Manhattan, NY — Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, the popular movie theater and dining venue at 28 Liberty Street in Lower Manhattan's Financial District, received a score of 53 during a New York City health inspection conducted on February 18, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, a significant decline from its prior inspection history of Grade A ratings.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 20, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 18 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the establishment:
An accurate thermometer was not provided or properly located in refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment (violation code 10E). This violation relates to the ability of staff and inspectors to verify that food is being stored at safe temperatures. Without a properly placed and functioning thermometer, there is no reliable way to confirm that refrigeration units and hot holding equipment are maintaining temperatures within required safety ranges.
While only one violation was formally recorded in the publicly available data, the overall score of 53 points indicates that additional conditions were identified during the inspection. Under the DOHMH scoring system, individual violations carry different point values based on their severity and the conditions observed. A score of 53 from a single documented non-critical violation suggests that the full scope of conditions observed during the inspection contributed to a substantially elevated point total.
It is important to note that the inspection resulted in the action "violations were cited in the following area(s)," meaning the establishment was not ordered closed but was cited for the conditions found.
Food Safety Context
Proper temperature monitoring is a foundational requirement of food safety operations. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires food service establishments to maintain cold foods at 41°F or below and hot foods at 140°F or above. The FDA Food Code similarly establishes these temperature thresholds as critical controls for preventing bacterial growth and foodborne illness.
Thermometers in refrigeration and hot holding units serve as the primary tool for operators to verify compliance with these standards throughout daily operations. When thermometers are absent, inaccurate, or improperly positioned, it becomes difficult to detect temperature deviations before they pose a risk to food safety.
For an establishment like Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas, which serves food to patrons during movie screenings, proper temperature control is essential across what is likely a high volume of food preparation and holding throughout operating hours.
Inspection History
The Grade C result represents a notable departure from Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas' prior inspection record at this location:
- December 4, 2024: Score 13, Grade A
- March 24, 2023: Score 12, Grade A
Both previous inspections resulted in scores well within the Grade A range, indicating the establishment had maintained strong compliance with health code requirements in prior cycles. The jump from a score of 13 to a score of 53 represents a 40-point increase.
Under DOHMH procedures, a restaurant that receives a Grade C during an initial inspection has the option to post the grade or request a re-inspection. Many establishments opt for re-inspection in an effort to achieve a lower score. The restaurant may also request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to contest specific violations.
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. The grading system has been in effect since 2010 and is designed to provide consumers with a quick assessment of a restaurant's most recent inspection performance.
Residents and visitors can look up the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas is located at 28 Liberty Street, Manhattan, NY 10005, and is classified as an American cuisine establishment.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.