Queens, NY — Catherine Bakery, located at 22-30 College Point Boulevard in the College Point neighborhood of Queens, received a score of 31 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The score places the bakery in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade in the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 4, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation at the bakery:
Food contact surfaces were found not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. This violation is classified under DOHMH Code 06D and is considered critical because food contact surfaces — including preparation tables, utensils, cutting boards, and equipment — that are not adequately sanitized between uses can harbor harmful bacteria and facilitate cross-contamination.
No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection. The single critical violation alone accounted for the establishment's score of 31, which exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. According to DOHMH records, violations were cited and the establishment was permitted to continue operating.
Food Safety Context
Proper sanitation of food contact surfaces is a fundamental requirement under both the NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. These regulations mandate that all surfaces that come into direct contact with food must be cleaned and sanitized between uses, between handling different food items, and whenever contamination may have occurred.
The FDA Food Code specifies that food contact surfaces should be washed with detergent, rinsed with clean water, and sanitized using an approved chemical solution or hot water at the appropriate temperature. This three-step process is designed to eliminate bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria that can cause foodborne illness.
For a bakery operation, food contact surfaces include mixing bowls, baking sheets, countertops, rolling pins, and any other equipment that directly contacts ingredients or finished products. Failure to maintain proper sanitation of these surfaces poses a risk of bacterial contamination to baked goods and other food items served to customers.
Inspection History
A review of DOHMH records shows Catherine Bakery has had a mixed inspection history over the past two years:
- May 12, 2025: Score not recorded in public data
- December 3, 2024: Score 3, indicating minimal violations
- September 26, 2024: Score 30 (Grade Z, indicating a grade pending adjudication)
- September 13, 2024: Score 38
The pattern indicates the bakery has experienced significant fluctuation in its inspection outcomes. The December 2024 inspection showed strong compliance with a score of just 3 points, but the establishment has also recorded scores of 30 and 38 in fall 2024, both exceeding the Grade C threshold. The current score of 31 represents a return to the higher violation levels documented in prior inspections after the improved December 2024 result.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total points accumulated during an inspection. Points are assigned for each violation found, with critical violations carrying higher point values:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer and less severe violations. A Grade C score of 31, such as the one recorded at Catherine Bakery, indicates that significant violations were identified during the inspection. Restaurants receiving a Grade C have the option to request an adjudicatory hearing to contest the grade.
All New York City restaurant inspection results are public record and can be accessed through the DOHMH website and the NYC Open Data portal. Consumers can search inspection histories for any restaurant in the five boroughs. Current grade cards are required to be posted at the entrance of each establishment.
For more information about restaurant inspection scores and food safety in New York City, residents can visit the DOHMH website or call 311.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Catherine Bakery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.