Queens, NY — Delilicious Kitchen & Cafe, a Spanish restaurant at 65-53 Myrtle Avenue in Ridgewood, received a score of 38 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 6, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented two critical violations related to food temperature control and food safety certification.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026. The agency noted that violations were cited, though no closure was ordered at the time of inspection.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant violation involved improper temperature control for cold foods. Inspectors found that cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were being held above 41°F, the maximum safe holding temperature established by the FDA Food Code. This violation, cited under DOHMH code 02G, also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods held above their required temperatures.

When cold perishable foods are stored above designated temperature thresholds, conditions become more favorable for the growth of harmful bacteria including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli. The FDA Food Code identifies the range between 41°F and 135°F as the "temperature danger zone," where bacterial growth can double approximately every 20 minutes.

The second critical violation, cited under code 04A, documented that no manager or supervisor of food operations held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). New York City requires that every food service establishment have at least one certified food protection manager present during all hours of operation. This individual is responsible for overseeing safe food handling practices, temperature monitoring, and sanitation procedures.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments must maintain proper temperature controls for perishable items. Cold TCS foods must be held at 41°F or below at all times, except during active preparation. The food protection certification requirement ensures that at least one trained individual is available to oversee compliance with food safety protocols during every operating shift.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model framework for local health regulations, emphasizes temperature control as one of the most critical factors in preventing foodborne illness. Improper cold holding is consistently ranked among the most common critical violations found in restaurant inspections nationwide.

A score of 38 places the restaurant in the Grade C range under the DOHMH grading system. Restaurants receiving a Grade C on an initial inspection are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, during which the establishment has an opportunity to correct the cited violations and achieve a lower score.

Inspection History

The March 2026 result represents a notable change from the restaurant's most recent prior inspection outcomes:

  • Oct 7, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • May 10, 2023: Score 17 (Grade B)
  • Apr 26, 2023: Score 129

The restaurant had been operating under a Grade A designation since October 2024, when it scored 13 points. Prior to that, it received a Grade B score of 17 in May 2023. The April 2023 inspection recorded a score of 129, though initial inspection scores at that level are typically followed by re-inspections where the graded score is determined.

The jump from a score of 13 to 38 between the October 2024 and March 2026 inspections represents a significant increase, moving the restaurant from the Grade A range into Grade C territory.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

The DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:

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

Each violation carries a preset point value based on its severity and the specific condition observed. Critical violations, such as those documented at Delilicious Kitchen & Cafe, carry higher point values than general violations.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request an adjudication hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) or wait for a re-inspection. The restaurant's grade card must be posted in a location visible to the public near the entrance.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly as new inspection data becomes available. All inspection results referenced in this article are based on publicly available DOHMH records.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Delilicious Kitchen & Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.