Manhattan, NY — Carmela, a coffee and tea shop located at 10 5th Avenue in Manhattan, received an inspection score of 55 following a Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on February 2, 2026. The score places the establishment in the Grade C category, which applies to restaurants scoring 28 or more points. Inspection data was released by the DOHMH on February 23, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented 11 violations during the February inspection, five of which were classified as critical. Among the most significant findings was evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas, recorded under Code 04K. Rat presence in a food service facility represents a direct public health concern under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, as rodents can contaminate food, surfaces, and equipment.

Inspectors also cited the establishment under Code 06G, noting that a HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan had not been approved by the Department, or that an approved plan was not being maintained on the premises. This violation was recorded twice. A HACCP plan is a federally recognized food safety management system required for certain food operations, particularly those using reduced oxygen packaging (ROP) techniques.

Additional critical violations included:

  • Code 06C: Food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, or display. Condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
  • Code 06D: Food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities where contamination may have occurred.

Non-critical violations documented during the inspection included:

  • Code 28-04 (cited four times): Equipment used for reduced oxygen packaging was not approved by the Department.
  • Code 10B: Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required, or liquid waste was not properly disposed of.
  • Code 08A: The establishment was not free of harborage conditions or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests.

The repeated citation of Code 28-04 and the presence of both Code 04K and Code 08A suggest inspectors identified conditions related to both active rodent activity and the physical environment that may support pest harborage.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain sanitary conditions, protect food from contamination, and implement approved food safety plans where applicable. The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's health regulations, designates certain violations as critical because they are directly linked to conditions that can cause foodborne illness.

Evidence of rodents is among the most serious findings an inspector can record. Rats can carry pathogens including Salmonella and Leptospira, and their presence near food or food-contact surfaces creates conditions for contamination that cannot be resolved through routine cleaning alone. Structural remediation and pest management intervention are typically required before such findings can be corrected.

HACCP plans are required for establishments using processes such as reduced oxygen packaging, which can create anaerobic environments favorable to certain bacterial growth if not properly controlled. The simultaneous citation for unapproved ROP equipment and an absent or unapproved HACCP plan indicates this area of food safety compliance was not in order at the time of inspection.

Inspection History

Carmela's available inspection record includes:

  • February 2, 2026: Score 55 (Grade C), 5 critical violations and 6 non-critical violations cited
  • March 26, 2026: Score 24 (Grade Z)

The March 2026 inspection, which occurred after the February inspection and produced a lower score of 24, reflects a Grade Z designation. Grade Z is typically assigned when an establishment is undergoing re-inspection or when a grade is pending, and it does not represent a final posted letter grade.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the total point score assessed during an unannounced inspection. Grades are determined as follows:

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

Each violation is assigned a point value based on its severity. Critical violations generally carry higher point values than non-critical violations. Establishments that receive a score of 14 or higher during an initial inspection are re-inspected, typically within one to two months. The grade posted at the establishment may reflect the most recent scored inspection or a grade pending determination.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH's Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov. Consumers can search any establishment by name or address to review current and historical inspection data.

More About This Restaurant

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