3 Manhattan Restaurants Receive Grade B Scores on March 26, 2026

New York, NY — Three Manhattan restaurants received Grade B scores from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene during inspections conducted on March 26, 2026. With an average score of 17 points, each establishment fell within the Grade B range, indicating violations that require correction but do not represent an immediate public health hazard. All three restaurants will have the opportunity to correct cited violations before a follow-up inspection determines their final posted grade.

The Inspections

The day's inspections covered a range of neighborhoods and cuisine types across Manhattan, with findings that largely centered on plumbing infrastructure and food protection practices.

In the Financial District, Imm Thai at 80 Nassau Street received a score of 18. The Thai restaurant was cited for two violations: the absence of required anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices — a plumbing deficiency that can allow contaminated water to enter a facility's potable water supply — and inadequate protection of food, supplies, or equipment from potential contamination during storage, preparation, or transport. The restaurant's grade is listed as Pending, indicating the inspection cycle is ongoing.

Near Grand Central Terminal in Midtown, Jollibee at 14 East 42nd Street scored 17 and received a Grade N, signifying a new or initial inspection in the current cycle. The popular Filipino fast-food chain was cited for two critical violations alongside a general violation. Both critical citations involved food protection: inspectors documented that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential contamination, and that required anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were absent. A third violation related to improper drainage was also recorded. Critical violations are weighted more heavily in the scoring system and typically require prompt corrective action.

On the Upper West Side, The U Bar And Grill at 1207 Amsterdam Avenue earned a score of 16 and also received a Grade N designation. The fusion restaurant was cited for two violations: the same anti-siphonage and drainage deficiency found at the other two establishments, and a sanitation violation related to dishwashing and ware-washing practices — specifically, that the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, dishes, utensils, and equipment was found to be deficient.

Common Patterns

Across all three inspections on March 26, a single violation appeared at every establishment: the lack of required anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, combined with improper drainage. This type of plumbing violation falls under NYC Health Code Article 81 requirements, which mandate that food service establishments maintain plumbing systems that prevent contaminated water from flowing back into potable water lines. The consistency of this citation across three unrelated restaurants on the same day may reflect a heightened focus by inspectors on plumbing compliance, or it may simply indicate that such infrastructure issues are common in older Manhattan building stock.

Food protection violations — specifically the inadequate safeguarding of food, supplies, or equipment from contamination — appeared at two of the three restaurants, Imm Thai and Jollibee. These violations can relate to a variety of practices, including uncovered food storage, improper separation of raw and ready-to-eat items, or inadequate barriers during food transport.

The three restaurants span distinct cuisine categories — Thai, Filipino, and Fusion — and three different Manhattan neighborhoods: the Financial District, Midtown, and the Upper West Side. No single neighborhood or cuisine type stands out as a common thread beyond the plumbing deficiencies shared across all three.

What This Means for Diners

A Grade B is not a closure order, and restaurants that receive this score are permitted to remain open while addressing cited violations. Under New York City's restaurant grading system, a Grade B means that an establishment scored between 14 and 27 points during an unannounced inspection. Lower scores are better: each violation carries a point value based on its severity, and the total determines the grade.

When a restaurant receives a Grade B or Grade C on an initial inspection, it has the option to request a re-inspection before a grade card is posted. The grade posted in the window reflects the most recent completed inspection cycle, not necessarily the initial score. A "Grade Pending" or "Grade N" designation, as seen at all three restaurants cited here, indicates that the grading process for the current cycle is not yet complete.

Diners who want to review a restaurant's full inspection history — including all cited violations, scores, and prior grades — can do so through the NYC Health Department's public restaurant inspection database.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a letter-grade system administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene to communicate food safety performance to the public. The grades are assigned based on point totals from unannounced inspections conducted under the standards of NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned with the FDA Food Code:

• Grade A: 0–13 points. The restaurant met or closely met food safety standards.
• Grade B: 14–27 points. Violations were documented that require correction.
• Grade C: 28 or more points. More significant violations were found.

Violations are categorized as either critical or general. Critical violations — such as those cited at Jollibee — are directly linked to conditions that could contribute to foodborne illness and carry higher point values. General violations relate to facilities, equipment, or practices that, while not immediately hazardous, still fall short of code requirements.

Inspections are unannounced and occur at least once per year for most restaurants. Establishments with lower scores are inspected less frequently; those with recurring issues may be inspected more often.

For the full inspection record of any New York City restaurant, visit the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's online restaurant inspection results portal.