Manhattan, NY — Food Passion, an American restaurant at 1200 Lexington Avenue on the Upper East Side, received a Grade B score of 24 following a health inspection conducted on February 27, 2026. Inspectors documented one critical violation: evidence of mice in the establishment. The score places the restaurant near the top of the Grade B range, just 4 points below the Grade C threshold of 28.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 3, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 27 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation:
- Evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas (Code 04L)
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle. However, the single critical violation alone was sufficient to generate a score of 24 points, reflecting the serious weight assigned to pest-related findings under the NYC restaurant inspection scoring system.
Evidence of rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation because it poses a direct risk to food safety. Mice can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas through droppings, urine, and direct contact.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain conditions that prevent the entry and harborage of pests, including rodents. The FDA Food Code further requires that food establishments be free of pests and that operators implement integrated pest management practices to eliminate conditions that attract or sustain rodent activity.
A score of 24 sits in the upper portion of the Grade B range (14–27 points). At just 4 points below the 28-point Grade C cutoff, this result indicates conditions that inspectors found to be notably below Grade A standards.
Inspection History
Food Passion's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores:
- Jan. 6, 2026: Score 44 (Grade N)
- Aug. 30, 2024: Score 4 (Grade N)
- Aug. 27, 2024: Score 33
- Aug. 22, 2024: Score 30
- Aug. 19, 2024: Score 28
The January 2026 inspection resulted in a score of 44, well above the Grade C threshold. The Grade N designation indicates the restaurant was in its initial inspection cycle and had not yet received a posted letter grade at that time. In August 2024, the restaurant recorded three consecutive scores at or above the Grade C level — 28, 30, and 33 — before achieving a score of 4 on a subsequent inspection that same month.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:
- Grade A: 0–13 points (lowest risk)
- Grade B: 14–27 points (moderate risk)
- Grade C: 28 or more points (highest risk)
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection or adjudication hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history on the DOHMH website or through the NYC Open Data portal. All inspection results referenced in this article are based on publicly available data maintained by the City of New York.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Food Passion including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.