Queens, NY — Cantina La 87, a Latin American restaurant located at 87-01 Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights, received a Grade B with a score of 26 points during a New York City health inspection conducted on December 6, 2025. The score places the restaurant at the upper boundary of the Grade B range, just one point below the 28-point threshold that triggers a Grade C designation.
The inspection identified one non-critical violation related to the restaurant's ventilation system. No critical violations were documented during the visit.
What Inspectors Found
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspectors cited Cantina La 87 for a single non-critical violation under code 10D, which addresses ventilation requirements. Specifically, the violation noted that mechanical or natural ventilation was not adequately provided, was improperly installed, was in disrepair, or failed to prevent and control excessive buildup of grease, heat, steam condensation, vapors, odors, smoke, or fumes.
While ventilation violations are classified as non-critical, they carry significant point values under the city's scoring system. A single ventilation deficiency contributed the entirety of the restaurant's 26-point score, illustrating how individual violations in certain categories can substantially affect a restaurant's overall grade even without the presence of critical food safety issues.
The absence of critical violations means inspectors did not document issues related to food temperature control, pest activity, food contamination, or other conditions that pose an immediate risk to public health during this inspection cycle.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments in the city, including requirements for adequate ventilation systems. Proper ventilation in commercial kitchens serves multiple purposes: it removes airborne grease particles that can accumulate on surfaces and create fire hazards, controls heat levels that could affect food storage temperatures, and prevents moisture buildup that can promote bacterial growth and structural deterioration.
The FDA Food Code similarly emphasizes the importance of ventilation in food preparation areas, noting that adequate airflow is necessary to minimize condensation and the potential for contamination of food and food-contact surfaces.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Cantina La 87 in the DOHMH public database. This may indicate the restaurant is a relatively new establishment or that it is operating under a recently registered permit.
It should be noted that the inspection data for this visit was released by DOHMH on March 6, 2026, approximately three months after the inspection was conducted on December 6, 2025. Current conditions at the restaurant may differ from what was documented during the inspection.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on total violation points accumulated during an inspection:
- A: 0–13 points — Minimal violations documented
- B: 14–27 points — Moderate violations documented
- C: 28 or more points — Significant violations documented
Cantina La 87's score of 26 falls within the Grade B range but sits near the upper limit. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score.
Consumers can verify any restaurant's current inspection results through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the establishment's entrance, as required by city regulation.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Cantina La 87 including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.