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Inspections by Violation

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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.

Cantina On Madison

Restaurant

69 E Madison St, Chicago, IL 60603

The Loop

Sep 23, 2025 โ€” Canvass re-inspection

Conditional

A follow-up to confirm violations from a routine visit were fixed.

Rodent droppings and flies found throughout facility despite previous violation notice; no certified food manager on staff.

Standout Inspection

We flagged this inspection for serious public health concerns.

Key Findings

  • Over 90 rat droppings and 30+ small flies discovered in basement, stairwells, and second-floor storage areas; 14 droppings remained after initial correction attempt.
  • No City of Chicago certified food service manager present on premises, violating requirements to have one on-site at all times.
  • Openings at patio door and revolving entrance allow pest entry; gaps need sealing.
  • Dishroom has missing grout between tiles and cracked floor tiles; basement missing or damaged ceiling tiles; dim or nonworking lights in dishroom, fryer area, and basement handwashing station.

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

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Violation code #59 โ€” PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION CORRECTED
Inspector's Notes:

OBSERVED PREVIOUS PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION FROM INSPECTION #2623895 DATED 09/16/2025 NOT CORRECTED. INSTRUCTED TO CORRECT. PRIORITY VIOLATION 7-42-090 CITATION ISSUED. OBSERVED OVER 90 RAT DROPPINGS AND OVER 30 SMALL FLIES THROUGHOUT FACILITY. OBSERVED RAT DROPPINGS IN SUCH AREAS AS BASEMENT UNDERNEATH SHELVING UNIT NEAR STORAGE ROOM WITH DOOR, BASEMENT LOCKER ROOM, STAIRCASE LEADING TO SECOND FLOOR AND SECOND FLOOR STORAGE AND UTILITY ROOMS. OBSERVED SMALL FLY ACTIVITY IN AREAS SUCH AS STORAGE ROOM IN BASEMENT WITH DOOR, NEXT TO WALK IN COOLER, BAR, SECOND FLOOR HALLWAY AND SECOND FLOOR MEN'S WASHROOM. INSTRUCTED TO ELIMINATE RODENT ACTIVITY AND SMALL FLY ACTIVITY IN FACILITY, REMOVE RAT DROPPINGS AND CLEAN AFFECTED AREAS, RECOMMENDED LICENSED PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE FACILITY ON OR AFTER 9/16/2025. UPON REINSPECTION ON 9/23/2025 STILL OBSERVED 14 RAT DROPPINGS IN FACILITY, OBSERVED RAT DROPPINGS IN BASEMENT LOCKER ROOM UNDERNEATH LOCKERS AND IN TWO SECOND FLOOR UTILITY ROOMS. OBSERVED APPROXIMATELY 10 SMALL FLIES IN FACILITY. OBSERVED SMALL FLY ACTIVITY IN HALLWAY OUTSIDE OF SECOND FLOOR WOMEN'S WASHROOM, IN MEN'S WASHROOM AND IN BASEMENT ON WALLS OUTSIDE OF STORAGE ROOM WITH DOOR AND OUTSIDE ON DOOR OF STORAGE ROOM WITH DOOR NEXT TO WALK IN COOLER. CORRECETED ON SITE BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION RODENT DROPPINGS REMOVED AND AFFECTED AREAS CLEANED. SMALL FLIES ELIMINATED AND AFFECTED AREAS CLEANED BEFORE CONCLUSION OF INSPECTION.

Violation code #1 โ€” PERSON IN CHARGE PRESENT, DEMONSTRATES KNOWLEDGE, AND PERFORMS DUTIES
Inspector's Notes:

2-101.11: OBSERVED NO CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER ON PREMISES. INSTRUCTED CITY OF CHICAGO CERTIFIED FOODSERVICE MANAGER MUST BE ON PREMISES AT ALL TIMES. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION

Viewing inspection from Sep 23, 2025 ยท Show current spotlight โ†’

Inspection History

Cantina On Madison has had 13 inspections in the last 5 years with a 46% pass rate. Last inspection was on Aug 31, 2026.

Aug 31, 2026Pass

Complaint Re-Inspection โ€” A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

Standout inspection
Aug 24, 2026Fail

Complaint Re-Inspection โ€” A follow-up to confirm complaint-related violations were fixed.

21 violations
Standout inspection
Sep 23, 2025ConditionalVIEWING NOW

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

6 violations