patch holes to prevent rodents entry.

Basic (3)

−6 pts

43IN-USE UTENSILS: PROPERLY STORED−2
Ice buckets stored on floor at bar area, instructed to keep off floor.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
Peeling paint noted at kitchen ceiling above clean utensils shelves. instructed to remove and maintain.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
Broken floor tiles at main kitchen, missing grout. instructed to repair and maintain.

Base deductions−11 pts

May 24

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

Apr 24

Canvass InspectionFail

2 High2 Med1 Basic

5 total

68/100inspection score

−32 pts

High Priority (2)

−20 pts

10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
No hand wash sink provided in the main dish washing area next to large dish machine. Instructed to install. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c). No citation issued.
10ADEQUATE HANDWASHING SINKS PROPERLY SUPPLIED AND ACCESSIBLE−10
No paper towels provide at all prep area hand wash sinks and bar too. All automatic dispensers not functioning. Instructed to provide paper towels to all hand sinks. Priority foundation violation 7-38-030(c).

Intermediate (2)

−10 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
Inadequate pest control. Found Rat droppings on the staircase leading from the basement to the first floor kitchen. Instructed to eliminate rodents activity in all affected areas, pest control service recommended. Priority foundation violation 7-38-020(a).
38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
Found a dead rat caught in a trap at north kitchen. Instructed to remove all dead rodents.

Basic (1)

−2 pts

63REMOVAL OF SUSPENSION SIGN−2

Base deductions−32 pts

Apr 23

Recent Inspection InspectionCleanPass

No violations

100/100inspection score

Jan 23

Canvass Re-Inspection InspectionPass

1 Med5 Basic

6 total

85/100inspection score

−15 pts

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
6-501.112 OBSERVED DEAD INSECTS NOTED UNDER THE REAR HAND WASHING SINK AND BEHIND A REAR REFRIGERATION UNIT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

Basic (5)

−10 pts

45SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED−2
4-904.11 OBSERVED PLATES AND BOWLS NOT INVERTED WHILE STORED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT.
49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
4-601.11(C) OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DEBRIS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYERS AND BOTTOM SHELVES OF THE PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.
53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED−2
5-501.17 OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE INSIDE OF THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
6-201.11 OBSERVED CRACKS AND CERVICES IN THE WALLS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO MAKE ALL SURFACES SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE AND MAINTAIN.

Base deductions−15 pts

Jan 23

Canvass InspectionFail

1 High1 Med6 Basic

8 total

73/100inspection score

−27 pts

High Priority (1)

−10 pts

16FOOD-CONTACT SURFACES: CLEANED & SANITIZED−10
4-501.112(A:1&2) OBSERVED THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE NOT PROPERLY SANITIZING, INSPECTOR USED A HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE TEST STRIP TO CONFIRM AND THE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE TEST STRIP DID NOT CHANGE COLOR. HOT WATER TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE INSPECTION WAS 138F CONFIRMED BY A METAL STEM THERMOMETER. HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE TAGGED AND HELD FOR INSPECTION BY CDPH AND MAY NOT BE USED. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-025.

Intermediate (1)

−5 pts

38INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT−5
6-501.112 OBSERVED DEAD INSECTS NOTED UNDER THE REAR HAND WASHING SINK AND BEHIND A REAR REFRIGERATION UNIT. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.

Basic (6)

−12 pts

45SINGLE-USE/SINGLE-SERVICE ARTICLES: PROPERLY STORED & USED−2
4-904.11 OBSERVED PLATES AND BOWLS NOT INVERTED WHILE STORED. INSTRUCTED TO INVERT.
48WAREWASHING FACILITIES: INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & USED; TEST STRIPS−2
4-204.115 OBSERVED HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE GAUGES NOT OPERABLE NOR HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE TEST STRIPS ON SITE. INSTRUCTED TO REPAIR AND PROVIDE HIGH TEMPERATURE DISH MACHINE TEST STRIPS. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-005.
49NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN−2
4-601.11(C) OBSERVED ACCUMULATED DEBRIS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYERS AND BOTTOM SHELVES OF THE PREP TABLES. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND SANITIZE.
51PLUMBING INSTALLED; PROPER BACKFLOW DEVICES−2
5-204.12 UNABLE TO LOCATE THE BACKFLOW PREVENTION DEVICE ON THE ICE MACHINE. INSTRUCTED TO LOCATE OR PROVIDE.
53TOILET FACILITIES: PROPERLY CONSTRUCTED, SUPPLIED, & CLEANED−2
5-501.17 OBSERVED NO COVERED RECEPTACLE INSIDE OF THE WOMEN'S TOILET ROOMS. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE.
55PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN−2
6-201.11 OBSERVED CRACKS AND CERVICES IN THE WALLS IN VARIOUS AREAS OF THE FOOD PREP AREA. INSTRUCTED TO MAKE ALL SURFACES SMOOTH AND EASILY CLEANABLE AND MAINTAIN.

Base deductions−27 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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