Manhattan, NY — Bluestone Lane, the café and coffee shop located at 2 East 90th Street on the Upper East Side, received a Grade B score of 26 following a health inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the upper end of the Grade B range, just one point below the 28-point threshold that would trigger a Grade C designation.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors identified one critical violation during the March 2 inspection. The violation, cited under Code 06E, documented that sanitized equipment or utensils, including in-use food dispensing utensils, were improperly used or stored.
This type of violation involves equipment that has undergone the sanitization process but is then handled, stored, or used in a manner that compromises the sanitization. Proper storage and handling of sanitized items is essential to preventing cross-contamination and maintaining food safety standards throughout service.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain equipment and utensils in a sanitary condition and to store them in a manner that prevents contamination. The FDA Food Code further specifies that clean and sanitized equipment must be stored in a clean, dry location and protected from splash, dust, and other sources of contamination.
A score of 26 is notable because it sits at the upper boundary of the Grade B range. While the restaurant retains a B grade, the proximity to Grade C territory — which begins at 28 points — indicates that the establishment was close to a more significant grading outcome. The single critical violation accounted for the bulk of the point total, reflecting the weight DOHMH assigns to critical food safety concerns.
Inspection History
Bluestone Lane's inspection record at this location shows variability in scores over the past several years:
- Nov 25, 2024: Score 7 (Grade A)
- Jun 20, 2024: Score 19
- Jan 27, 2023: Score 13
- Nov 9, 2022: Score 82 (Grade C)
- Mar 28, 2022: Score 26
The March 2026 score of 26 represents a significant increase from the Grade A score of 7 recorded in November 2024. The current result also mirrors the score of 26 recorded in March 2022. The establishment's history includes a Grade C score of 82 in November 2022, which was followed by improved performance in subsequent inspections through 2024.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 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 may request a re-inspection. Grade cards must be posted at the entrance of the establishment.
Consumers can verify any restaurant's inspection history and current grade through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online through the NYC Open Data portal. All inspection results referenced in this report are based on publicly available DOHMH data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Bluestone Lane including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.