Manhattan, NY — Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe, located at 3524 Broadway in the Hamilton Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, received a score of 39 during a health inspection conducted on January 13, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026. The score places the juice and smoothie establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest grade in New York City's restaurant grading system.
The inspection resulted in violations being cited, though no closure order was issued. The restaurant, which specializes in juice, smoothies, and fruit salads, remains open for business.
What Inspectors Found
During the January inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the Broadway location:
- Toilet facility not maintained or provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle or self-closing door (Violation Code 10A)
This violation falls under facility maintenance standards and relates to the condition of restroom facilities available to staff and customers. While categorized as a non-critical violation, it contributed to the restaurant's overall inspection score.
It is worth noting that the score of 39 is notably high for a single non-critical violation. NYC inspection scores are cumulative, and each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and the conditions observed. The point total suggests that the specific conditions documented during the inspection were assessed at the higher end of the scoring range for this violation category.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation and safety standards for all food service establishments. The program is one of the most comprehensive municipal food safety systems in the United States and aligns with guidelines established by the FDA Food Code.
Restroom maintenance violations, while not directly related to food preparation, are considered indicators of an establishment's overall commitment to sanitation and hygiene. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that toilet facilities in food establishments be properly maintained, adequately supplied, and equipped with self-closing doors to prevent contamination of food preparation and service areas.
The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of the city's approximately 27,000 restaurants at least once per inspection cycle. Inspectors evaluate establishments across multiple categories including food temperature control, personal hygiene practices, pest activity, and facility maintenance.
Inspection History
This is the first inspection record available for Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe in the DOHMH public dataset. No prior inspection history was found, which may indicate the establishment is relatively new or that earlier records are not included in the current dataset.
Without prior inspection data, it is not possible to identify trends in the restaurant's compliance history. Future inspections will provide additional context about whether this score reflects an isolated occurrence or an ongoing pattern.
Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to improve their score and potentially earn a higher grade.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total points accumulated during health inspections. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 39 falls within the Grade C range. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection opportunity. The restaurant's final grade is determined by the better score between the initial inspection and the re-inspection.
Grade cards must be prominently displayed at the restaurant's entrance, allowing customers to make informed decisions. The grading system, introduced in 2010, has been credited with improving overall restaurant hygiene standards across the city.
Consumers can verify any restaurant's inspection history and current grade through the DOHMH website or by searching the NYC Open Data portal. The inspection data referenced in this article was made publicly available on March 9, 2026, approximately eight weeks after the inspection was conducted on January 13, 2026.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Bora Bora Smoothie Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.