Restaurant · Chicago, IL

Babas Famous Steak & Lemonade

Name: Babas Famous Steak & Lemonade
Address: 2101 E 71st St, Chicago, IL

2101 E 71st St

Last inspected May 7, 2026 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

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More issues recentlyThe latest inspection recorded more violations than the one before it. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

4 inspections

Complaint

May 7, 2026

Pass

4 recorded violations

notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

6-202.13 OBSERVED INSECT TRAPS HANGING IN THE REAR OVER THE 3 COMPARTMENT SINK. INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE AND ONLY ALLOW PEST CONTROL TO INSTALL ALL PEST TRAPS.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

notedCode 40Employee health and hygiene

Official wording

PERSONAL CLEANLINESS

Inspector’s notes

2-402.11 OBSERVED ONE MALE FOOD HANDLER WITHOUT A HAIR RESTRAINT. INSTRUCTED TO PROVIDE FOR ALL MALE FOOD HANDLERS.

In plain English

This covers things like hair restraints, jewelry, clean clothing, eating or drinking in food prep areas, touching ready-to-eat food with bare hands, or not having a sick-employee policy.

More about employee hygiene or health policy issues

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

4-601.11 OBSERVED EXCESSIVE GREASE AND FOOD DEBRIS IN THE INTERIOR OF THE FRYERS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

6-501.12 OBSERVED FLOORS UNDER AND BEHIND THE FRYERS WITH EXCESSIVE ACCUMULATED FOOD AND GREASE DEBRIS. OBSERVED DEBRIS ON THE WALLS LOCATED BY THE HANDWASHING SINK. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, May 7, 2026 · Original Source

Canvass

Mar 12, 2025

Pass

3 recorded violations

notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR NOT COMPLETELY RODENT PROOF AT BOTTOM; INSTRUCTED TO SEAL 1/4 INCH GAP AT BOTTOM OF DOOR AND MAINTAIN.

In plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAINT THE FOLLOWING: INTERIORS OF REFRIGERATION UNITS, EXTERIOR SURFACES OF GRILL AND FRYERS, CLEAN AREA UNDERNEATH GRILL TO REMOVE GREASE, CLEAN BOTTOM AREA OF FRYERS, CLEAN ROLLING CART AND PREP TABLES AT BOTTOM AREA.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING: FLOORS AROUND UNDER AND BEHIND COOKING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT, WALLS AROUND AND BEHIND KITCHEN EQUIPMENT, CEILING VENTS WHERE NEEDED, VENT FAN COVER IN WASHROOM ON CEILING, INTERIOR OF UTILITY SINK.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Mar 12, 2025 · Original Source

Canvass Re-Inspection

Feb 2, 2024

Pass

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Feb 2, 2024 · Original Source

Canvass

Jan 26, 2024

Fail

7 recorded violations

notedCode 38Pests

Official wording

INSECTS, RODENTS, & ANIMALS NOT PRESENT

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED RODENT ACTIVITY ON PREMISES. FOUND 80 OR MORE MOUSE DROPPINGS ON THE FLOOR BEHIND THE ICE MACHINE, ON THE WINDOW LEDGE IN COOKING AREA, ON THE FLOOR AROUND COOKING EQUIPMENT AND IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRYERS. INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN ALL AREAS AND HAVE PEST CONTROL COMPANY SERVICE PRIOR TO REINSPECTION NEXT WEEK. PRIORITY FOUNDATION VIOLATION 7-38-020(A) CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

notedCode 57Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

ALL FOOD EMPLOYEES HAVE FOOD HANDLER TRAINING

Inspector’s notes

OBSERVED EXPIRED FOOD HANDLER CERTIFICATES; INSTRUCTED TO HAVE ALL FOOD HANDLERS OBTAIN VALID CERTIFICATES.

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

notedCode 3Permits, training, and postings

Official wording

MANAGEMENT, FOOD EMPLOYEE AND CONDITIONAL EMPLOYEE; KNOWLEDGE, RESPONSIBILITIES AND REPORTING

Inspector’s notes

NO EMPLOYEE HEALTH POLICIES ON PREMISES AS REQUIRED; MUST PROVIDE. INSTRUCTED THE PERSON IN CHARGE TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION OF EMPLOYEES RESPONSIBILITY TO REPORT ANY ILLNESS TRANSMISSIBLE THROUGH FOOD. PRIORITY FOUNDATION 7-38-010 VIOLAION CITATION ISSUED.

In plain English

A required permit, food safety certificate, trained manager, or posted sign was missing or not current. These show the business is following the rules and has trained staff.

More about paperwork, training, or posting issues

notedCode 37Food source and labeling

Official wording

FOOD PROPERLY LABELED; ORIGINAL CONTAINER

Inspector’s notes

BULK STORAGE CONTAINERS NOT LABELED AS REQUIRED; INSTRUCTED TO LABEL CONTAINERS WITH NAME OF PRODUCT INSIDE OF CONTAINER.

In plain English

Food came from an unapproved source, was missing required date marks or labels, or was past its use-by date. Knowing where food came from and how old it is helps prevent illness.

More about food source, dating, or labeling problems

notedCode 49Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

NON-FOOD/FOOD CONTACT SURFACES CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN AND MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING: INTERIOR PANEL OF ICE MACHINE, EXTERIOR SURFACES OF GRILL AND FRYERS, UNDERNEATH FRYERS AND GRILL, PREP TABLES.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 55Cleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

PHYSICAL FACILITIES INSTALLED, MAINTAINED & CLEAN

Inspector’s notes

INSTRUCTED TO CLEAN THE FLOORS UNDER AROUND AND BEHIND COOKING AND OTHER EQUIPMENT, IN DISHWASHING AREA UNDERNEATH THE SINKS AND IN AREAS WHERE DROPPINGS OBSERVED. ALSO CLEAN WALLS AND CEILINGS IN AREAS WHERE NEEDED AND CLEAN PIPES ABOVE THE ELECTRICAL BOX IN DISHWASHING AREA TO REMOVE DUST.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

notedCode 56Facility maintenance

Official wording

ADEQUATE VENTILATION & LIGHTING; DESIGNATED AREAS USED

Inspector’s notes

THE VENTS IN THE HOODED SYSTEM ABOVE THE GRLLL AND FRYERS NEED CLEANING; CLEAN VENTS.

In plain English

Floors, walls, ceilings, lighting, ventilation, or garbage areas needed repair or cleaning. These are usually less urgent than food-handling problems but still need to be fixed.

More about building upkeep issues

Official record from Chicago Department of Public Health, Jan 26, 2024 · Original Source