New York, NY — City health inspectors issued Grade B scores to 11 Manhattan restaurants on February 23, 2026, with point totals ranging from 16 to 20 and an average score of 18.3 points. The inspected establishments span a variety of cuisines — including Italian, pizza, Chinese, and American — and are located across neighborhoods from Midtown to the Lower East Side. The most frequently documented violations involved food contamination, improper temperature control, and unsanitary food contact surfaces.
The Inspections
Three restaurants tied for the highest score of the day at 20 points each.
Karaoke K, an American restaurant at 2 West 32nd Street in Midtown, was cited for multiple critical violations involving food that was adulterated, contaminated, or cross-contaminated and not handled in accordance with HACCP protocols. Inspectors documented more than one instance of this violation during the visit, indicating a pattern of food handling concerns at the establishment.
On the Upper East Side, L'incontro By Rocco at 1572 Second Avenue received a score of 20 points after inspectors identified both food contamination and unsanitary food contact surfaces. The Italian restaurant was cited for surfaces not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after use — a violation that appeared in both critical and general categories — alongside a critical finding of adulterated or cross-contaminated food.
Upside Pizza/Softside at 1231 Broadway also scored 20 points. Inspectors found cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items held above the required 41°F threshold, a critical violation under the FDA Food Code. The establishment was additionally cited for food contact surfaces not properly washed and sanitized.
Nearby on Second Avenue, Uva Next Door at 1484 Second Avenue scored 19 points. The Italian restaurant received a single critical violation: evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, the presence of rodent activity is considered a significant public health concern.
Four restaurants received scores of 18 points. Four Guys Pizza at 223 Madison Street on the Lower East Side was cited for a critical violation involving hot TCS food not held at or above the required 140°F, which can allow bacterial growth in ready-to-eat items. 99 Cents Delicious Pizza at 618 Eighth Avenue near Times Square was documented for filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated flies in the establishment's food areas.
Little More at 111 Reade Street in Tribeca received critical violations for both unsanitary food contact surfaces and non-food contact surfaces made of unacceptable material or not kept clean. The Oven's Slice at 218 First Avenue in the East Village was cited for cold TCS food held above the required temperature, the same violation type noted at Upside Pizza/Softside.
Among the lower scores, About Coffee at 445 Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side received 17 points for a single critical violation: the absence of a Food Protection Certificate held by a manager or supervisor. While this is an administrative finding rather than a food safety condition, NYC requires at least one certified supervisor on premises during food operations.
Bobafish, an Asian fusion restaurant at 1744 First Avenue on the Upper East Side, also scored 17 points. Inspectors noted the absence of a pest management contract and that single-service articles were reused or not protected from contamination — both general violations rather than critical ones.
The day's lowest score went to Ye's Apothecary at 119 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side. The Chinese restaurant received 16 points for violations related to improper pesticide labeling or use by an unlicensed individual and unsanitary food contact surfaces.
Common Patterns
Several trends emerge from the day's inspections. Food contact surface sanitation was the most frequently cited violation category, appearing at five of the 11 restaurants. Temperature control violations — both hot and cold holding — were documented at three establishments. These two categories represent the most common types of critical violations across NYC restaurant inspections generally.
Pizza and Italian restaurants accounted for five of the 11 inspections, with establishments like Four Guys Pizza, Upside Pizza/Softside, The Oven's Slice, L'incontro By Rocco, and Uva Next Door all receiving scores in the 18 to 20 range. The Upper East Side and the area around Second Avenue saw a notable cluster, with three restaurants inspected along that corridor.
Pest-related violations appeared at three locations — mice at Uva Next Door, flies at 99 Cents Delicious Pizza, and a missing pest management contract at Bobafish — highlighting the ongoing challenge of pest control in Manhattan's dense urban environment.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B score indicates that a restaurant accumulated between 14 and 27 violation points during its inspection. While these violations require corrective action, they do not represent conditions that pose an immediate threat to public health — those would trigger a restaurant closure or a Grade C. Most of the restaurants inspected on this date had scores in the 17 to 20 range, placing them in the lower half of the Grade B spectrum.
Restaurants receiving a Grade B are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, at which point they can improve their score and potentially earn a Grade A. Diners can check any restaurant's current grade and full inspection history through the NYC Department of Health's online portal or by visiting the facility pages linked above.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, assigns letter grades based on cumulative violation points identified during unannounced inspections. A Grade A reflects a score of 0 to 13 points, indicating minimal or no violations. A Grade B covers scores from 14 to 27 points, representing moderate violations that must be addressed. A Grade C is assigned for scores of 28 or more points, indicating more serious or widespread conditions.
Each violation is assigned a point value based on its severity and the condition under which it was found. Critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — carry higher point values than general violations. Restaurants that do not achieve a Grade A on their initial inspection may request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
For complete inspection details on any Manhattan restaurant, visit the facility pages on this site or search the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection database.