Manhattan, NY — Cucina Italian Tavern, located at 331 Lenox Avenue in Harlem, received a score of 21 points during a health inspection conducted on February 25, 2026, placing the restaurant in Grade B territory. Inspectors documented one critical violation and two non-critical violations during the visit.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant finding was a critical violation involving food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activity when contamination may have occurred. This violation, cited under code 06D, addresses a fundamental food safety requirement for preventing cross-contamination and the spread of foodborne pathogens.

Inspectors also documented two non-critical violations:

The first, cited under code 09A, noted that swollen, leaking, rusted, or otherwise damaged canned food intended for return to a distributor had not been segregated from intact product and clearly labeled "DO NOT USE." Damaged canned goods can pose a risk if inadvertently used, as compromised containers may harbor harmful bacteria including Clostridium botulinum.

The second non-critical violation, under code 20-06, found that the restaurant's current letter grade or Grade Pending card was not posted as required.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments to maintain sanitary conditions, with particular emphasis on the proper cleaning and sanitization of surfaces that come into direct contact with food. The FDA Food Code specifies that food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized between uses with different food types and at minimum every four hours during continuous use.

Improper sanitization of food contact surfaces is one of the leading contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks, as identified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The requirement to segregate damaged canned goods from usable inventory is a standard food safety practice designed to prevent accidental use of potentially contaminated products.

Inspection History

Cucina Italian Tavern's recent inspection record shows a pattern of violations across multiple visits:

  • Feb 25, 2026: Score 21 (Grade B range), violations cited
  • Jun 16, 2025: Score 25 (Grade Z)
  • Apr 7, 2025: Score 42

The February 2026 score of 21 represents a numerical improvement from the two prior inspections, though it remains above the Grade A threshold of 13 or fewer points. The June 2025 inspection resulted in a Grade Z designation, which indicates a restaurant is awaiting adjudication at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns restaurant grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:

  • Grade A: 0-13 points
  • Grade B: 14-27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer or less serious violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection, during which they display a "Grade Pending" card.

Consumers can verify any restaurant's inspection history through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the grade card posted at the establishment's entrance. All inspection results referenced in this report are drawn from publicly available DOHMH data.

More About This Restaurant

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