Manhattan, NY — El Sazon / Joey Bats, a Portuguese restaurant located at 5 Hudson Street in Lower Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on January 21, 2026. The establishment received a score of 113, which falls well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C — the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
The closure was ordered after inspectors identified violations requiring immediate corrective action. The inspection data was subsequently released by DOHMH on February 6, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 21 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation at the Hudson Street location:
Toilet facility not provided for employees or for patrons when required. Specifically, inspectors noted that the shared patron-employee toilet was accessible only through the kitchen, food preparation area, storage area, or utensil washing area. This violation falls under Code 05E of the city's health inspection framework.
This type of violation is classified as critical because it relates directly to sanitary conditions that can affect both food safety and public health. When restroom access requires passage through areas where food is being prepared, stored, or where utensils are being cleaned, the risk of cross-contamination increases. The physical layout creates conditions where patrons and employees moving to and from the restroom may introduce contaminants into food handling zones.
Despite only one critical violation being formally recorded, the inspection score of 113 indicates that the establishment's overall conditions at the time of inspection were significantly below the standards required by the city's health code. The high score resulted in the decision to close the establishment until violations could be addressed.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the sanitary standards all food service establishments must meet. The code covers a wide range of requirements including food temperature control, pest management, employee hygiene, facility maintenance, and restroom access.
The requirement for properly located and accessible toilet facilities is grounded in both local and federal food safety guidelines. The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for state and local jurisdictions across the country, specifies that toilet rooms should not open directly into areas where food is prepared, stored, or where equipment and utensils are washed. This standard exists to minimize the potential for pathogen transfer between restroom use and food handling activities.
When DOHMH inspectors determine that conditions at a food establishment pose an immediate risk to public health, they have the authority to order a closure. The establishment must then correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before being permitted to reopen to the public.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history was available in the DOHMH public database for El Sazon / Joey Bats at the time of this report. This may indicate that the January 21, 2026 inspection was the establishment's first recorded inspection under its current name and permit, or that previous records are filed under a different business name or identification number.
- January 21, 2026: Score 113, one critical violation cited, establishment closed by DOHMH
The absence of prior inspection data means there is no baseline for comparison regarding this establishment's historical compliance with health code standards. Restaurants in New York City are typically inspected on an annual cycle, with new establishments receiving their initial inspection within a set timeframe after opening.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. Fewer points correspond to better conditions:
- A: 0–13 points — indicates minimal violations
- B: 14–27 points — indicates moderate violations
- C: 28 or more points — indicates significant violations
A score of 113 points is substantially above the Grade C threshold of 28 points. When an establishment receives a score in this range and conditions warrant immediate action, DOHMH may order a closure rather than simply issuing a grade card.
Restaurants that are closed must correct all violations and successfully pass a re-inspection conducted by DOHMH before they can resume operations. The re-inspection evaluates whether the specific conditions that led to the closure have been remediated.
Public Resources
Residents and visitors can look up the inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database, which is updated regularly as new inspection data becomes available. The city's restaurant grading program, in effect since 2010, is designed to provide transparency about food safety conditions at the more than 27,000 restaurants operating across the five boroughs.
For questions about specific restaurant inspections or to file a complaint about a food establishment, the public can contact 311 or visit the NYC DOHMH website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for El Sazon / Joey Bats including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.