Manhattan, NY — Good Times, an American restaurant located at 350 West 40th Street in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 38 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 26, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, indicating 28 or more violation points were documented during the inspection.

Inspectors identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the visit. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant finding involved improper cold food storage temperatures. Inspectors cited Good Times under violation code 02G for holding cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items above 41°F. This critical violation applies to foods that require specific temperature controls to prevent bacterial growth, including cold TCS items, smoked or processed fish (which must be held below 38°F), intact raw eggs (below 45°F), and reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods.

When cold foods are held above their required temperatures, the risk of bacterial multiplication increases. Pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli can proliferate in the temperature range between 41°F and 135°F, commonly referred to as the "danger zone" in food safety.

Inspectors also documented a non-critical violation under code 10E, noting that an accurate thermometer was not provided or properly located in refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment. While classified as non-critical, the absence of properly placed thermometers can make it difficult for staff to monitor and verify that food is being stored at safe temperatures.

Food Safety Context

The temperature control violation cited at Good Times relates directly to provisions outlined in NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments in the city. The regulation aligns with the FDA Food Code's requirements for maintaining cold TCS foods at or below 41°F to limit microbial growth.

Temperature monitoring equipment, addressed by the non-critical violation, is considered an essential component of a food safety management system. The FDA Food Code recommends that food establishments maintain accurate thermometers in all refrigeration and hot holding units to ensure consistent compliance with temperature requirements.

The two violations documented during this inspection are connected — without properly placed and accurate thermometers in cold storage units, staff may not readily identify when temperatures drift above safe thresholds.

Inspection History

Good Times has one prior inspection on record with DOHMH:

  • October 14, 2025: Score 36 (Grade N)

The Grade N designation indicates the restaurant was operating within a new inspection cycle at the time. The October 2025 score of 36 also exceeded the 28-point threshold for Grade C. The February 2026 score of 38 represents a slight increase in violation points compared to the prior inspection.

Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that score 28 or above on an initial inspection are typically offered a re-inspection opportunity before a grade card is posted. The action recorded for this inspection notes that violations were cited in the listed areas.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on violation points accumulated during inspections:

  • A: 0 to 13 points — the highest rating, indicating minimal violations
  • B: 14 to 27 points — moderate violations documented
  • C: 28 or more points — significant violations identified

Lower scores indicate fewer and less severe violations. Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and the conditions observed. Critical violations, such as improper food temperatures, generally carry higher point values than non-critical violations.

Restaurant inspection results, including scores, grades, and specific violations, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search any licensed food establishment in New York City by name, address, or borough to review current and historical inspection data at the NYC Open Data portal.

More About This Restaurant

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