Queens, NY — Danny's Grill, a barbecue restaurant at 73-06 Bell Boulevard in Queens, was re-closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on June 15, 2026. The inspection resulted in a score of 38, placing the establishment in the C grade range. This closure marks the restaurant's third documented closure in less than twelve months.

Inspection data was released by DOHMH on June 17, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the June 15 inspection, DOHMH inspectors recorded two violations — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under Code 05F, identified insufficient or absent hot holding, cold storage, or cold holding equipment to maintain Time/Temperature Control for Safety Foods (TCS) at required temperatures. TCS foods are those identified by regulators as requiring strict temperature management to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and pathogens. This category typically includes meat, poultry, cooked foods, and dairy products — items central to a barbecue operation.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 10F, noted that a non-food contact surface or piece of equipment was made of unacceptable material, was not kept clean, or was not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or positioned to allow adequate cleaning access on all sides, above, and underneath.

Together, these violations contributed to a score of 38. Under NYC's restaurant grading system, any score of 28 or higher falls in the C range and, when combined with other findings during a re-inspection, can result in closure.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control is among the most fundamental requirements in commercial food service. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, operators are required to maintain cold foods at or below 41°F and hot foods at or above 140°F. Equipment failures in this area create conditions in which bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli can multiply to unsafe levels.

The Code 05F violation — specifically citing equipment insufficiency — indicates that inspectors found the physical infrastructure of the restaurant inadequate to reliably maintain required temperatures, not merely a momentary lapse in procedure. For a barbecue establishment, where large quantities of meat are handled and held at varying temperatures throughout service, this type of finding carries particular significance.

Non-food contact surface violations, while classified as non-critical, reflect maintenance and sanitation practices that can indirectly affect food safety by creating environments where pests, mold, or contamination can take hold over time.

Inspection History

Danny's Grill has had an active and at times difficult inspection record in recent years. The documented history is as follows:

  • June 15, 2026: Score 38, re-closed by DOHMH
  • June 11, 2026: Score 87, closed by DOHMH
  • March 19, 2026: Score 30
  • October 23, 2025: Score 0 (Grade Z)
  • October 22, 2025: Score 18
  • October 20, 2025: Score 83, closed by DOHMH
  • August 5, 2025: Score 30
  • October 26, 2023: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • July 13, 2023: Score 30

The pattern shows a significant deterioration from the restaurant's October 2023 Grade A result. Beginning in mid-2025, scores climbed into ranges that triggered closures on three separate occasions. The June 11, 2026 inspection produced a score of 87 — among the highest recorded for this location — before the re-inspection four days later on June 15 returned a score of 38. While reduced, that score still exceeded the threshold for a C grade and prompted DOHMH to keep the establishment closed.

The October 2025 sequence also showed a similar pattern: an initial closure on October 20 with a score of 83, followed by subsequent inspections on October 22 and October 23 showing improving scores before the restaurant was permitted to reopen.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on inspection scores, with lower scores reflecting fewer violations:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or higher

When a restaurant is closed by DOHMH, it must pass a re-inspection before it is permitted to reopen. Restaurants are not assigned a letter grade at the time of closure — a grade is only posted once a re-inspection score falls within a gradable range and the establishment is deemed safe to operate.

Inspection scores reflect conditions observed on the day of inspection. A high score on one visit does not preclude a lower score on a follow-up inspection if conditions have been corrected.

Resources

Residents and diners can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's public database at the NYC Open Data portal or through the city's Restaurant Inspection Results search tool. Inspection results reflect point-in-time conditions and are updated as new inspections occur.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Danny's Grill including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.