Manhattan, NY — Avoca, located at 1678 1st Avenue in the Yorkville neighborhood of Manhattan, received a score of 28 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 18, 2026. A score of 28 places the restaurant in the Grade C range under New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 20, 2026.
The inspection documented two non-critical violations. No critical violations were recorded during this visit.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors identified two violations during the March 2026 inspection, both classified as non-critical under the city's scoring system.
The first violation, cited under Code 10F, noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This type of violation typically relates to shelving, equipment exteriors, or similar surfaces that, while not in direct contact with food, can contribute to unsanitary conditions if not properly maintained.
The second violation, cited under Code 28-01, recorded that a nuisance was created or allowed to exist, with the facility found not to be free from unsafe, hazardous, offensive, or annoying conditions. This code addresses general facility conditions that may pose a risk to public health or comfort.
Food Safety Context
New York City restaurant inspections are conducted under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes standards for food service establishments operating within the five boroughs. Inspections are unannounced and carried out by DOHMH environmental health inspectors trained to identify violations across a range of categories, from food handling and temperature control to facility maintenance and pest management.
The FDA Food Code, which informs many of the standards codified in Article 81, distinguishes between critical violations — those that pose a direct risk of foodborne illness — and non-critical violations, which relate to conditions that could become hazardous if left unaddressed. In this inspection, both violations were classified as non-critical, meaning inspectors did not identify conditions deemed an immediate threat to food safety.
Nonetheless, a cumulative score of 28 points is sufficient to result in a Grade C posting, which restaurants are required to display prominently at their entrance under city regulations. Establishments that receive a score in the Grade C range may request a re-inspection or contest the grade through an administrative hearing process.
Inspection History
Avoca has been inspected multiple times in recent years. The restaurant's prior inspection record is as follows:
- April 2, 2025: Score 24 (Grade B)
- April 11, 2024: Score 28
- October 4, 2022: Score 24
The most recent inspection marks a return to the Grade C threshold after the establishment scored in the Grade B range in April 2025. The April 2024 inspection also produced a score of 28, consistent with the current result. Both the 2022 and 2025 inspections resulted in scores of 24, placing the restaurant in the Grade B range at those points in time.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a letter grading system to communicate inspection results to the public. Grades are based on the total number of points assessed during an inspection, with higher scores indicating more or more severe violations. The grading scale is as follows:
- Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 points or more
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on their initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, at which point they may receive a letter grade or be placed in a grade pending status while an adjudication process is completed.
Consumers can review the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's online Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. The database is updated regularly as new inspection data is processed and released.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Avoca including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.