Bronx, NY — Arth Alsaeedah Restaurant, a Middle Eastern eatery located at 680 Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx, received a score of 44 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 7, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the Grade C category, which applies to establishments scoring 28 points or higher. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

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

The critical violation, cited under Code 06A, identified inadequate personal cleanliness among food handlers. Specific conditions that may trigger this citation include outer garments soiled with possible contaminants, the absence of effective hair restraints in areas where they are required, the wearing of jewelry on hands or arms during food preparation, and fingernails that are not kept clean and trimmed or that bear nail polish. Personal cleanliness violations are classified as critical because improper food handler hygiene is directly linked to the potential for foodborne illness transmission.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 08C, noted concerns related to pesticide use and storage. Conditions that may be cited under this code include pesticides that are improperly labeled, the use of pesticides by unlicensed individuals, improper storage or use of toxic chemicals, and the presence of unprotected or unlocked bait stations on the premises.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments operating in New York City are required to maintain standards for personal hygiene among workers involved in food preparation and service. These standards align with the FDA Food Code, which identifies poor personal hygiene as one of the primary risk factors contributing to foodborne illness outbreaks.

Code 06A violations carry critical status because contamination introduced through food handler contact — including from soiled garments, unrestrained hair, hand jewelry, or poorly maintained fingernails — can directly affect the safety of food served to customers.

Code 08C addresses the safe handling and storage of pesticides and toxic substances within food service environments. While classified as non-critical in this instance, improper pesticide storage or use by unlicensed individuals presents risks both to food safety and to the health and safety of workers on premises. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that all pest control activities in food service establishments be conducted by licensed applicators and that all chemical products be properly labeled and secured.

Inspection History

Arth Alsaeedah Restaurant has been inspected multiple times in recent years. The record shows variability in scores across inspection cycles:

  • June 30, 2026: Score 21
  • May 22, 2026: Score 46 (Grade Z)
  • April 7, 2026: Score 44 (Grade C)
  • January 6, 2025: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • November 6, 2024: Score 21
  • November 22, 2023: Score not recorded
  • August 23, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • August 5, 2022: Score 11 (Grade P)
  • August 3, 2022: Score 0 (Closed)

The April 2026 result follows a May 2026 score of 46, which was assigned a Grade Z — a placeholder grade used when a restaurant is pending re-inspection or when a score has not yet been converted to a letter grade for public display. The restaurant had achieved a Grade A with a score of 9 as recently as January 2025, indicating that recent inspections have reflected a significant change in compliance compared to that period.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires all letter grades to be posted in a visible location at the restaurant entrance. The grading system is based on the total number of points accumulated during an unannounced inspection:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or higher (most violations)

A higher score indicates more or more severe violations were documented during the inspection. Restaurants that do not achieve an A grade on their initial inspection are typically re-inspected within a set period, during which they may receive a Grade Pending (Z) card to post at the entrance while the process continues.

Members of the public can look up current and historical inspection records for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are updated regularly as new inspections are completed and data is processed for public release.

More About This Restaurant

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