Manhattan, NY — Ess-A-Bagel, located at 115 Broadway in Lower Manhattan, received a score of 21 following a health inspection conducted on March 23, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 26, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the upper portion of the Grade B range, six points away from the Grade C threshold.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one non-critical violation during the March visit. The cited condition, classified under Code 10F, involved a non-food contact surface or equipment found to be 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.

No critical violations were recorded during this inspection. Under NYC scoring guidelines, critical violations — those with a direct potential to cause foodborne illness — carry higher point values and weigh more heavily on a restaurant's overall score. The single non-critical violation nonetheless contributed enough points to produce a score near the top of the B band.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code establish requirements for the maintenance and sanitation of food service equipment, including surfaces that do not come into direct contact with food. While non-food contact surfaces pose a lower immediate risk to public health than critical violations, improperly maintained equipment can create conditions that allow contamination to develop over time.

DOHMH regulations require that equipment be designed and maintained to permit thorough cleaning and prevent the buildup of debris or residue. A score of 21 falls within the Grade B range but sits six points from the Grade C cutoff, indicating a meaningful accumulation of non-compliance points relative to the typical Grade B establishment.

Inspection History

Ess-A-Bagel's recent inspection record at this location shows variability in scores:

  • May 8, 2026: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • March 23, 2026: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • March 11, 2025: Score 25 (Grade N)

The May 2026 result — a score of 9 — represents a strong Grade A outcome, suggesting conditions at the location can meet a higher standard of compliance. The March 2025 score of 25, recorded under a Grade N designation (which is assigned when a restaurant opts for or is required to undergo a re-inspection before a final grade is issued), also fell near the top of the B range.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. The grading scale is as follows:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points

Grades must be posted in a window visible to the public. Restaurants that receive a score in the B or C range during an initial inspection may request a re-inspection, at which point the resulting grade is posted. A score of 21 falls within Grade B but leaves limited margin before reaching Grade C territory.

Consumers can look up restaurant inspection records through the DOHMH online database at NYC's Restaurant Grades portal or by contacting 311.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Ess-A-Bagel including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.