Manhattan, NY — Armada, a New American restaurant at 86 Orchard Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side, received a score of 47 points following a New York City health inspection conducted on March 6, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, which applies to restaurants scoring 28 or more points under the city's restaurant grading system.

The inspection identified two non-critical violations related to equipment cleanliness and signage requirements. The data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 6 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented two non-critical violations at Armada:

The first violation, cited under Code 10F, involved non-food contact surfaces or equipment that were either made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This violation addresses the condition and maintenance of surfaces that, while not in direct contact with food, must still be maintained in sanitary condition to prevent contamination in the food preparation environment.

The second violation, cited under Code 09E, noted that a wash hands sign was not posted near or above a hand washing sink. Proper signage reminding employees to wash their hands is a standard requirement in food service establishments and serves as a basic safeguard in maintaining hygiene protocols.

No critical violations — those posing an immediate risk to public health — were documented during this inspection. The action recorded by DOHMH was that violations were cited in the listed areas.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework governing food service establishments in New York City. Under these regulations, restaurants are required to maintain equipment and surfaces in clean and sanitary condition, and to display proper hygiene signage for food handlers.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local jurisdictions nationwide, similarly requires that non-food contact surfaces of equipment be kept free of accumulation of dust, dirt, food residue, and other debris. Hand washing signage requirements are designed to reinforce employee hygiene practices, which the FDA identifies as one of the most important factors in preventing foodborne illness.

While neither violation cited at Armada was classified as critical, the cumulative point score of 47 reflects the weighted assessment applied by inspectors based on the severity and scope of conditions observed during the visit.

Inspection History

Armada's recent inspection record shows a consistent pattern of scoring at the same level. The restaurant's documented DOHMH inspection history includes:

  • Feb. 20, 2026: Score 47 (Grade N)
  • Feb. 9, 2026: Score 47 (Grade N)
  • March 6, 2026: Score 47 (Grade C)

The restaurant has received an identical score of 47 points across all three recorded inspections. The earlier inspections were designated Grade N, which indicates a grade was not yet determined — typically because the restaurant was in the initial inspection cycle or undergoing re-inspection. The March 6 inspection resulted in a Grade C designation.

The consistency of the 47-point score across three inspections spanning approximately one month suggests that the conditions cited have persisted through multiple inspection visits.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection:

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

Armada's score of 47 points falls 19 points above the Grade C threshold. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may choose to post the letter grade or a "Grade Pending" card while they await a re-inspection or hearing before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Consumers can look up the full inspection history and current grade of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection records, including violation details and scores, are public record and are updated as new data becomes available from the department.

More About This Restaurant

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