Manhattan, NY — Blaze Bbq & Hibachi, an Asian fusion restaurant at 109 Eldridge Street on the Lower East Side, received a Grade C score of 41 following a New York City health inspection conducted on February 10, 2026. Inspectors documented one critical violation: the absence of a certified food manager or supervisor on the premises.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection identified a single but significant violation. No manager or supervisor of food operations at the restaurant held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC), a credential required by the City of New York for all food service establishments.

The violation, coded as 04A under the city's inspection framework, is classified as critical. Under NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) guidelines, a critical violation is one that directly contributes to foodborne illness or increases the risk of food contamination.

The Food Protection Certificate requirement exists to ensure that at least one person in a supervisory role at every food establishment has completed an approved food safety training course and passed a corresponding examination. The certificate holder is responsible for overseeing safe food handling, storage, preparation, and serving practices throughout the operation.

Despite only one violation being recorded, the restaurant's score of 41 placed it well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C, the lowest letter grade assigned under the city's restaurant grading system. No non-critical violations were cited during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that every food service establishment designate at least one supervisory employee who holds a valid Food Protection Certificate issued by the DOHMH. This requirement aligns with the FDA Food Code, which recommends that food establishments employ a certified food protection manager to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.

The FPC requirement is not merely administrative. Research published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has consistently found that restaurants with certified food managers are less likely to have critical food safety violations. The certificate covers essential topics including proper food temperatures, cross-contamination prevention, personal hygiene requirements, and allergen management.

When no certified manager is present, there is no assurance that staff are following established food safety protocols, which can increase the likelihood of improper food handling, inadequate cooking temperatures, or cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods.

Inspection History

The February 2026 inspection was not the first time Blaze Bbq & Hibachi received a low score. The restaurant's prior inspection record includes:

  • December 9, 2025: Score of 63, Grade N (grade pending adjudication)

A Grade N designation indicates that the restaurant's grade was pending at the time, typically meaning the establishment had requested an adjudicatory hearing to contest inspection findings or was awaiting a re-inspection. The December 2025 score of 63 was notably higher than the February 2026 score of 41, though both results exceeded the Grade C threshold.

The pattern of consecutive inspections resulting in scores above 28 points suggests ongoing compliance challenges at the establishment. DOHMH data for this restaurant was released publicly on February 12, 2026, two days after the inspection was conducted.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:

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

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection or an adjudicatory hearing. Grade cards must be posted in a conspicuous location near the entrance of the establishment, allowing diners to make informed decisions.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly available online. The database includes violation details, scores, and grades for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

For questions about food safety or to report a concern, residents can contact 311 or visit the NYC DOHMH website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Blaze Bbq & Hibachi including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.