New York, NY — Six Manhattan restaurants received Grade B scores during New York City Health Department inspections conducted on March 23, 2026, with scores ranging from 16 to 20 points. The inspections covered establishments spanning Little Italy, the Upper West Side, Lenox Hill, and Chinatown, and documented violations across food protection, pest management, and equipment maintenance categories.
The Inspections
In Little Italy, Da Gennaro at 129 Mulberry Street received a score of 20, leaving its grade listed as Pending. Inspectors cited a critical violation: the establishment did not have a Food Protection Certificate (FPC) holder among its managers or supervisors of food operations. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, at least one supervisory employee must hold a valid FPC during all hours of operation. The absence of a certified food protection manager is considered a critical violation because it undermines the supervisory structure required to ensure safe food handling practices throughout the operation.
On the Upper West Side, Rito Gelato at 2341 Broadway also scored 20, with its grade recorded as N — indicating a new or reopened establishment still working through the initial inspection cycle. Inspectors documented evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas, a critical violation that triggers mandatory corrective action. Rodent activity in a food service environment poses direct contamination risks and is one of the more serious categories of violations tracked by the NYC Health Department.
At 1229 First Avenue in Lenox Hill, Bagel Works received a score of 19 with a grade of Z, which indicates the restaurant has requested a re-inspection. The cited violation noted that the establishment was not free of harborage conditions or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. While this differs from a direct sighting, conditions that allow pests to harbor — such as gaps in walls, improper storage, or accumulated debris — are treated as a serious concern under city health regulations.
Further uptown at 2810 Broadway, Gong Cha, a juice and smoothie shop, scored 18 with its grade listed as Pending. Inspectors recorded two critical violations both related to food adulteration or cross-contamination: raw, cooked, or prepared food was found to be adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) standards. The duplication of the citation typically reflects the same class of violation identified in multiple areas or at multiple points in the food handling process.
In Chinatown at 51 Division Street, Cardio Bakery — classified under Chinese cuisine — scored 18 with a grade of Z. Similar to Gong Cha, inspectors cited a repeated critical violation: food, supplies, or equipment were not protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, or transport. The repeated citation suggests the condition was observed in more than one context within the establishment. The Z grade indicates the restaurant has opted for a re-inspection rather than accepting the initial score.
The lowest score of the group, 16, went to Big Apple Cafe at 891 Amsterdam Avenue, also on the Upper West Side. Despite the lowest point total, the violation was non-critical: inspectors noted that a non-food contact surface or equipment was made of unacceptable material, was not kept clean, or was not properly sealed or raised. The grade is listed as Pending. While non-critical violations do not pose an immediate hazard, they are required to be corrected before a satisfactory re-inspection.
Common Patterns
Several themes emerge across this group of six inspections. Four of the six violations — those at Da Gennaro, Rito Gelato, Gong Cha, and Cardio Bakery — were classified as critical, meaning they represent conditions with the potential to directly contribute to foodborne illness if not corrected. Pest-related concerns appeared in two inspections (Rito Gelato and Bagel Works), reflecting a recurring challenge in dense urban food service environments. Food protection and contamination issues accounted for violations at three establishments (Gong Cha, Cardio Bakery, and Da Gennaro's FPC gap). The Upper West Side was the most represented neighborhood, with three of the six restaurants located there.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B does not mean a restaurant is unsafe to visit. Under the NYC grading system, a B indicates that violations were identified during inspection but that those violations did not constitute an immediate public health hazard. Restaurants that receive a B or C on their initial inspection may request a re-inspection — reflected in the Z grades seen here — before a final letter grade is posted publicly. During the re-inspection window, a Grade Pending card is displayed in the window in place of a final letter. Diners can check the current inspection status of any NYC restaurant through the NYC Health Department's online restaurant inspection results portal.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City requires all restaurants to post their letter grade prominently in a front window. The grading scale is based on points assigned to violations found during an unannounced inspection: 0–13 points earns an A; 14–27 points results in a B; 28 or more points yields a C. Critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — carry higher point values than general violations. Inspectors assess compliance with NYC Health Code Article 81, which incorporates standards drawn from the FDA Food Code, covering temperature control, personal hygiene, pest management, food sourcing, and facility maintenance. Restaurants that do not achieve an A on initial inspection may request a free re-inspection, at which point the lower of the two scores determines the posted grade.
For current inspection records, visit the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's restaurant inspection results search at the city's official health data portal.