IsTheKitchenClean?
Home·Blog·About·Contact

Inspections by Neighborhood

  • Lincoln Park
  • Lakeview
  • West Loop
  • Gold Coast
  • Old Town
  • Wrigleyville
  • River North
  • Wicker Park
  • Logan Square
  • Bucktown
  • Fulton Market
  • Streeterville
  • The Loop
  • Andersonville
  • Pilsen
  • Hyde Park
  • Chinatown
  • North Side
  • Northwest Side
  • West Side
  • South Loop
  • South Side
  • Southwest Side
  • Far South Side

Inspections by Violation

  • Rodents
  • Roaches
  • Mold
  • Sewage
  • Temperature
  • Chemical
  • Expired Food
  • Sanitation

IsTheKitchenClean displays publicly available food inspection data from the Chicago Department of Public Health. Trending rankings and summaries are automated interpretations of that data and are not official health department assessments. Inspection findings reflect conditions at a specific point in time and may not represent current conditions at a restaurant.

Baba's Famous Steaks & Lemondade

Restaurant

7500 S Cottage Grove Ave, Chicago, IL 60619

South Side

Jun 6, 2023 — Short-form complaint

Conditional

A shorter, targeted check prompted by a public complaint.

Food handler bypassed glove protocol while handling raw chicken, and coolers stored temperature-sensitive foods at dangerously warm temperatures.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Food handler removed a glove mid-task while preparing raw chicken and french fries without rewashing hands or changing gloves.
  • Another handler put on gloves without washing hands before cutting peppers for sandwiches.
  • Two refrigeration units stored ready-to-eat foods at unsafe temperatures (47.7°F and 50°F, when required to be 41°F or below), requiring disposal of approximately 350 pounds of food including cooked meats and prepared desserts.
  • No certified Chicago food manager was on site while temperature-controlled safety foods like chicken were being prepared and served.

Key findings are derived directly from the inspector's notes from the Chicago Department of Public Health. See the full violation notes below.

Was this report useful? Get an alert when this restaurant fails again, tell people what happened to you, or send the link to someone.

Be specific. Keep it to what you saw or experienced.

Loading discussion...

Violation code #8 — HANDS CLEAN & PROPERLY WASHED
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED POOR HYGIENIC PRACTICES. FOOD HANDLER IN THE MAIN FOOD PREP AREA HAD ON TWO GLOVES ON ONE HAND HANDLED RAW CHICKEN AND TOOK OFF ONE GLOVE AND BEGAN TO PREPARE FOODS SUCH AS FRENCH FIRES. ALSO, OBSERVED FOOD HANDLER IN THE REAR DISHWASHING AREA PUT ON GLOVES WITHOUT WASHING HANDS TO CUT GREEN BELL PEPPERS THAT ARE USED TO TOP SANDWICHES. INSTRUCTED TO WASH HANDS AND THEN PUT ON A NEW PAIR OF GLOVES BEFORE CHANGING TASK. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-38-010, CITATION ISSUED.

Violation code #33 — PROPER COOLING METHODS USED; ADEQUATE EQUIPMENT FOR TEMPERATURE CONTROL
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED IMPROPER TEMPERATURE OF PREP COOLER AT 50.0F AT THE REAR FOOD PREP AREA AND A STAND UP REFRIGERATOR AT THE REAR DISHWASHING AREA AT 47.7F WITH TCS FOODS STORED INSIDE FOR SALE. A HELD FOR INSPECTION TAG HAS PLACED ON UNITS. ONCE REPAIRED, FAX OR EMAIL TO CDPH. MUST HAVE COLD HOLDING EQUIPMENT AT 41.0F OR BELOW. PRIORITY 7-38-005, CITATION ISSUED.

Viewing inspection from Jun 6, 2023 · Show current spotlight →

Inspection History

Baba's Famous Steaks & Lemondade has had 10 inspections in the last 5 years with a 70% pass rate. Last inspection was on Sep 23, 2026.

Sep 23, 2026Pass

Short Form Complaint — A shorter, targeted check prompted by a public complaint.

2 violations
Aug 10, 2026Pass

Canvass Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm violations from a routine visit were fixed.

Standout inspection
Aug 3, 2026Fail

Canvass — A routine, unannounced visit by a city health inspector.

7 violations
Oct 10, 2025Pass

Short Form Complaint — A shorter, targeted check prompted by a public complaint.

10 violations
Sep 18, 2025Pass

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

10 violations
Standout inspection
Sep 10, 2025Fail

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

17 violations
May 24, 2024Pass

Complaint Re-Inspection — A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

1 violation
Standout inspection
May 17, 2024Fail

Complaint — Triggered by a public complaint about this restaurant.

9 violations
Standout inspection
Jun 6, 2023ConditionalVIEWING NOW

Short Form Complaint — A shorter, targeted check prompted by a public complaint.

12 violations
Mar 8, 2023Pass

License — Required before the city issues a business license.

8 violations