Manhattan, NY — El Nuevo Valle Seafood Restaurant, a Latin American dining establishment at 231 Sherman Avenue in the Inwood neighborhood, received a score of 31 on its most recent health inspection, placing it in Grade C territory. The inspection, conducted on February 17, 2026, identified one critical violation related to improper cold food storage temperatures. Data from the inspection was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 19, 2026.
The Grade C score represents a notable decline for the restaurant, which had earned Grade A scores on its three previous inspections dating back to 2022.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 17 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation under code 02G: cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F. This violation category also encompasses 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, except during active necessary preparation.
No non-critical violations were recorded during the inspection. The action taken by inspectors was to cite the restaurant for the violations found.
For a seafood-focused establishment, temperature control is a particularly significant food safety concern. Cold TCS foods — which include seafood, dairy products, cut produce, and cooked foods intended for cold service — must be maintained at or below specific temperatures to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.
Food Safety Context
The temperature requirements cited in the violation are established under NYC Health Code Article 81 and align with the FDA Food Code, which sets science-based standards for safe food handling in commercial food service operations. These regulations require that cold TCS foods be held at 41°F or below during storage and service to limit the growth of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Vibrio species — the latter being of particular concern in seafood products.
When cold foods are held above their required temperatures, they enter what food safety professionals refer to as the "temperature danger zone" (41°F to 135°F), where bacteria can multiply rapidly. The FDA Food Code notes that bacterial populations can double every 20 minutes under favorable conditions, making consistent cold-holding a foundational element of food safety management.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain proper temperature controls at all times during storage, preparation, and service. Inspectors use calibrated thermometers to verify that food items are held at appropriate temperatures during their visits.
Inspection History
El Nuevo Valle Seafood Restaurant's prior inspection record shows a consistent pattern of compliance before the February 2026 inspection:
- October 29, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
- June 23, 2023: Score 12, Grade A
- May 26, 2022: Score 5, Grade A
The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores across all three prior inspections, with scores ranging from 5 to 12 points. The jump from a score of 12 to 31 represents a significant change from the establishment's established track record.
It should be noted that inspection scores reflect conditions observed on a specific date and time, and a single inspection result does not necessarily indicate ongoing conditions at an establishment.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by 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 specific point value based on its severity and the conditions observed. Critical violations, such as improper food temperatures, generally carry higher point values than non-critical violations. A score of 31 places El Nuevo Valle Seafood Restaurant in the Grade C range, indicating one or more conditions that DOHMH considers a significant public health concern.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially receive an improved score. Restaurants may also request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to contest inspection results.
Consumers can access current inspection results and grade histories for all New York City restaurants through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection data for El Nuevo Valle Seafood Restaurant and all NYC dining establishments is public record and is updated regularly as new inspections are conducted.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for El Nuevo Valle Seafood Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.