Manhattan, NY — Buvette, the French bistro located at 42 Grove Street in Manhattan's West Village, received a score of 22 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 19, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade B territory, near the upper end of the range and within six points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 25, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March inspection:

  • Code 02B: Hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food not held at or above 140°F.

This type of violation involves food items that require temperature control to prevent bacterial growth. Hot TCS foods — which include cooked meats, poultry, and other prepared items — must be maintained at or above 140°F during holding and service. When temperatures fall below that threshold, conditions may allow pathogens such as Salmonella or Staphylococcus aureus to proliferate. No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned with the FDA Food Code, food service establishments are required to monitor and maintain safe holding temperatures for all TCS items. Hot food holding requirements are among the most routinely cited categories in city inspections, and a single critical violation in this area can carry significant point weight under DOHMH's scoring methodology.

A score of 22 is within the Grade B range but represents the higher end of that band. DOHMH assigns grades based on cumulative point totals from all violations identified during an inspection. A score approaching 28 would result in a Grade C, which carries additional regulatory scrutiny and public notice requirements.

Inspection History

Buvette's prior inspection record reflects consistent Grade A performance in recent years:

  • 2024-10-22: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • 2023-05-31: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • 2022-04-06: Score 8 (Grade A)

The March 2026 inspection represents a notable departure from that record. Previous inspections produced scores well within the Grade A range, with no inspection in the available history exceeding a score of 12 before this cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following inspections according to the following scale:

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

Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant's entrance. A restaurant that does not receive an A grade on its initial inspection may request a re-inspection, at which point a grade card is issued based on the second result.

Consumers can review current and historical inspection data for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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