Queens, NY — Avenita Diner, located at 83-23 Parsons Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, received a score of 28 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 3, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest of the three public letter grades assigned under the city's restaurant inspection program. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 6, 2026.

The inspection identified two critical violations and one non-critical violation across food handling, employee conduct, and facility maintenance categories.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two critical violations during the April visit.

The first critical violation, cited under Code 06C, found that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, or service. Specifically, condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor — a requirement intended to limit the risk of cross-contamination between customers.

The second critical violation, cited under Code 06B, recorded tobacco or electronic cigarette use, or eating or drinking from an open container, in a food preparation, food storage, or dishwashing area. This type of violation is considered critical because personal consumption in these areas introduces direct contamination risk to food and food-contact surfaces.

A non-critical violation was also cited under Code 08A, noting that the establishment was not free of harborage conditions or circumstances conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. While classified as non-critical, pest-conducive conditions are taken seriously by the city and can escalate to critical status if evidence of active infestation is later found.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes food safety standards for all food service establishments. The city uses a points-based scoring system in which each violation carries a set point value — lower scores reflect fewer and less serious violations.

Under the FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's standards, contamination prevention during food storage and handling and the separation of personal activities from food preparation areas are foundational requirements. Critical violations, by definition, are those most directly linked to the risk of foodborne illness if left uncorrected.

Restaurants that score 28 or above during an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within approximately a month. The grade posted in the window reflects the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Inspection History

Avenita Diner's inspection record shows consistent high performance in prior cycles, making the April 2026 result a notable departure:

  • May 19, 2026: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • March 11, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • January 7, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • August 29, 2024: Score 52 (no grade assigned)
  • December 6, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)

The May 2026 follow-up inspection resulted in a score of 12, indicating that the violations identified in April were addressed. The August 2024 score of 52 — recorded without a public letter grade — suggests that inspection fell within an initial inspection cycle before a re-inspection determined the final grade.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system provides a straightforward summary of inspection results for the public:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — meets or exceeds food safety standards
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — some violations identified
  • C: Score of 28 or more points — multiple or more serious violations documented

Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant entrance. When a restaurant receives a grade below A on an initial inspection, DOHMH schedules a follow-up inspection. The restaurant may choose to post the grade from either the initial or the re-inspection.

Consumers can review the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant, including violation details and scores, through the DOHMH's public search tool at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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