Manhattan, NY — Barrow Street Ale House, an American restaurant at 15 Barrow Street in Greenwich Village, received a score of 33 during a New York City health inspection conducted on February 11, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The score represents a significant decline from the establishment's prior record of consecutive Grade A ratings.

The inspection results were released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 16, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 11 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited the restaurant for one non-critical violation:

The establishment was found not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests (violation code 08A). This citation indicates that inspectors identified environmental conditions — such as gaps, holes, clutter, or other structural factors — that could attract or harbor pest activity within the premises.

While the violation itself was classified as non-critical, the overall inspection score of 33 placed the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating. Inspection scores in New York City are cumulative, with points assigned based on the nature and severity of each condition documented during the visit. A single violation can carry varying point values depending on the specific conditions observed by inspectors at the time of the assessment.

No critical violations were documented during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation and food safety standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The inspection scoring system assigns point values to violations based on their potential impact on public health, with higher scores indicating more significant concerns.

Pest-related conditions are addressed under multiple provisions of both the NYC Health Code and the FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local food safety regulations nationwide. Maintaining an environment free from pest harborage is considered a foundational element of food safety management, as pests can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas.

Under the city's grading system, restaurants receiving a Grade C are typically scheduled for a re-inspection. Establishments have the option to post their letter grade or a "Grade Pending" sign while they contest the results through the city's administrative tribunal process.

Inspection History

The Grade C score marks a notable departure from the restaurant's recent inspection record:

  • November 6, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • May 19, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)

Both prior inspections resulted in scores of 13, just under the 14-point threshold that separates Grade A from Grade B. The jump from 13 to 33 represents a 20-point increase and a shift from the highest possible grade to the lowest.

It should be noted that a single inspection represents a snapshot of conditions at one point in time. Restaurants routinely fluctuate between scores across inspection cycles, and a Grade C result does not necessarily indicate a persistent pattern of non-compliance.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within a month. The restaurant may post the grade from whichever inspection yields the better result, or display a "Grade Pending" placard while pursuing an adjudication hearing.

All New York City restaurant inspection results are public record and are available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search inspection histories by restaurant name, address, or borough to review detailed findings for any food service establishment in the city.

For more information about restaurant grades and food safety in New York City, residents can visit the DOHMH website or call 311.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Barrow Street Ale House including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.