Manhattan, NY — Emek Cheesepasta LLC, an Italian restaurant located at 695 9th Avenue in Manhattan, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 30, 2026. The restaurant scored 38 points, placing it in the Grade C range. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 1, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one violation during the March 30 inspection, classified as non-critical under the DOHMH scoring system.
The cited violation, Code 10F, pertains to non-food contact surfaces or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or positioned to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit.
While classified as non-critical — meaning it does not represent an immediate health hazard in the way that pest activity or improper food temperatures might — the violation contributed enough points to result in a Grade C score of 38. Non-food contact surface violations address the cleanliness and structural integrity of equipment that, while not in direct contact with food, can contribute to unsanitary conditions if left unaddressed.
No critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishments across all five boroughs, setting standards for food handling, facility maintenance, equipment sanitation, and pest control. The FDA Food Code, which informs many of these local regulations, similarly establishes requirements for equipment construction and maintenance to ensure food safety environments are properly maintained.
Non-food contact surface requirements exist because improperly maintained equipment — including shelving, storage units, and fixtures — can accumulate grease, debris, and moisture over time, potentially creating conditions that attract pests or allow the spread of contaminants. Keeping such surfaces accessible for cleaning is a standard component of routine food service sanitation.
The DOHMH inspection program requires restaurants to correct all cited violations by their next inspection. Establishments that accumulate a score of 28 or more points during an initial inspection receive a Grade C, and may request a re-inspection or an adjudication hearing to contest specific violations.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Emek Cheesepasta LLC in the DOHMH public dataset. This appears to be the establishment's first recorded inspection in the city's publicly accessible records.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter-grade system translates numerical inspection scores into grades posted visibly at restaurant entrances. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
- B: Score of 14–27 points
- C: Score of 28 or more points
Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. A Grade A indicates that an establishment met inspection standards with minimal findings. Grades B and C indicate progressively higher numbers of violations or more severe deficiencies identified during the inspection.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may be re-inspected within a set window. If the score improves on re-inspection, the establishment may post the better grade. Restaurants also have the option to post a "Grade Pending" placard while an adjudication process is underway.
Inspection records for all New York City food service establishments are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database, accessible via NYC Open Data at data.cityofnewyork.us. Diners can search any restaurant by name or address to review full violation histories and scores.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Emek Cheesepasta Llc including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.