Manhattan, NY — Cosmic Cat Cafe, a coffee and tea establishment at 170 East 2nd Street in Manhattan's East Village, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene following a February 9, 2026 inspection that resulted in a score of 71 points. Inspectors documented two critical and two non-critical violations at the location before ordering the immediate closure.
The score of 71 places the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system. An establishment receiving a score in this range during an initial inspection is subject to a Grade Pending designation and re-inspection, though in this case, the severity of conditions led inspectors to order the cafe closed.
What Inspectors Found
The two critical violations cited during the inspection involved fundamental food safety controls related to hand hygiene and surface sanitation.
Inspectors documented that no hand washing facility was available in or adjacent to the toilet room or within 25 feet of food preparation, food service, or ware washing areas. The citation further noted that hand washing facilities were not accessible, were obstructed, or were being used for non-hand washing purposes. Additionally, inspectors recorded issues with the availability of hot and cold running water, adequate water pressure, soap, or acceptable hand-drying devices. Hand washing access is considered one of the most basic requirements for preventing the transmission of foodborne illness in food service settings.
The second critical violation involved food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Improperly sanitized food contact surfaces can serve as vectors for bacterial contamination, including pathogens such as E. coli, Salmonella, and Listeria.
Two non-critical violations were also recorded. Inspectors cited a nuisance condition at the facility, noting it was not free from unsafe, hazardous, offensive, or annoying conditions. A separate citation documented that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit.
Food Safety Context
The violations documented at Cosmic Cat Cafe relate to requirements established under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments in the city, and align with standards set forth in the FDA Food Code.
Hand washing requirements are among the most emphasized provisions in food safety regulation. The FDA Food Code requires that hand washing sinks be conveniently located, accessible, and properly supplied at all times during operation. The absence of accessible hand washing facilities near food preparation areas represents a condition that regulators consider an immediate risk to public health, as hand hygiene is the primary defense against the transfer of pathogens from hands to food.
Similarly, the requirement that food contact surfaces be washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use is a foundational element of food safety management. These surfaces include cutting boards, utensils, countertops, and any equipment that comes into direct contact with food products served to customers.
When the DOHMH determines that conditions at an establishment pose an immediate threat to public health, inspectors have the authority to order an immediate closure. The establishment may reopen after correcting the cited violations and passing a re-inspection.
Inspection History
A review of publicly available DOHMH records shows that Cosmic Cat Cafe has undergone multiple inspections in recent years, with scores that have varied considerably:
- February 9, 2026: Score 71, closed by DOHMH
- December 16, 2025: Score 17
- September 5, 2024: Score 10 (Grade A)
- March 5, 2024: Score 17
- November 3, 2022: Score 7
- October 17, 2022: Score 38 (Grade C)
- September 26, 2022: Score 92
The cafe's most recent Grade A was earned in September 2024 with a score of 10. However, the establishment has experienced significant score fluctuations over the past several years, including a score of 92 in September 2022 and a score of 38 the following month.
The inspection data referenced in this report was collected on February 9, 2026, and released publicly by DOHMH on February 11, 2026.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the following scale:
- A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer violation points and better compliance with health code requirements. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection and have the opportunity to improve their score before a final grade is posted.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly accessible database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the establishment's entrance. Additional information about the city's restaurant grading system is available on the NYC Department of Health website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Cosmic Cat Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.