10 Manhattan Restaurants Receive Grade B Scores on March 6

New York, NY — Health inspectors with the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene cited 10 Manhattan restaurants with Grade B-level scores during inspections conducted on March 6, 2026. The scores ranged from 15 to 20 points, with an average of 17.5 across the group. Violations documented during the inspections included improper food temperature control, evidence of pests, and equipment maintenance deficiencies.

Under the city's letter grading system, a score between 14 and 27 points corresponds to a Grade B, indicating that violations were found but did not constitute an immediate threat to public health. Restaurants receiving these scores are required to address the cited issues and may request a re-inspection.

The Inspections

The highest score recorded on March 6 was a 20, received by Cozy Tea, a specialty beverage establishment located at 447 Broadway in Lower Manhattan. Inspectors cited Cozy Tea for a critical violation: the lack of a properly scaled and calibrated thermometer readily accessible in food preparation areas. Accurate temperature monitoring is a foundational requirement under NYC Health Code Article 81, as it ensures food is stored and served at safe temperatures.

Three restaurants received scores of 19. El Gallo Taqueria, a Mexican restaurant at 502 Amsterdam Avenue on the Upper West Side, was cited for improper thawing procedures and unclean non-food contact surfaces. Thawing food at room temperature rather than under refrigeration or cold running water is a commonly cited violation that can allow bacterial growth in the temperature danger zone.

Uva Next Door, an Italian restaurant at 1484 Second Avenue on the Upper East Side, was cited for conditions conducive to pests and improperly maintained food contact surfaces. Pest harborage conditions, even when no active pest activity is observed, are flagged because they create environments where infestations can develop.

Also scoring 19 was Gnocchi On 9th, an Italian restaurant at 50 Greenwich Avenue in the West Village. Inspectors documented a critical violation for hot time and temperature control for safety (TCS) food not held at or above 140 °F, the minimum holding temperature required by the FDA Food Code to prevent bacterial growth in cooked foods.

787 Coffee, located at 66 Pearl Street in the Financial District, received a score of 18. The establishment was cited for a critical violation: evidence of mice in the facility. Pest evidence is among the most frequently cited critical violations in New York City inspections and requires prompt remediation.

Scoring 17 points, Chloe's, a vegan restaurant at 185 Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village, was cited for multiple violations including a missing anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device, improperly maintained food contact surfaces, and food from an unapproved or unknown source. The sourcing violation, which covers home-prepared or improperly processed food items, is taken seriously under the Health Code because it bypasses the supply chain safeguards that protect consumers.

Also at 17 points, Ye Olde City Cheesesteaks & Brew, an American restaurant at 1664 Third Avenue on the Upper East Side, was cited for unclean or improperly maintained non-food contact surfaces and equipment.

Ye's Apothecary, a Chinese restaurant at 119 Orchard Street on the Lower East Side, received a score of 16. Inspectors documented a critical violation for cold TCS food held above 41 °F. Maintaining cold foods below this threshold is essential for slowing the growth of harmful bacteria such as Listeria and Salmonella.

Two restaurants received the lowest scores in the group at 15 points each. Ao, a Japanese restaurant at 249 East 49th Street in Midtown, was cited for not having an accurate thermometer properly located in refrigerated or cold storage equipment. Round K, a coffee and tea establishment at 78 Canal Street in Chinatown, was cited for three violations: a missing back-flow prevention device, deficient dishwashing and ware-washing procedures, and a missing hand-washing sign near the hand-wash sink.

Common Patterns

Several patterns emerged from the March 6 inspections. Temperature control violations were the most prominent theme, appearing in five of the 10 inspections. These ranged from missing thermometers at Cozy Tea and Ao, to improper hot holding at Gnocchi On 9th, to cold holding failures at Ye's Apothecary. The FDA Food Code identifies temperature abuse as one of the leading contributors to foodborne illness, making it a consistent focus for inspectors.

Equipment and surface maintenance violations were the second most common category, cited at four establishments. Italian restaurants accounted for two of the 10 inspections, while Mexican cuisine, coffee and tea establishments, and a range of other cuisine types made up the remainder, suggesting the violations were not concentrated in any single food category.

Geographically, the inspections spanned Manhattan from the Financial District to the Upper East Side, covering neighborhoods including Greenwich Village, the Lower East Side, Chinatown, Midtown, and the Upper West Side. No single neighborhood was disproportionately represented.

What This Means for Diners

A Grade B score does not mean a restaurant is unsafe to eat at. It indicates that inspectors found violations that require correction but that the conditions observed did not present an imminent health hazard. Many restaurants address cited violations promptly and achieve improved scores on re-inspection.

Diners who want to check the inspection history of any restaurant in New York City can do so through the city's public database. Every restaurant graded by the Department of Health is required to post its current letter grade in a location visible to customers before they enter. The grade card reflects the most recent inspection outcome.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, established in 2010, assigns letter grades based on the total points accumulated during an inspection. A score of 0 to 13 earns a Grade A, meaning few or no violations were found. A score of 14 to 27 results in a Grade B, indicating moderate violations. A score of 28 or higher results in a Grade C, reflecting more serious or numerous violations.

Violations are weighted by severity. Critical violations, such as evidence of pests or improper food temperatures, carry higher point values than general violations like missing signage. Restaurants that score above 13 on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, and the better of the two scores determines the posted grade.

For more information on restaurant inspection results, diners can visit the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection lookup tool or check individual facility pages on NYCRestaurantInspections.com.