Queens, NY — Agora Taverna, a Greek restaurant located at 70-09 Austin Street in Forest Hills, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 23, 2026. The restaurant recorded a score of 26, placing it at the upper edge of the Grade B range and one point below the threshold for a Grade C designation. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 27, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two violations during the March visit — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under Code 04L, recorded evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, rodent activity in a food service environment is classified as a critical condition due to the potential for contamination of food contact surfaces and stored food products.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 19-10, noted the establishment's failure to display required signage informing customers of plastic straw availability upon request, as mandated by New York City regulations.

The presence of the Code 04L violation is the primary driver of the restaurant's elevated score. Critical violations carry higher point values in DOHMH's scoring methodology, and a single critical finding of this nature can substantially affect a restaurant's final grade.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments to maintain their premises free of pest activity. The FDA Food Code similarly identifies evidence of rodents as a condition requiring immediate corrective action. Establishments found with active pest evidence are typically required to engage a licensed pest management professional and demonstrate corrective measures before any reinspection.

A score of 26 falls within the Grade B band, which DOHMH defines as 14 to 27 points. At 26 points, Agora Taverna's score leaves a margin of just one point before crossing into Grade C territory. Restaurants that score in the upper portion of the B range are generally subject to reinspection within a shorter timeframe.

Inspection History

Agora Taverna's inspection record prior to the March 2026 visit reflects consistent Grade A performance:

  • October 24, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • March 20, 2023: Score 7 (Grade A)
  • February 8, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)

The March 2026 result represents a notable shift from the restaurant's established record. Its three previous inspections each produced scores well within the Grade A range, with a low of 7 points recorded in 2023.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores:

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

Restaurants that do not receive an A on their initial inspection are typically reinspected within approximately a month. The grade displayed in the restaurant's window may reflect either the initial or reinspection score, depending on which result is used for grading purposes.

Consumers can review full inspection records, including violation details and historical scores, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup tool available on the New York City official website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Agora Taverna including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.