Manhattan, NY — Deli On Madison, located at 420 Madison Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 13, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 60, placing the establishment firmly in C-grade range. The closure data was released by DOHMH on July 16, 2026.

The inspection identified one critical violation. Violations requiring immediate corrective action were addressed on-site as a condition of the closure process.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited one critical violation during the July 13 inspection:

Code 06D: Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

This violation relates directly to the surfaces that come into contact with food during preparation and service — cutting boards, slicing equipment, prep tables, and similar items. Under standard food safety protocols, these surfaces must be cleaned, rinsed, and sanitized at defined intervals and whenever cross-contamination is possible. Failure to do so creates a pathway for harmful bacteria and pathogens to transfer to food served to customers.

While only one violation was recorded, its classification as critical reflects its direct connection to foodborne illness risk. The resulting score of 60 is substantially above the threshold for a C grade.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain sanitary conditions across all aspects of food handling, storage, and preparation. Food contact surfaces are specifically addressed because they represent one of the most direct routes through which pathogens can reach consumers.

The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for many local regulations, identifies improper cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces as a contributing factor in foodborne illness outbreaks. Sanitizing — distinct from simple cleaning — requires the use of approved chemical sanitizers or heat sufficient to reduce pathogen levels to safe thresholds.

DOHMH has authority under the NYC Health Code to order the immediate closure of any food service establishment where conditions present a public health hazard. Following a closure, an establishment must demonstrate that violations have been corrected before it may reopen and resume service.

Inspection History

Deli On Madison has been inspected multiple times in recent years. The record shows variability in scores, with the current inspection representing the highest score — and first closure — in the restaurant's documented history on file:

  • July 13, 2026: Score 60, closed by DOHMH
  • January 9, 2025: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • November 25, 2024: Score 31
  • July 12, 2023: Score 14 (Grade B)
  • January 26, 2023: Score 19
  • September 16, 2022: Score 19 (Grade B)
  • August 19, 2022: Score 33

The January 2025 inspection resulted in the restaurant's best recorded score — a 12, comfortably within Grade A range. Prior to that, scores had ranged from the mid-teens to the low-30s. The jump to 60 on the most recent inspection, driven by the single critical violation, represents a significant departure from recent performance.

It is worth noting that inspection scores can fluctuate between visits depending on conditions present on a given day, staffing, equipment status, and other operational factors. A single high-scoring inspection does not necessarily reflect the establishment's overall long-term compliance record.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system for restaurants is based on the score assigned during a DOHMH inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. The grading scale is as follows:

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

A score of 60 falls well above the minimum threshold for a C grade. When a restaurant is closed by DOHMH, a grade card may not be posted until the establishment has been reinspected and cleared to reopen.

Grades are required to be posted in a location visible to the public. Consumers can also search inspection records directly through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov, where full violation details, scores, and inspection histories are publicly available.

Anyone who believes they have experienced a foodborne illness after eating at a New York City restaurant can report it to DOHMH through the city's 311 service or online complaint portal.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Deli On Madison including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.