Manhattan, NY — Fine Food Cuisine, an American restaurant located at 227 East 116th Street in East Harlem, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on June 6, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 121, well above the threshold that triggers a C grade under the city's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on June 9, 2026.

According to the inspection record, violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site before the establishment could be cleared for reopening.

What Inspectors Found

The June 6 inspection documented one non-critical violation at Fine Food Cuisine:

  • Code 28-06: The establishment did not have a current contract with a licensed pest management professional in place, and records of extermination activities were not maintained on the premises.

While this violation is classified as non-critical — meaning it does not pose a direct, immediate threat to public health — maintaining documented pest management activity is a core requirement under city health regulations. The absence of a pest management contract and corresponding records indicates a lapse in the administrative systems required to demonstrate ongoing pest prevention efforts.

The closure action taken by DOHMH indicates that inspectors identified conditions requiring the establishment to cease operations until those conditions were resolved. Under DOHMH protocol, a restaurant may be closed when violations cited during an inspection pose sufficient concern to warrant immediate corrective action, even when violations are categorized as non-critical.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation standards for food service establishments citywide. Pest management documentation requirements exist to ensure that restaurants can demonstrate active, ongoing prevention efforts rather than reactive responses to confirmed infestations.

The FDA Food Code, which informs local health regulations across the country, identifies pest management as a foundational element of safe food handling environments. Pests such as rodents and insects can introduce pathogens into food preparation areas, contaminate surfaces and equipment, and compromise the integrity of stored food products.

A written contract with a licensed pest control operator and a maintained log of extermination activities provide health inspectors with a verifiable record that preventive measures are being taken on a consistent schedule. The absence of these records does not confirm the presence of pests, but it does prevent inspectors from verifying that appropriate controls are in place.

Inspection History

Fine Food Cuisine's recent inspection record reflects a pattern of elevated scores across multiple visits:

  • June 6, 2026: Score 121, closed by DOHMH
  • December 1, 2025: Score 45 (Grade Z)
  • October 7, 2025: Score 34 (Grade N)

Grades designated as N (Not Yet Graded) and Z (Grade Pending) are assigned during specific stages of the reinspection cycle. An N grade is typically issued following an initial inspection when a restaurant has not yet completed the reinspection process. A Z grade indicates that a restaurant has requested a hearing or is pending adjudication of its score. These designations are temporary and reflect the procedural status of a given inspection cycle rather than a finalized grade.

The scores recorded in October and December 2025 both exceeded the threshold for a C grade, indicating that the establishment has faced recurring compliance challenges in the months prior to this closure.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires all restaurants that receive a letter grade to display it prominently near the entrance. Grades are assigned based on the total point value of violations documented during an inspection:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — meets or exceeds city sanitation standards
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — some violations identified, reinspection required
  • C: Score of 28 or more points — significant violations documented

Higher scores reflect a greater number or severity of violations. A score of 121 falls substantially above the minimum C-grade threshold, indicating multiple or heavily weighted violations recorded during the inspection.

Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH may reopen once inspectors have verified that the conditions that prompted the closure have been corrected. The DOHMH does not publish a fixed reopening date; restaurants reopen following a reinspection that confirms compliance.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Fine Food Cuisine including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.