Staten Island, NY — Blue, a Mediterranean restaurant located at 1115 Richmond Terrace in Staten Island, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 17, 2026. The restaurant recorded a score of 22, placing it in the upper portion of the Grade B range and within five points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 19, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March visit. The violation, classified under Code 02G, pertains to temperature control for safety (TCS) foods: cold TCS food items were found held above 41°F. This category of violation also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures, except during active necessary preparation.

No non-critical violations were recorded during the same inspection cycle.

Temperature control violations are among the most commonly cited and consequential findings in restaurant inspections. Improper cold-holding temperatures allow bacterial pathogens to multiply at rates that can pose health risks to consumers.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and standards aligned with the FDA Food Code, food service establishments are required to maintain cold TCS foods at or below 41°F to limit the growth of harmful microorganisms including Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli. These organisms can proliferate rapidly when food temperatures rise into what regulators refer to as the "danger zone" — between 41°F and 135°F.

Critical violations are those the DOHMH has determined to pose a direct risk to public health. A single critical violation can add a significant number of points to an inspection score. Blue's score of 22 reflects the weight assigned to the Code 02G finding.

Inspection History

Blue's inspection record prior to the March 2026 visit shows a consistent history of Grade A performance:

  • November 19, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 13, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • May 17, 2022: Score 13 (Grade A)

The restaurant had maintained scores at or below 13 across its three most recent prior inspections, each resulting in a Grade A. The March 2026 score of 22 represents a notable increase from that recent baseline.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system for restaurants is based on the total number of points assessed during an inspection:

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

A score of 22 falls within the Grade B range but is closer to the upper boundary. Restaurants scoring in this range are typically required to correct cited violations and may be subject to a follow-up inspection.

Consumers can review the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's public database at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are updated regularly as new data is released.

More About This Restaurant

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