Manhattan, NY — Eli's Essentials, a sandwich and mixed buffet restaurant at 26 East 91st Street on the Upper East Side, received a score of 21 following a health inspection conducted March 17, 2026, placing it near the upper boundary of the Grade B range. Inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 19, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one non-critical violation during the visit. No critical violations were cited.

The single violation — Code 08A — noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. While classified as non-critical, pest harborage conditions are among the more common findings that can accumulate points quickly across repeat visits if left unaddressed.

With a score of 21, the restaurant sits six points below the Grade C threshold of 28 and just seven points above the boundary between Grade A (0–13) and Grade B (14–27).

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food safety standards for all permitted food service establishments in the city. The regulations address facility maintenance, pest prevention, food handling, and temperature control, among other areas. The FDA Food Code, which informs many of these standards, similarly requires that food facilities be maintained in a manner that prevents pest access and harborage.

A score of 21 is within the Grade B range but represents a result at the upper end of that category. Restaurants are typically re-inspected within 60 to 90 days after receiving a B grade to allow an opportunity to improve before a grade is formally posted.

Inspection History

Eli's Essentials has received Grade B scores in several consecutive inspections. Its recent record is as follows:

  • March 17, 2026: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • January 22, 2026: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • October 24, 2024: Score 23 (Grade B)
  • May 20, 2024: Score 27 (Grade B)
  • December 2, 2022: Score 62 (Grade C)
  • July 14, 2022: Score 23 (Grade B)

The December 2022 inspection stands out, with a score of 62 representing a significant departure from the pattern seen in subsequent visits. Since that inspection, the restaurant has consistently remained within the Grade B range, though scores have held in the upper portion of that band across multiple visits.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the total number of points accumulated during an inspection:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points (lowest risk)
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points (highest risk)

Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant entrance. Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any permitted food service establishment through the DOHMH restaurant inspection search tool at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Eli's Essentials including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.