Manhattan, NY — El Valle Lenox, a Spanish restaurant at 588 Lenox Avenue in Harlem, received a score of 32 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 18, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, a notable decline from the Grade A scores recorded in its two most recent prior inspections.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 20, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 18 inspection, one non-critical violation was documented at the establishment:
Inspectors cited the restaurant under violation code 10F for non-food contact surfaces or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit.
While this was the only individual violation recorded, the cumulative point total of 32 resulted in a Grade C designation. It should be noted that no critical violations — those most directly linked to foodborne illness risk — were cited during this inspection.
The action taken by DOHMH was that violations were cited in the following area(s), meaning the restaurant was not closed but was issued the relevant violation notices.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments in New York City are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH. During these inspections, conditions are evaluated across multiple categories including food handling, temperature control, personal hygiene, facility maintenance, and pest activity. Each violation carries a designated point value, and the total determines the restaurant's letter grade.
The FDA Food Code, which informs many of New York City's local food safety regulations, establishes standards for equipment and facility cleanliness. Non-food contact surfaces — such as shelving, floors, walls, and the exterior of equipment — must be maintained in clean condition and constructed of materials that are smooth, durable, and easily cleanable. Violation code 10F addresses conditions where these surfaces do not meet those maintenance or material standards.
While non-critical violations are generally considered lower risk than critical violations involving direct contamination pathways, they can still indicate broader maintenance or operational concerns within an establishment.
Inspection History
El Valle Lenox has a mixed inspection record over the past several years. The restaurant's full inspection history on file with DOHMH includes the following:
- February 18, 2026: Score 32 (Grade C)
- February 13, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
- August 22, 2023: Score 11 (Grade A)
- April 7, 2023: Score 78
- April 5, 2023: Score not recorded
- October 4, 2022: Score 11 (Grade A)
- June 17, 2022: Score 30
The most recent trend shows the restaurant had improved significantly between 2022 and 2025, earning consecutive Grade A scores of 11 and 13 in its three inspections prior to this latest cycle. However, the current score of 32 represents a return to the range seen in earlier inspections — the restaurant also recorded a score of 30 in June 2022 and a score of 78 in April 2023.
The April 2023 score of 78, followed by a re-inspection just two days earlier on April 5, suggests the restaurant underwent an initial inspection and subsequent follow-up during that period.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A Grade C score indicates the highest level of violations documented during an inspection cycle. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection or have the opportunity to be re-graded through an adjudication process with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
Restaurants are required to post their most recent letter grade in a location visible to the public near their entrance, as mandated by NYC Health Code Article 81.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. The data used in this report is sourced from those publicly available records. Diners are encouraged to review inspection histories in full, as a single inspection score represents a snapshot of conditions on one particular day and may not reflect the establishment's overall operational standards.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for El Valle Lenox including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.