Manhattan, NY — Bluestone Lane, an Australian café located at 435 West 31st Street, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 10, 2026. The restaurant scored 23 points, placing it near the upper boundary of the B range and just five points below the threshold at which a Grade C is assigned. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 19, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit. The violation, classified under Code 02G, involved cold temperature control for safety (TCS) food items held above the required 41°F threshold. No non-critical violations were recorded.
Improper cold holding temperatures are among the most commonly cited critical violations in New York City restaurant inspections. When perishable foods are stored above required temperatures, conditions can allow for the growth of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, operators are required to maintain cold TCS foods at or below 41°F at all times, except during active and necessary preparation. Reduced oxygen packaged foods and smoked or processed fish carry even stricter temperature requirements.
Critical violations are defined by DOHMH as those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness. A single critical violation can significantly affect an establishment's overall score, and a score of 23 places Bluestone Lane within the upper quarter of the Grade B band, which spans 14 to 27 points.
Inspection History
Bluestone Lane's recent inspection record shows variability in scores over the past several years:
- November 15, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- January 3, 2024: Score 15
- November 29, 2022: Score 5 (Grade A)
- June 27, 2022: Score 29
The restaurant's most recent prior inspection in November 2024 resulted in a Grade A with a score of 12, well within compliant range. The June 2022 inspection produced a score of 29, which falls in Grade C territory, indicating that higher scores are not without precedent at this location. The current score of 23 represents a decline from the Grade A performance recorded roughly 16 months prior.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the total number of points assigned during an inspection, with higher scores reflecting more or more severe violations:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that do not receive an A on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is posted publicly. If a grade card is not displayed, the establishment may be in the adjudication or re-inspection process.
Consumers can view full inspection histories, violation details, and current grades for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at nyc.gov.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Bluestone Lane including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.