Manhattan, NY — Fresh Curry, a Bangladeshi restaurant at 183 Church Street in Lower Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted April 6, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 85, placing the establishment well into Grade C territory under the city's letter-grading system. The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on April 8, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two non-critical violations during the April 6 visit. While neither rose to the level of a critical violation — which typically indicates a direct risk of foodborne illness — the combined point total was substantial enough to prompt closure action.

The first violation, Code 10E, noted that an accurate thermometer was not provided or was not properly located within refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, temperature monitoring equipment must be present and accessible in all units where potentially hazardous foods are stored or held. Without functioning, correctly placed thermometers, staff cannot verify that food is being kept at safe temperatures — a foundational element of food safety management.

The second violation, Code 28-01, cited the existence of a nuisance condition — specifically, that the facility was not maintained free from unsafe, hazardous, offensive, or annoying conditions. This provision falls under NYC Health Code Article 81 and covers a broad range of environmental conditions that may pose a risk to patrons or staff. The specific nature of the condition identified was not detailed further in the public inspection record.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that all food service establishments maintain equipment in proper working order and keep their facilities in a condition that does not constitute a public nuisance. The FDA Food Code, which New York State and City regulations closely mirror, similarly mandates accurate temperature monitoring as a core component of a functioning Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) framework.

When a cumulative inspection score reaches a level consistent with a Grade C — defined as 28 or more points — the DOHMH may take administrative action including issuing an order to close. An establishment that is closed must correct all identified violations and pass a re-inspection before being permitted to reopen.

It is worth noting that all two violations recorded in this inspection were classified as non-critical. Critical violations are those most directly linked to foodborne illness risk, such as improper food temperatures, contaminated surfaces, or evidence of pests. The absence of critical violations here is relevant context, even as the overall point total remained high.

Inspection History

Fresh Curry has had a varied inspection record in recent years. The establishment earned a Grade A on its most recent prior inspection in April 2025, but the current score represents a significant departure from that result. The full recorded history is as follows:

  • April 1, 2025: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • January 9, 2025: Score 29 (Grade C)
  • June 25, 2024: Score 66
  • February 6, 2024: Score 24 (Grade B)
  • January 25, 2024: Score 50
  • February 3, 2023: Score 26 (Grade B)
  • December 14, 2022: Score 45
  • August 19, 2022: Score 0 (Grade A)

The record reflects a pattern of significant variability. The restaurant has achieved Grade A scores twice — including a perfect score of 0 in August 2022 — but has also recorded scores in the 45–66 range on multiple occasions, indicating persistent challenges with maintaining consistent compliance between inspection cycles.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total number of points assessed during an inspection. Each violation carries a point value, and the cumulative score determines the grade:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points — meets or exceeds health code standards
  • Grade B: 14–27 points — some violations identified; corrective action required
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — significant violations; Grade C card must be posted

Restaurants that are closed following an inspection are subject to a re-inspection before they may resume service. If a restaurant scores in the Grade B or C range during an initial inspection, it is given time to correct violations before a follow-up "scoring inspection" is conducted, the result of which determines the posted grade.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC food service establishment — including violation details, scores, and grade history — through the DOHMH's public inspection database at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are updated as new data becomes available, typically within a few days of each visit.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Fresh Curry including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.