Queens, NY — Bel Aire Diner, a Greek restaurant located at 31-91 21st Street in Astoria, received a score of 68 and a Grade C during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 31, 2026. Inspection data was made public by DOHMH on April 6, 2026. A subsequent inspection on May 15, 2026 found the restaurant had improved significantly, recording a score of 13 and a Grade A.

What Inspectors Found

During the March inspection, Bel Aire Diner was cited for one non-critical violation under Code 10B, which addresses plumbing and drainage standards. Specifically, inspectors documented that an anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device was not provided where required, or that equipment or flooring was not properly drained. The violation category also encompasses improperly disposed condensation or liquid waste.

No critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

Back-flow prevention devices are required to protect potable water supplies from contamination caused by reverse water pressure. When these devices are absent or non-functional, water from potentially contaminated sources can be drawn back into clean water lines. Proper floor drainage is separately required to prevent pooling liquids that can harbor bacteria or create slip hazards in food preparation and service areas.

Food Safety Context

New York City restaurants are inspected under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes food safety standards for all permitted food service establishments. The city's inspection program is designed to identify and correct conditions that pose a risk to public health.

Inspections assign point values to each documented violation. Non-critical violations, such as the Code 10B plumbing issue identified at Bel Aire Diner, address conditions that are less likely to directly cause foodborne illness but nonetheless indicate departures from required standards. The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's regulatory framework, requires that plumbing systems in food establishments be installed and maintained to prevent contamination of food, equipment, and water supplies.

A score of 68 places an establishment well above the Grade C threshold and indicates that multiple point values were assessed against the single documented violation category, or that the scoring reflects the severity classification applied to the condition as found by the inspector.

Inspection History

Bel Aire Diner has a mixed inspection record over the past several years. The establishment was closed by DOHMH following an October 2022 inspection in which it recorded a score of 89, one of the highest in its recent history. It subsequently passed a re-inspection and resumed operations. The restaurant's record since that closure has shown general improvement, with two consecutive Grade A results in late 2024 and again in May 2026.

Full inspection history on record:

  • May 15, 2026: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • March 31, 2026: Score 68 (Grade C)
  • December 6, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 24, 2024: Score 31
  • February 27, 2023: Score 37 (Grade C)
  • February 16, 2023: Score 23
  • October 7, 2022: Score 18 (Grade P — re-inspection)
  • October 5, 2022: Score 89, closed by DOHMH
  • March 11, 2022: Score 0 (Grade A)
  • January 3, 2022: Score 10

The May 2026 Grade A result, recorded approximately six weeks after the March inspection, indicates that the conditions identified in March were addressed prior to or during the follow-up inspection cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City posts letter grades in restaurant windows to inform diners of inspection results. The grading system is based on the total point score assigned during an inspection:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — indicates a high level of compliance with food safety standards
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — indicates some violations were identified
  • C: Score of 28 points or higher — indicates more significant departures from required standards

Restaurants that receive a grade lower than A may request a second inspection before their grade is posted publicly. Grades must be displayed in a window visible to passersby.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov. Diners can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review full violation histories and inspection scores before visiting an establishment.

More About This Restaurant

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