Queens, NY — El Gallo Negro, a Mexican restaurant located at 41-34C Crescent Street in Long Island City, received a Grade B score of 22 following a health inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the upper range of the Grade B bracket, just five points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 4, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified one critical violation during the inspection. The restaurant was cited under violation code 06B for tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from an open container in food preparation, food storage, or dishwashing areas.

This type of violation is classified as critical because consuming food, beverages, or tobacco products in areas where food is prepared or stored introduces a direct risk of contamination. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

The action taken by DOHMH was to cite the restaurant for the violations found. No closure was ordered.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes sanitary standards for all food service establishments operating within the five boroughs. The prohibition against eating, drinking, and tobacco use in food preparation areas is designed to prevent the introduction of biological and chemical contaminants into food products.

The FDA Food Code similarly restricts employee eating, drinking, and tobacco use to designated areas away from food preparation, storage, and dishwashing zones. These standards exist because food handlers who eat or use tobacco in prep areas may transfer saliva, ash, or other contaminants to surfaces and equipment that come into contact with food served to customers.

Inspection History

El Gallo Negro's inspection record over the past several years shows fluctuation in compliance:

  • Nov 7, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • Sep 21, 2023: Score 21
  • Sep 6, 2023: Score 52 (Grade C)
  • Aug 14, 2023: Score 38

The restaurant had demonstrated improvement between 2023 and 2024, earning a Grade A with a score of 12 in November 2024. The current score of 22 represents a decline from that result, returning to a level comparable to the September 2023 score of 21. The restaurant's history also includes a Grade C score of 52 recorded in September 2023, indicating the establishment has experienced periods of more significant non-compliance in the past.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on violation point totals recorded during inspections:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. A Grade B designation means the restaurant had violations that exceeded the Grade A standard but did not reach the level associated with a Grade C. El Gallo Negro's score of 22 falls in the upper portion of the B range, closer to the C threshold than to an A.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may choose to post the grade or request a re-inspection. All inspection results are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can review the full inspection history for El Gallo Negro and any other NYC restaurant at the DOHMH website or through the NYC Open Data portal.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for El Gallo Negro including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.