Manhattan, NY — Chahalo, a coffee and tea establishment at 23 Saint Marks Place in Manhattan's East Village, received a score of 86 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 4, 2026. The score places the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating, with inspectors documenting two critical violations and no non-critical violations.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified two critical violations during the inspection of the Saint Marks Place location.

The first critical violation, cited under code 06D, documented that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Food contact surfaces include any equipment, utensils, or surfaces that come into direct contact with food or beverages during preparation and service. In a coffee and tea establishment, this can include espresso machine components, blender pitchers, preparation counters, and serving equipment.

The second critical violation, cited under code 04A, noted that a Food Protection Certificate (FPC) was not held by a manager or supervisor of food operations. New York City requires that every food service establishment have at least one supervisory employee on-site who holds a valid Food Protection Certificate, which demonstrates completion of an accredited food safety training course.

Food Safety Context

Both violations cited during the inspection relate to foundational food safety requirements established under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code.

Proper washing, rinsing, and sanitizing of food contact surfaces is a core requirement designed to prevent cross-contamination and the transmission of foodborne illness. The FDA Food Code specifies that food contact surfaces must be cleaned after each use, between handling different types of food, and at minimum every four hours during continuous use. Failure to maintain sanitized surfaces can create conditions where harmful bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella, may be transferred to food and beverages served to customers.

The Food Protection Certificate requirement ensures that at least one person in a supervisory role at every food service establishment has formal training in safe food handling practices, temperature control, allergen awareness, and contamination prevention. This requirement exists so that trained personnel are available during all hours of operation to oversee food safety compliance and respond to potential hazards.

A score of 86 represents a significant accumulation of violation points. Under the NYC restaurant grading system, lower scores indicate better compliance, with each violation assigned a point value based on its severity and the specific conditions observed.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Chahalo in the DOHMH public database. This may indicate that the March 4, 2026, inspection was the establishment's initial inspection, or that previous records are not reflected in the current dataset.

Establishments receiving an initial inspection score of 28 or above are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, during which the restaurant has the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:

  • A: 0-13 points — The establishment is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations.
  • B: 14-27 points — Some violations were identified, but the establishment meets minimum standards.
  • C: 28 or more points — Significant violations were documented, indicating the need for corrective action.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within a set timeframe. The restaurant may post either the letter grade from the initial inspection or a "Grade Pending" card until the re-inspection is completed. The final posted grade reflects the better score between the initial and re-inspection cycles.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database or by visiting NYCRestaurantInspections.com. Inspection scores and violation details are public record and are updated as new data becomes available from the city.

More About This Restaurant

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