Manhattan, NY — Chez Nick, an American restaurant located at 1737 York Avenue in Manhattan, received a score of 22 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 18, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the Grade B range, which spans 14 to 27 points, and sits within 6 points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was publicly released by DOHMH on March 20, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit:

  • Code 04A: A Food Protection Certificate (FPC) was not held by a manager or supervisor of food operations at the time of inspection.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, at least one manager or supervisor on duty during food service operations is required to hold a valid Food Protection Certificate. The FPC, issued by DOHMH, certifies that a food service supervisor has completed a food safety training course. The absence of a certified supervisor is classified as a critical violation because it indicates a gap in oversight of safe food handling practices.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The Food Protection Certificate requirement is designed to ensure that someone with documented food safety training is present and responsible during food service operations. The FDA Food Code similarly emphasizes the role of a certified Person in Charge (PIC) as a foundational element of safe food handling in commercial establishments.

A score of 22 is on the higher end of the Grade B range. While the restaurant retains a passing grade, a score at this level leaves limited room before crossing into Grade C territory, which begins at 28 points. DOHMH grades are required to be posted prominently at restaurant entrances, allowing diners to review inspection outcomes before entering.

Inspection History

Chez Nick's recent inspection record shows some variability in scores:

  • August 15, 2022: Score 23 (Grade B)
  • August 4, 2022: Score 36 (ungraded reinspection cycle)
  • March 16, 2020: Score 10 (Grade A)

The August 2022 cycle is consistent with a pattern in which an initial inspection triggers a follow-up. The restaurant previously achieved a Grade A in March 2020, indicating it has met higher compliance standards in the past. The current score of 22 mirrors its last graded result from 2022.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

NYC DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores under the following scale:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points (posted immediately)
  • Grade B: 14–27 points (restaurant may request re-inspection before grade is posted)
  • Grade C**: 28 or more points

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are typically offered a reinspection opportunity before the grade is officially posted. The grade displayed reflects the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Consumers can view the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov.

More About This Restaurant

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