Manhattan, NY — Black Seed Bagels, located at 225 Liberty Street in Lower Manhattan's Brookfield Place, received a Grade B score of 22 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The score represents a notable decline from the restaurant's recent record of consistent Grade A results.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 2 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one non-critical violation at the Bagels/Pretzels establishment:

  • Code 10E: An accurate thermometer was not provided or was not properly located in refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment.

While only one violation was formally documented, the score of 22 places the restaurant near the upper boundary of the Grade B range (14–27 points). The scoring reflects the cumulative weight assigned to each violation category under the DOHMH inspection framework, where individual violations carry predetermined point values based on their potential impact on food safety.

No critical violations were identified during the inspection, and no closure or enforcement action was taken. The action recorded was that violations were cited in the noted area.

Food Safety Context

Proper thermometer placement in refrigeration and hot holding equipment is a requirement under NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligns with FDA Food Code guidelines for temperature monitoring. Accurate thermometers allow kitchen staff to verify that food is stored at safe temperatures — below 41°F for cold storage and above 140°F for hot holding — reducing the risk of bacterial growth that can lead to foodborne illness.

While classified as a non-critical violation, improper or absent thermometers can contribute to conditions where temperature abuse goes undetected, making consistent monitoring an important component of food safety management.

Inspection History

The Grade B result marks a departure from Black Seed Bagels' recent inspection performance at this location. Prior inspection records show:

  • 2024-10-11: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • 2023-06-06: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • 2022-06-13: Score 4 (Grade A)
  • 2022-05-13: Score 30

The restaurant had earned three consecutive Grade A scores dating back to June 2022, with its most recent prior inspection in October 2024 resulting in a score of 10. The current score of 22 represents a 12-point increase from that inspection. Notably, the location did receive a score of 30 in May 2022, which would have placed it in the Grade C range, before achieving a Grade A score just one month later.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH grading system:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. A Grade B score of 22 falls in the upper portion of the B range, five points from the Grade C threshold of 28. Restaurants receiving a B or C grade on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection to attempt a better score.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Grade cards are required to be posted at the restaurant entrance.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Black Seed Bagels including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.