Manhattan, NY — 809 Grill & Bar Restaurant, a Latin American eatery located at 112 Dyckman Street in the Inwood neighborhood of upper Manhattan, received a score of 41 during a health inspection conducted on February 27, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued under New York City's restaurant grading system.

The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. The data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 27 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented a single critical violation related to food temperature control:

  • Hot TCS food not held at or above 140 °F (Violation Code 02B): Inspectors found that hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods were not being maintained at the required minimum temperature of 140 °F. TCS foods include items such as cooked meats, rice, beans, soups, and other prepared dishes that are susceptible to bacterial growth when held in the temperature danger zone between 41 °F and 140 °F.

While the inspection identified only one violation, the scoring reflects the severity of the finding. Under the DOHMH scoring system, critical violations related to temperature control carry significant point values because of their direct connection to foodborne illness risk.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control is one of the most fundamental principles in food safety. According to the FDA Food Code, the temperature danger zone — between 41 °F and 140 °F — is the range in which harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens can multiply rapidly, potentially doubling in number every 20 minutes under ideal conditions.

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires food service establishments to maintain hot TCS foods at or above 140 °F at all times during holding and service. This regulation aligns with FDA Food Code guidelines and is designed to minimize the risk of bacterial contamination in prepared foods.

When hot foods fall below 140 °F during holding, they enter the danger zone where pathogen growth accelerates. For restaurants serving dishes that are prepared in advance and held for service — common in many Latin American cuisine preparations — consistent temperature monitoring and properly functioning holding equipment are essential for compliance.

Inspection History

809 Grill & Bar Restaurant's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores:

  • July 7, 2025: Score 37 (Grade N)
  • February 27, 2026: Score 41 (Grade C)

The July 2025 inspection resulted in a Grade N designation, which indicates the restaurant was in its initial inspection cycle and had not yet received a final letter grade at that time. The score of 37 recorded during that inspection also exceeded the Grade C threshold of 28 points.

The February 2026 inspection score of 41 represents an increase of four points from the previous inspection, indicating that conditions had not improved in the intervening months.

Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct violations and potentially receive a higher grade. The DOHMH typically schedules re-inspections within a defined timeframe following a Grade C result.

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: 0–13 points
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. A score of 41 falls well into Grade C range, which is the lowest letter grade a restaurant can receive. Restaurants are required to post their grade cards in a location visible to the public near the entrance.

Resources for Consumers

Residents and visitors can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. The database includes detailed violation descriptions, scores, and grade histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

Consumers who wish to report food safety concerns at any restaurant can contact 311 or file a complaint through the NYC 311 website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for 809 Grill & Bar Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.