Manhattan, NY — Dark Matter Coffee - Adios Amigos, located at 1 East 1st Street in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 2, 2026. Inspectors cited two critical violations and recorded a score of 45, placing the establishment in C-grade range. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 7, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the April 2 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented two critical violations at the coffee shop.

The first violation, cited under Code 06D, found that food contact surfaces were not being properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities during which contamination may have occurred. Properly maintained food contact surfaces — including equipment such as brewing apparatus, utensils, and prep areas — are a foundational requirement of safe food handling. Failure to sanitize these surfaces between uses creates conditions under which harmful pathogens can transfer to food and beverages served to customers.

The second violation, cited under Code 04L, documented evidence of mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. The presence of rodents in a food service environment is among the most serious categories of health violation, as rodents can contaminate food supplies, food contact surfaces, and storage areas with bacteria including Salmonella and Leptospira. DOHMH treats active evidence of rodent activity as a condition requiring immediate corrective action.

Both violations were classified as critical. According to DOHMH enforcement protocol, violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site before the establishment could be considered for reopening.

Food Safety Context

The violations cited at Dark Matter Coffee - Adios Amigos fall under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food protection standards for all permitted food service establishments in New York City. Article 81 establishes requirements for sanitation of food contact surfaces, pest control, employee hygiene, food temperature management, and facility maintenance.

Code 06D aligns with standards set forth in the FDA Food Code, which requires that food contact surfaces be cleaned and sanitized at defined intervals and whenever there is a reasonable possibility of contamination. These standards exist to prevent the transmission of foodborne illness, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates affects 48 million Americans annually.

Code 04L addresses rodent presence, which DOHMH classifies as a condition that poses a direct risk to public health. Under Article 81, establishments are required to maintain their premises free of pests and to implement integrated pest management practices. Evidence of mice — whether through sightings, droppings, gnaw marks, or other indicators — is treated as a critical violation regardless of the extent of activity observed.

A score of 45 substantially exceeds the threshold for a C grade and reflects a significant accumulation of penalty points assigned to the cited violations.

Inspection History

Dark Matter Coffee - Adios Amigos has a mixed inspection record in the DOHMH database. Prior inspections on file include:

  • July 10, 2026: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • June 24, 2026: Score 25
  • April 4, 2026: Score 5 (Grade Z) — establishment reopened
  • January 9, 2025: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • December 11, 2024: Score 29

The April 4, 2026 entry — two days after the closure inspection — reflects the establishment's reopening after required corrections were made. The subsequent inspections in June and July 2026 show markedly improved scores, with the July 10 inspection returning a score of 11, which falls within Grade A range. This inspection history indicates that the April 2 closure was addressed and that the establishment returned to compliance in the weeks that followed.

The December 2024 score of 29 and the June 2026 score of 25 represent periods where the establishment was operating in B-grade range, suggesting recurring compliance challenges prior to the April 2026 closure event.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to food service establishments based on inspection scores. Grades are posted publicly and are required to be displayed at the establishment's entrance. The grading scale is as follows:

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

When an establishment is inspected and scores in B or C range, or is ordered closed, it may request a re-inspection before a grade is officially assigned. Scores and violation records are public information and are maintained in the DOHMH inspection database, which is searchable at the NYC Open Data portal.

Consumers can look up current grades and full inspection histories for any permitted food service establishment in New York City at nyc.gov/health or through the NYC Restaurant Inspection Results dataset available on NYC Open Data.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Dark Matter Coffee - Adios Amigos including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.