Manhattan, NY — Catalyst Market Bar, an American restaurant at 88 Essex Street in Manhattan's Lower East Side, received a Grade B with a score of 22 points during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the upper range of the Grade B category, just six points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one non-critical violation at the establishment:

  • Code 10G: Dishwashing and ware washing deficiencies — specifically, the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment, was found to be deficient.

No critical violations were documented during this inspection. While the single non-critical violation may appear minor in isolation, the resulting score of 22 points indicates the deficiency was assessed as significant under the city's weighted scoring system, where more points correspond to more serious or widespread conditions.

A score of 22 places Catalyst Market Bar in the upper portion of the Grade B range (14–27 points), meaning the restaurant is closer to Grade C territory than to the Grade A standard that most New York City restaurants achieve.

Food Safety Context

Proper dishwashing and ware washing procedures are a foundational element of food safety operations. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that all food contact surfaces, utensils, and equipment be properly cleaned and sanitized to prevent cross-contamination and the potential spread of foodborne illness.

The FDA Food Code similarly establishes standards for manual and mechanical warewashing, including proper water temperature, sanitizer concentration, and cleaning procedures. Deficiencies in these areas can allow harmful bacteria to persist on surfaces that come into direct contact with food served to customers.

While this violation is classified as non-critical, ware washing deficiencies can contribute to conditions that elevate food safety risk if not corrected promptly.

Inspection History

This is the first inspection record available for Catalyst Market Bar in the DOHMH public dataset. No prior inspection history was found, which may indicate the restaurant is a relatively new establishment or recently began operations under this name.

Future inspections will establish a track record that consumers can use to evaluate the restaurant's ongoing compliance with health and safety standards.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points documented during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less serious violations:

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

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection or contest the grade through an administrative hearing at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant entrance.

Consumers can review inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database or by visiting [NYCRestaurantInspections.com](https://nycrestaurantinspections.com) for accessible inspection reports and history.

More About This Restaurant

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