Manhattan, NY — Art Bar, located at 52 8th Avenue in Manhattan's West Village neighborhood, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 18, 2026. The restaurant scored 21 out of a possible range that places it near the upper boundary of the B grade, six points from the Grade C threshold.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 20, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

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

The critical violation, cited under Code 04H, noted that raw, cooked, or prepared food was adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. Critical violations are those the city has identified as directly linked to foodborne illness risk.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 08A, found that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. While classified as non-critical, pest-condition violations contribute meaningfully to a restaurant's overall score.

Together, these two violations produced a score of 21 — the lower end of the B range, but still elevated relative to the grade's midpoint.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, restaurants operating in New York City are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH. Violations are assigned point values based on severity, and scores determine the letter grade posted at the establishment.

The Code 04H violation corresponds to requirements outlined in the FDA Food Code governing proper food handling, storage temperatures, and contamination prevention. HACCP plans are required tools for identifying and controlling food safety hazards at critical points in preparation and service. When food is found to be adulterated or cross-contaminated outside the bounds of an establishment's HACCP plan, it represents a lapse in one of the core compliance frameworks the city relies on.

The Code 08A pest harborage violation reflects standards requiring facilities to maintain conditions that do not attract or support pest activity — a baseline environmental control expectation under both city and federal food safety guidelines.

Inspection History

Art Bar's inspection record over recent years shows variability in scores:

  • April 30, 2025: Score 35
  • April 9, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • May 3, 2023: Score 19

The 2025 score of 35 would have placed the restaurant in Grade C territory. The current score of 21, while an improvement from that cycle, remains above the Grade A threshold and reflects ongoing compliance challenges.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system is based on inspection scores as follows:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest violation severity)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is posted publicly. Posted grades are required to be displayed where they are visible to customers entering the establishment.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's public search tool at the NYC Open Data portal or the city's restaurant inspection lookup at nyc.gov.

More About This Restaurant

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