Manhattan, NY — Chillhouse, a coffee and tea establishment at 75 Varick Street in Manhattan, received a score of 61 during a health inspection conducted on March 4, 2026, placing it well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating. Inspectors documented two critical violations, including the absence of an accessible hand washing facility near food preparation areas.

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

What Inspectors Found

The inspection identified two critical violations at the establishment, both related to fundamental food safety infrastructure.

The first and most significant violation involved hand washing facilities. Inspectors cited the restaurant under violation code 05D for not having a hand washing facility in or adjacent to the toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service, or ware washing area. The citation further noted that hand washing facilities were not accessible, were obstructed, or were being used for non-hand washing purposes. Additionally, the establishment lacked hot and cold running water at adequate pressure, soap, or an acceptable hand-drying device.

Hand washing is considered one of the most fundamental safeguards against foodborne illness transmission. Without properly equipped and accessible hand washing stations, employees cannot maintain the hygiene standards necessary for safe food handling.

The second critical violation was cited under code 04J for failing to provide a properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple that was readily accessible in food preparation and hot or cold holding areas. These devices are essential for measuring temperatures of time and temperature control for safety (TCS) foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding. Without functioning thermometers, staff cannot verify that foods are being maintained at temperatures that prevent bacterial growth.

No non-critical violations were recorded during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Both violations cited at Chillhouse relate to requirements established under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments in New York City, and align with standards outlined in the FDA Food Code.

Hand washing requirements exist because contaminated hands are one of the leading causes of foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings. The FDA Food Code specifies that hand washing sinks must be conveniently located, always accessible, and properly supplied with warm water, soap, and drying devices. NYC Health Code Article 81 mandates that these facilities be within 25 feet of food preparation and service areas.

Temperature monitoring is equally critical. TCS foods held between 41°F and 135°F — known as the temperature danger zone — can support rapid bacterial growth. The FDA Food Code requires that food establishments maintain accurate thermometers to verify that foods are cooked, cooled, reheated, and held at safe temperatures. Without these instruments, there is no reliable way to confirm food safety compliance.

A score of 61 points indicates that inspectors identified conditions requiring significant corrective action. While coffee and tea establishments may handle fewer high-risk foods than full-service restaurants, any establishment serving food or beverages must meet the same baseline safety standards.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Chillhouse at this location in the DOHMH public database. The March 4, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection on file for this establishment.

Following the citation of violations, the DOHMH noted that violations were cited in the listed areas. The establishment may be subject to re-inspection to verify that corrective actions have been taken.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH restaurant grading system:

  • A: 0 to 13 points — The restaurant is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
  • B: 14 to 27 points — The restaurant has some violations requiring correction
  • C: 28 or more points — The restaurant has significant violations that need to be addressed

With a score of 61, Chillhouse falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade C have the option to post the grade or request an adjudicatory hearing to contest the results. A re-inspection is typically scheduled to assess whether violations have been corrected.

Consumers can look up restaurant inspection results for any establishment in New York City through the DOHMH's publicly available restaurant grades database. Inspection records for Chillhouse and all other NYC food service establishments are accessible online and updated as new data becomes available.

More About This Restaurant

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