Queens, NY — El Sabor Azogueno Bakery & Restaurant, a Caribbean eatery located at 101-19 37th Avenue in Corona, received a Grade B score of 22 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to food contamination protection.
The score of 22 places the restaurant in the upper range of Grade B, which covers scores from 14 to 27 points. The restaurant is just six points below the Grade C threshold of 28, indicating the violation identified was assessed as a significant food safety concern.
What Inspectors Found
During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one critical violation under code 06C: food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The citation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
This type of violation addresses the risk of cross-contamination and environmental exposure that can compromise food safety. When food items, supplies, or equipment are left unprotected, they may be exposed to airborne contaminants, pests, or contact with unsanitary surfaces. Similarly, condiments that are not properly dispensed can become vehicles for bacterial transmission between customers.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
Food contamination prevention is a foundational requirement under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments throughout the five boroughs. The FDA Food Code similarly emphasizes that food must be protected from contamination at all stages of handling, including storage, preparation, and display.
The single critical violation accounted for all 22 points assessed during this inspection, reflecting the weight DOHMH assigns to contamination-related concerns. Critical violations are those that, according to DOHMH guidelines, are most likely to contribute to foodborne illness if not corrected.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B are permitted to continue operating but must address cited violations. Establishments typically have the opportunity to request a re-inspection to improve their score.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available in the DOHMH public database for this establishment. The March 2, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded evaluation in the current dataset.
It should be noted that this data was released by DOHMH on March 4, 2026, two days after the inspection was conducted. Conditions at the restaurant may have changed since the inspection date.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points assessed during an inspection:
- 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 means the restaurant had violations that warrant attention but did not reach the level requiring a Grade C designation. Restaurants receiving a B or C grade may request an adjudicatory hearing or re-inspection.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the establishment's entrance, as required by city regulations. Additional information about food safety standards and the grading system is available through the NYC Department of Health website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for El Sabor Azogueno Bakery & Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.