Manhattan, NY — 16 Handles, a frozen dessert shop located at 155 Chambers Street in lower Manhattan, received a score of 61 during a health inspection conducted on February 24, 2026, according to data released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 26, 2026. The score places the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating.
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection. No non-critical violations were recorded.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified a single critical violation under code 04H, which pertains to food that is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with the establishment's Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan.
This violation category covers a range of food safety concerns, including improper handling of raw and prepared foods, failure to discard items that have been compromised, and cross-contamination between food products. For a frozen dessert establishment, this can involve issues with ingredient storage, topping handling procedures, or the management of products that have exceeded safe temperature thresholds.
Code 04H violations are classified as critical because they represent conditions that are more likely to directly contribute to foodborne illness or food contamination if not corrected.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments operating in New York City. Under these regulations, all food service operators are required to maintain HACCP-compliant procedures to prevent adulteration and contamination of food products.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model for many local food safety regulations, defines adulterated food as any product that has been prepared, packed, or held under unsanitary conditions where it may have become contaminated, or where it may have been rendered injurious to health. For frozen dessert operations specifically, maintaining proper cold chain management and preventing cross-contamination between ingredients are key compliance requirements.
A score of 61 points reflects conditions that DOHMH considers to require significant corrective action. While the single critical violation was the only item cited, the point value assigned indicates inspectors determined the severity warranted a substantial deduction.
Inspection History
The February 2026 inspection results mark a notable change from the establishment's earlier record. Prior inspections at this location include:
- November 25, 2025: Score of 61 points
- July 2, 2024: Score of 12 points (Grade A)
- January 4, 2022: Score of 2 points (Grade A)
The data shows that 16 Handles previously maintained strong inspection results, earning Grade A scores of 12 and 2 points in its 2024 and 2022 inspections respectively. However, the location received an identical score of 61 during its November 2025 inspection, indicating that the conditions documented in February 2026 represent a continuing pattern rather than an isolated occurrence.
The consecutive scores of 61 across two inspection cycles suggest that the issues identified during the November 2025 visit may not have been fully resolved prior to the February 2026 re-inspection.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and the condition observed. Critical violations, which involve practices that are more likely to contribute to foodborne illness, generally carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request an adjudicatory hearing or opt for a re-inspection. Grade cards must be posted at the entrance of the establishment where they are visible to the public.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly available online. The database includes violation details, scores, and grade histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for 16 Handles including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.