A Chicago hospital cafeteria has been closed after city inspectors reported more than 200 live cockroaches and black slime dripping onto ice used in food preparation. The Chicago Department of Public Health suspended the licence at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview after a failed inspection on Friday 16 October 2026. Patients are still being fed, the hospital said, and it is working to address the findings.

Cockroaches Found in Grill, Fryer and Storage Areas

The Rendezvous Café and the patient kitchen both failed the inspection, according to city records. Inspectors reported live cockroaches in the main and rear preparation areas, around the grill and deep fryer, in dry storage and in the main dish room.

City records also described black slime inside an ice machine, with the buildup dripping onto ice meant for human consumption. Other findings included milk crates used as shelves, a torn door gasket on a food preparation cooler, grease on cooking equipment and a leaking sink in the preparation area.

Inspectors ordered every surface cleaned and sanitised and the facility serviced by a pest control company to eliminate all pest activity. Leaking pipes and damaged flooring were also recorded, alongside grease and food debris buildup.

April Violations Had Not Been Corrected, Report Shows

The Chicago Department of Public Health confirmed the suspension. The October report also cited unresolved violations from an earlier inspection on 15 April, including dead cockroaches and accumulations of grease, food debris and dirt. Dead cockroaches were found beneath storage racks and near a sink, officials said; the hospital is on West Wellington Avenue.

The city said April entries marked 'Out of Business' reflected a change of management, with records for the previous operator closed and new records created for the new operators. The department said the April records related to the previous operator, rather than the current food-service operation.

The Chicago Department of Public Health said it had received no reports of infectious disease clusters linked to the situation.

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Chicago Hospital Cafeteria Stays Shut While Meals Arrive Prepackaged

In a statement, the hospital said it recognised the importance of food safety and was 'taking the necessary steps to address the findings'. It said patients continue to receive meals without interruption through alternative arrangements, which will continue while the cafeteria and patient kitchen remain closed.

City health officials said the food comes prepackaged from another supplier, an arrangement the department reviewed and approved. The findings raised concern for at least one patient's family at the Lakeview hospital.

One visitor, identified only as Alina, who asked not to be shown on camera, said an admissions desk employee told her on Saturday that the cafeteria was closed for remodelling and later learned of the inspection. She said the findings had not shaken her trust in her mother's care, although a relative of another patient said they had been bringing food from home.

The Chicago hospital cafeteria can request another inspection once the violations have been corrected, and the health department said it prioritises such visits when an establishment is ready. It was not immediately clear when the cafeteria and kitchen expected to resume operations. Officials had not announced a reopening date.

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