Queens, NY — Danny's Grill, a barbecue restaurant at 73-06 Bell Boulevard in Queens, received a score of 30 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 19, 2026, placing it in Grade C standing. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 23, 2026. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to hand-washing facilities.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited the restaurant under violation code 05D, which covers the availability and accessibility of hand-washing facilities. The violation notes that no hand-washing facility was present in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service, or ware-washing area — or that an existing facility was obstructed, inaccessible, or being used for non-hand-washing purposes. The code also encompasses situations where hot and cold running water is absent or at inadequate pressure, or where soap and an acceptable hand-drying device are not provided.

This single violation was classified as critical and resulted in the score of 30, which falls within the Grade C range under DOHMH's scoring system.

Food Safety Context

Hand-washing is one of the most foundational requirements in food service environments. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain accessible, properly equipped hand-washing facilities in designated areas to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of foodborne illness. The FDA Food Code similarly identifies inadequate hand-washing infrastructure as a risk factor for pathogen transmission, particularly in environments where raw proteins — such as those handled in barbecue operations — are prepared and served.

A critical violation, as defined by DOHMH, is one that directly contributes to the risk of foodborne illness if not corrected. Critical violations carry higher point values in the scoring system and weigh heavily on a restaurant's final grade. The identification of even a single critical violation can place an establishment in a lower grade tier depending on its severity.

Inspection History

The March 19, 2026 inspection is not the first time Danny's Grill has received a elevated score. A review of the restaurant's DOHMH inspection record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores over the past several years:

  • October 20, 2025: Score 83 — closed by DOHMH
  • October 22, 2025: Score 18
  • October 23, 2025: Score 0 (Grade Z, indicating a re-inspection following closure)
  • August 5, 2025: Score 30
  • October 26, 2023: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • July 13, 2023: Score 30

The October 2025 sequence is notable: the restaurant received a score of 83 and was closed by DOHMH, then underwent follow-up inspections on consecutive days before receiving a Grade Z score — which DOHMH assigns when an establishment is in the process of grade adjudication following a closure or contested inspection. The restaurant had also recorded a score of 30 in August 2025, reflecting the same grade threshold reached in the most recent inspection. The lone Grade A score came in October 2023.

The most recent inspection on March 19, 2026 does not indicate a closure order was issued — the action recorded indicates violations were cited but the establishment was permitted to remain open pending correction.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the number of points accumulated during an inspection. Lower scores reflect fewer violations:

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

Restaurants that score in the B or C range may request a re-inspection, after which the grade reflecting the lower of the two scores is posted publicly. Grade cards are required by law to be displayed in a location visible from the street.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH restaurant inspection search tool at nyc.gov/health. Full inspection reports, including violation descriptions and scoring history, are publicly available through that resource.

More About This Restaurant

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