Queens, NY — Delicias Calenas #4, a Spanish restaurant at 94-18 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, received a score of 43 on a health inspection conducted March 13, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 17, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory under NYC's restaurant grading system.

The score of 43 marks the restaurant's fourth consecutive inspection resulting in a failing score, continuing a pattern documented since late 2024.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 13 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one non-critical violation at the establishment:

Non-food contact surfaces or equipment were found to be made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit (violation code 10F).

While only one violation was formally documented during this visit, the resulting score of 43 indicates that inspectors identified conditions warranting significant point deductions. Under the DOHMH scoring system, points are assessed based on the severity and conditions observed during the inspection, and a score of 43 falls well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

It should be noted that the inspection record shows zero critical violations and one non-critical violation for this visit. The score of 43 relative to the single documented violation suggests additional conditions may have been observed and scored during the inspection process.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments must meet. The requirement that non-food contact surfaces be constructed of acceptable materials and maintained in a clean, accessible condition is designed to prevent the accumulation of debris, grease, and pest harborage that can compromise food safety.

Under the FDA Food Code, equipment and surfaces in food establishments must be designed and maintained to be easily cleanable. Surfaces that cannot be properly accessed for cleaning can harbor bacteria and attract pests, creating conditions that may indirectly affect food safety even when the surfaces themselves do not come into direct contact with food.

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of the city's approximately 27,000 restaurants as part of the letter grading system established in 2010. Restaurants that score 28 or above on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection opportunity to improve their score before a grade is posted.

Inspection History

Delicias Calenas #4 has been inspected multiple times in recent years, with scores that have fluctuated considerably:

  • Mar 13, 2026: Score 43
  • Dec 29, 2025: Score 29 (Grade Z)
  • Dec 10, 2025: Score 44
  • Sep 25, 2024: Score 26 (Grade B)
  • Sep 18, 2024: Score 34
  • Sep 20, 2023: Score 20 (Grade B)
  • Aug 28, 2023: Score 2 (Grade P)
  • Aug 23, 2023: Score 65, closed by DOHMH
  • Nov 28, 2022: Score 18 (Grade B)
  • May 20, 2022: Score 0

The record shows that the restaurant was closed by DOHMH in August 2023 after receiving a score of 65. Following that closure, the establishment was re-inspected days later and received a score of 2, earning a Grade P (pending grade adjudication). The restaurant went on to earn a Grade B in September 2023.

However, since September 2024, the restaurant has not scored below 29 on any inspection, indicating a sustained period of difficulty in meeting DOHMH standards. The December 2025 score of 44 and the current March 2026 score of 43 represent the establishment's worst non-closure scores in recent history.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores:

  • A: 0 to 13 points (lowest risk)
  • B: 14 to 27 points
  • C: 28 or more points (highest risk)

A Grade Z indicates that a re-inspection resulted in a score that will be adjudicated. A Grade P indicates a pending grade that has not yet been finalized.

Restaurants are required to post their current letter grade in a location visible to the public. Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history on the DOHMH website or through the NYC Open Data portal.

For more information about restaurant inspections and food safety in New York City, visit the DOHMH Restaurant Grading page at nyc.gov or search inspection records on the NYC Open Data platform.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Delicias Calenas #4 including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.