Manhattan, NY — % Arabica, a coffee and tea establishment located at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 28 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 13, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade assigned under the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection identified one critical violation related to food contamination prevention. No non-critical violations were documented during the visit. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 18, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited % Arabica under violation code 06C for failing to protect food, supplies, or equipment from potential sources of contamination. Specifically, the violation noted issues during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The citation also referenced condiments not being provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
This type of violation addresses a fundamental principle in food safety: maintaining barriers between food products and potential contaminants throughout all stages of handling. In a coffee and tea service environment, this can involve the protection of beverage ingredients, prepared drinks, serving equipment, and any accompanying food items or condiments from environmental or cross-contamination risks.
The violation was classified as critical, meaning it represents a condition that, according to DOHMH guidelines, could directly contribute to a foodborne illness or food safety hazard if not corrected.
Food Safety Context
The protection of food from contamination sources is addressed under multiple regulatory frameworks governing food service establishments in New York City. NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments must meet, including requirements for proper food storage, handling, and display.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local jurisdictions nationwide, similarly requires that food be protected from contamination by separating it from potential hazard sources during all phases of operation. Section 3-305.11 of the FDA Food Code specifically addresses the protection of food from environmental contamination during storage, while related provisions cover preparation and service stages.
Condiment handling requirements exist because shared, unprotected condiment containers can serve as vectors for cross-contamination between customers. Single-service packaging or direct vendor dispensing reduces this risk by limiting contact between shared food items and multiple individuals.
For a coffee and tea establishment, compliance with these standards involves ensuring that ingredients such as milk, sugar, syrups, and other additions are stored and dispensed in a manner that prevents exposure to contamination sources throughout the service process.
Inspection History
This inspection represents the first recorded DOHMH inspection for % Arabica at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in the available public dataset. No prior inspection history is available for this location, which may indicate that the establishment is relatively new to this address or that earlier records fall outside the current dataset range.
- February 13, 2026: Score 28 (Grade C), one critical violation cited
Without a prior inspection record for comparison, it is not possible to assess whether the conditions found represent a recurring pattern or an isolated occurrence. Future inspections will establish a compliance history for this location.
Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are typically scheduled for a re-inspection by DOHMH, at which point the establishment has the opportunity to demonstrate corrected conditions and potentially receive an improved score.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection. Each violation carries a specific point value, with critical violations generally assigned higher point values than non-critical ones.
The grade thresholds are as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 28 falls at the minimum threshold for a Grade C designation. Restaurants are required to post their current letter grade in a location visible to the public, typically near the entrance.
Consumers can verify inspection results and review detailed violation histories for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database, accessible via the NYC Open Data portal. The inspection data referenced in this report is public record made available through that system.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for % Arabica including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.