Manhattan, NY — Cafe Bloom, a coffee and tea establishment at 4394 Broadway in Washington Heights, received a score of 40 during a health inspection conducted on February 27, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented evidence of mice in the establishment, a critical violation that marked a significant departure from the restaurant's previously clean record.

The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 27 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Cafe Bloom for one critical violation:

  • Evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas (Violation Code 04L)

This violation indicates that inspectors observed signs of mouse activity within the premises. Evidence can include droppings, gnaw marks, tracks, nesting materials, or sightings of live mice. The presence of rodents in any area of a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation because mice can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas with pathogens that pose a direct risk to public health.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments must maintain conditions that prevent the presence of pests, including rodents and insects. The code requires that establishments be constructed, maintained, and operated in a manner that prevents pest entry and harborage.

The FDA Food Code similarly classifies the presence of rodents in food establishments as a priority violation. Mice can carry bacteria such as Salmonella and Hantavirus, and their droppings and urine can contaminate surfaces and food products. For a coffee and tea establishment, areas of particular concern include storage spaces for dry goods, sugar, and other ingredients that may attract rodent activity.

A score of 40 places Cafe Bloom well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity, and critical violations related to pest activity carry among the highest point values in the DOHMH scoring system.

Inspection History

Cafe Bloom's February 2026 inspection results represent a notable change from the establishment's prior record. The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores in its two most recent inspections:

  • November 7, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • April 24, 2023: Score 9 (Grade A)

The jump from a score of 13 to a score of 40 is a significant increase. The previous inspections showed the establishment operating with minimal violations and well within Grade A parameters. The current score of 40 is more than three times the restaurant's most recent prior score.

Establishments that receive a Grade C are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score. The posted grade reflects the better result between the initial inspection and any subsequent re-inspection within the cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer and less severe violations. Critical violations, such as evidence of pest activity, carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations.

Restaurants are required to post their most recent grade in a location visible to the public. Consumers can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including specific violations cited, through the DOHMH online database or the NYC Open Data portal.

The inspection data referenced in this article is based on public records made available by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Inspection results reflect conditions observed at the time of the inspection and may not represent current conditions at the establishment. Restaurants may have already addressed cited violations following their inspection.

More About This Restaurant

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