Staten Island, NY — Charcoal Gardenia, a Middle Eastern restaurant at 432 Manor Road, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 24, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 42, placing the establishment in the lowest publicly visible grade category. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 31, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited three violations during the March inspection, including one classified as critical under New York City Health Code Article 81.

The critical violation — Code 06C — documented that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, condiments were not stored in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, creating a risk of cross-contamination from customer handling.

Two non-critical violations were also recorded:

  • Code 15-21: Flavored tobacco products were found to be sold or offered for sale at the establishment, which is prohibited under applicable regulations.
  • Code 10B: Drainage or liquid waste disposal was found to be improper. This violation covers anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices not provided where required, as well as equipment or floor drainage deficiencies and condensation or liquid waste not properly managed.

No closure order was issued as a result of this inspection. The restaurant remained open following the visit.

Food Safety Context

The critical violation cited at Charcoal Gardenia falls under provisions of NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food protection practices at all permitted food service establishments in New York City. The violation mirrors standards established in the FDA Food Code, which requires that food and food-contact surfaces be protected from contamination at all points during service.

Condiment handling is a specific area of focus in food safety regulation because shared or improperly stored condiments can serve as vectors for cross-contamination, particularly when handled by multiple customers. Single-service containers or direct-dispense systems are the standard mitigation required by regulation.

The drainage-related violation identified under Code 10B is classified as non-critical but carries ongoing relevance: improper liquid waste disposal can contribute to sanitation concerns over time if left unaddressed.

The tobacco products violation reflects a separate area of regulatory compliance, unrelated to food safety, but noted as part of the full inspection record.

Inspection History

Charcoal Gardenia's prior inspection record shows a notable change from its most recent previous visit:

  • April 30, 2025: Score 12 (Grade A)

The restaurant earned a Grade A with a score of 12 during its April 2025 inspection, indicating few violations were identified at that time. The March 2026 inspection reflects a significant increase in the recorded score, from 12 to 42, over the course of approximately eleven months.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system is based on inspection scores assigned during unannounced DOHMH visits. Each violation carries a point value, and the total determines the grade:

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

A lower score reflects fewer or less severe violations. Grades must be posted publicly at the restaurant entrance. Establishments that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review full violation histories and grade records.

More About This Restaurant

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