Manhattan, NY — Baodega, a Chinese restaurant located at 7 West 20th Street in Manhattan's Flatiron neighborhood, received a score of 51 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 31, 2026. That score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, which covers scores of 28 points or higher. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 2, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March 31 visit. The cited violation, recorded under Code 02G, pertains to cold temperature control for safety (TCS) foods held above required limits. Under this code, cold TCS food items must be maintained at or below 41°F, smoked or processed fish at or below 38°F, intact raw eggs at or below 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods at their specified required temperatures — except during active, necessary preparation.
No non-critical violations were identified during the same visit.
Cold holding failures are among the more serious categories of food safety violations because temperature abuse in refrigerated foods can allow pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium perfringens to multiply to unsafe levels. The single violation nonetheless resulted in a score of 51, which reflects the weighted point value assigned to critical violations under DOHMH's scoring methodology.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the standards restaurants must meet regarding food temperature control, sanitation, and facility maintenance. Cold holding requirements align closely with guidance set out in the FDA Food Code, which designates the temperature range between 41°F and 135°F as the "temperature danger zone" — conditions under which harmful bacteria can grow rapidly in perishable foods.
Under the DOHMH grading system, restaurants are required to post their letter grade prominently so that consumers can make informed decisions. Inspections are unannounced, and restaurants that do not receive an A grade on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within a set window to determine the grade that will be posted publicly.
A score of 51 on a single critical violation is notably high. DOHMH assigns point values to violations based on their potential public health risk, and critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — carry heavier point weights than general or non-critical violations.
Inspection History
Baodega's prior inspection record reflects a generally strong performance before this most recent visit:
- May 14, 2024: Score 8 (Grade A)
- December 6, 2023: Score 13
- July 26, 2022: Score 13 (Grade A)
The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores in its two most recently graded inspections before March 2026. The jump from a score of 8 in May 2024 to 51 in March 2026 represents a significant change in inspection outcome. It is not uncommon for restaurants to experience variation between inspection cycles; a single cycle result does not necessarily reflect persistent conditions.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH uses a points-based system to assign letter grades following each inspection cycle. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- A: 0 to 13 points
- B: 14 to 27 points
- C: 28 points or more
Restaurants receiving a B or C on their initial inspection may request a re-inspection or an administrative hearing. The grade posted at the restaurant reflects the outcome of the full inspection cycle, not necessarily the initial visit alone.
Consumers can view full inspection records, including violation details and historical scores, through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database available at the NYC Open Data portal. The data released publicly includes violation codes, inspection dates, scores, and grade assignments, and is updated on a rolling basis as new inspections are completed.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Baodega including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.