Queens, NY — Arya Cafe, an Asian fusion restaurant located at 81-05 Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, received a score of 36 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 10, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.

The inspection identified one critical violation related to food contamination protection. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 10 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Arya Cafe for a critical violation under code 06C: food, supplies, or equipment not protected from a potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The citation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

This type of violation addresses the fundamental requirement that all food items and food-contact surfaces must be shielded from environmental contaminants, cross-contamination from raw ingredients, and exposure to unsanitary conditions throughout every stage of handling. When food is left unprotected, it becomes vulnerable to airborne particles, pest activity, chemical residue, and bacterial transfer from nearby surfaces or other food items.

The condiment-related portion of the citation concerns the practice of providing condiments in open, shared containers rather than in individually sealed packets or through vendor-controlled dispensing systems. Open condiment containers can accumulate bacteria from repeated customer contact and environmental exposure over time.

Despite recording only one violation, the total score of 36 points indicates that the severity assigned to this finding was substantial, reflecting the degree to which the condition was observed during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments operating within the five boroughs. Under these regulations, all food must be protected from contamination at every point in the preparation and service chain. The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model for many local food safety regulations nationwide, similarly requires that food be stored, prepared, and served under conditions that prevent contamination.

Proper food protection includes maintaining covered containers during storage, separating raw and ready-to-eat items, ensuring adequate barriers between food and potential contaminants in display areas, and using approved dispensing methods for condiments and self-service items.

DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of the city's approximately 27,000 restaurants at least once per inspection cycle. Inspectors evaluate establishments across a range of categories including food temperature control, personal hygiene, pest activity, and facility maintenance. Points are assigned based on the nature and severity of each violation identified.

Inspection History

Arya Cafe's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores:

  • Feb 10, 2026: Score 36 (Grade C range), critical food contamination violation cited
  • Dec 29, 2025: Score 56 (Grade N — grade pending adjudication)

The December 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 56, which also falls well above the Grade C threshold of 28 points. A Grade N designation indicates that the grade was pending at the time of that inspection cycle, typically meaning the restaurant was awaiting an adjudication hearing or re-inspection.

The progression from a score of 56 in December to 36 in February represents a numerical improvement, though both scores remain in the Grade C range.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer and less severe violations:

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

Arya Cafe's score of 36 falls into the Grade C category. Restaurants receiving a Grade C may request an adjudication hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and may be re-inspected in a subsequent cycle.

Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including specific violations and scores, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database available on the NYC Open Data portal. The inspection data referenced in this report was conducted on February 10, 2026, with data released by DOHMH on February 12, 2026.

More About This Restaurant

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