Manhattan, NY — 87 Ludlow, a fusion restaurant located at 87 Ludlow Street on the Lower East Side, received a score of 44 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 19, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade assigned under the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 19 inspection, inspectors cited one non-critical violation at the establishment:
- Violation Code 10G: Dishwashing and ware washing — cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment was found to be deficient.
This violation relates to the restaurant's procedures for properly cleaning and sanitizing the items used to prepare and serve food. When dishwashing and ware washing processes are deficient, tableware, utensils, and kitchen equipment may not be adequately sanitized between uses.
It is worth noting that while the restaurant received a high score of 44, the inspection record lists only one non-critical violation. The score of 44 points is notably elevated given the single documented violation, and the full breakdown of point allocations may reflect additional observations recorded during the inspection process. Restaurants receive points based on the nature, extent, and severity of each condition identified, and the DOHMH scoring methodology assigns different point values depending on the specific violation and its context.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain proper sanitization standards for all food-contact surfaces, utensils, and equipment. The FDA Food Code, which informs local health regulations, establishes specific requirements for water temperature, chemical concentration, and contact time during the ware washing process to ensure effective sanitization.
Proper dishwashing and ware washing are foundational food safety practices. The FDA Food Code specifies that manual ware washing must follow a three-compartment sink process — wash, rinse, and sanitize — with sanitizing solutions maintained at appropriate concentrations. Mechanical dishwashing equipment must reach minimum temperatures or chemical sanitizer levels to effectively eliminate bacteria and other pathogens from food-contact surfaces.
When these processes are deficient, there is an increased potential for cross-contamination between uses of shared equipment and tableware, which is why health inspectors evaluate ware washing procedures as part of every routine inspection.
Inspection History
87 Ludlow has a limited inspection history on file with DOHMH:
- June 12, 2023: Score 13 (Grade N)
The previous inspection in June 2023 resulted in a score of 13, which falls within the Grade A range (0–13 points). A Grade N designation indicates that the grade was not yet posted at the time of that inspection cycle, which can occur during initial inspections or under specific administrative circumstances. The jump from a score of 13 to a score of 44 represents a significant increase of 31 points between inspection cycles.
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
A Grade C indicates that the restaurant accumulated 28 or more violation points during the inspection. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may choose to post the grade or opt for a re-inspection. During the re-inspection period, the restaurant posts a "Grade Pending" card. The final grade is determined by the better score between the initial inspection and the re-inspection.
Restaurants that dispute their grades may request a hearing before the DOHMH's Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
Public Records and Resources
All New York City restaurant inspection results are public record and available through the DOHMH online portal. Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, violation details, and current grade status.
For more information about NYC restaurant inspections and the grading system, residents can visit the DOHMH website or call 311. The full inspection data for 87 Ludlow and all other New York City restaurants is available through NYC Open Data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for 87 Ludlow including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.