Queens, NY — Cj Cafe, a Caribbean restaurant located at 247-12 South Conduit Avenue in Queens, received a Grade C following a health inspection conducted March 23, 2026, according to records released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 25, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 48, placing it in the Grade C range under the city's restaurant grading system.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited one violation during the March 23 visit:

  • Code 08A (Non-Critical): The establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests.

Code 08A is among the most common violations documented in New York City restaurant inspections. It does not require evidence of active infestation — rather, it identifies structural or environmental conditions that could facilitate pest activity, such as gaps in walls or floors, improper storage of food or waste, or inadequate sealing around utility lines.

No critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain premises free from conditions that could harbor or attract pests. The FDA Food Code similarly requires that facilities be constructed and maintained to prevent pest entry and harborage.

A score of 48 represents a significant accumulation of points from the single violation recorded, which suggests inspectors assessed the harborage conditions as extensive or present in multiple areas of the establishment. DOHMH assigns point values to individual violations based on the nature, scope, and public health risk of each condition observed.

Restaurants that receive a score of 28 or higher on an initial inspection are typically subject to a re-inspection, at which point the final grade is determined or the process for a grading appeal may begin.

Inspection History

Cj Cafe's recent inspection record shows a pattern of passing scores prior to this inspection:

  • 2024-08-08: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • 2023-11-06: Score 21 (no grade posted)
  • 2022-07-07: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • 2022-04-14: Score 26 (no grade posted)

The March 2026 result marks a notable shift from the establishment's August 2024 Grade A. Prior to this inspection, the restaurant had not received a score above 26 in at least four years of available records.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system is determined by the point score assigned during a DOHMH inspection:

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

Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant entrance. Establishments that receive a B or C on an initial inspection are re-inspected; the grade issued following that second visit becomes the official posted grade, or the restaurant may request an administrative tribunal hearing.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH online database. The data used in this report reflects inspection activity through March 23, 2026, as released by DOHMH on March 25, 2026.

Consumers can search inspection histories for any city restaurant at the NYC DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results portal.

More About This Restaurant

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