Manhattan, NY — Amelie, a French restaurant located at 22 West 8th Street, received a Grade B rating after health inspectors documented critical violations during a March 5, 2026 inspection. The establishment scored 26 points, placing it near the upper end of the Grade B range and one point away from a Grade C rating.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released inspection data on March 12, 2026, showing that violations were cited in multiple areas. The restaurant was not closed and remains operational.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented two critical violations during the visit. The first critical violation involved hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food not maintained at the required minimum temperature of 140°F. Hot TCS foods must be held at or above this temperature to prevent bacterial growth that can cause foodborne illness.
The second critical violation related to food contact surface sanitation. Inspectors found that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, utensils, food preparation counters, and equipment that directly touch food during preparation or service.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, restaurants must maintain hot foods at 140°F or above to prevent pathogenic bacteria from multiplying to dangerous levels. The FDA Food Code identifies improper holding temperatures as one of the most common contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks.
Food contact surface sanitation requirements are established to prevent cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods. Proper washing, rinsing, and sanitizing protocols are mandatory after each use of food contact surfaces and after any activity that could introduce contamination.
Critical violations indicate conditions that present an immediate food safety risk and are weighted more heavily in the inspection scoring system. Each critical violation can add up to seven points to a restaurant's score.
Inspection History
Amelie has undergone previous health inspections:
- November 16, 2023: Score 12
- August 4, 2022: Score 11 (Grade A)
The restaurant's previous inspection scores were within the Grade A range, making the current Grade B score a significant increase from its historical performance.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City restaurant grades are determined by point totals from health inspections:
- Grade A: 0-13 points
- Grade B: 14-27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate better compliance with food safety regulations. Amelie's score of 26 points places it near the maximum threshold for a Grade B rating.
Restaurant inspection data is public record and available through the NYC DOHMH website. Consumers can view current grades, inspection dates, and violation details for any food service establishment in New York City. The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of restaurants at least once per year.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Amelie including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.