Manhattan, NY — Ess-A-Bagel, the long-running bagel shop located at 324 1st Avenue in Manhattan, received a Grade C following a health inspection conducted April 6, 2026, according to records released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 8, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 44, placing the establishment in the Grade C range.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified one non-critical violation under NYC Health Code Code 28-05, which addresses adulterated or misbranded food. Under this provision, food that is adulterated, misbranded, or improperly labeled is prohibited from being possessed, manufactured, produced, packed, sold, offered for sale, delivered, or given away.
No critical violations were cited during this inspection cycle.
The adulterated or misbranded food violation, while classified as non-critical in terms of immediacy of health risk, carries significant point weight in DOHMH's scoring methodology. A single such violation can account for a substantial portion of a restaurant's total score depending on the severity assessment made by the inspector.
The DOHMH did not issue a closure order in connection with this inspection. The restaurant remained open following the visit.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food handling, storage, preparation, and labeling standards for food service establishments. The city's grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores that reflect the number and severity of violations found during unannounced visits.
The violation cited in this inspection also has parallels to the FDA Food Code, which sets federal baseline standards for food safety in retail and food service settings. The FDA Food Code prohibits the sale or distribution of food that is adulterated or misbranded, a standard that New York City's local code incorporates into its inspection framework.
Misbranding violations can involve a range of issues, including inaccurate ingredient labeling, allergen disclosure failures, or products represented in a manner inconsistent with their actual content. DOHMH inspectors document these findings based on direct observation during the inspection visit.
Inspection History
Ess-A-Bagel's inspection record over the past several years reflects a pattern of strong performance prior to this most recent visit. According to DOHMH data:
- June 10, 2026: Score 12 (Grade A)
- March 31, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
- March 12, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
- May 18, 2023: Score 18 (no grade assigned in available data)
- April 14, 2022: Score 9 (Grade A)
The April 2026 inspection represents a significant departure from the establishment's recent record. Prior to that visit, Ess-A-Bagel had maintained Grade A scores across four consecutive inspection cycles dating back to 2022, with scores ranging from 9 to 18. Notably, the June 2026 inspection — conducted after the April visit — returned a score of 12, indicating the restaurant was back in Grade A range by that point.
The April 2026 result appears to be an isolated low point in an otherwise consistent compliance record.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants following each inspection cycle. The grading scale is as follows:
- Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points (fewest violations)
- Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a score of 14 or higher on an initial inspection are eligible for a reinspection before a final grade is assigned. Establishments must post their most recent grade card in a visible location near the entrance.
DOHMH inspection records are public and updated regularly. Consumers can search current inspection scores and violation histories for any NYC restaurant through the city's online inspection database at nyc.gov.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Ess-A-Bagel including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.