New York, NY — Three restaurants in Queens received Grade B inspection scores on February 27, 2026, according to records from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The establishments, spanning pizza, Latin American, and chicken cuisine, each scored between 17 and 20 points during their inspections. Under NYC's restaurant grading system, a Grade B indicates that violations were documented but do not represent an immediate threat to public health.
The average score among the three restaurants was 18.3 points, placing each establishment in the middle range of the Grade B category. While none of the violations triggered an immediate closure or Grade C designation, the findings highlight recurring sanitation and equipment handling issues that inspectors continue to identify across Queens food service establishments.
The Inspections
Cocoluah Pizza, located at 94-04 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, received the highest score of the group at 20 points. Inspectors cited the pizzeria for multiple violations related to food contact surface sanitation. Specifically, food contact surfaces were found not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities that could lead to contamination. This violation was documented twice during the inspection, once as a critical violation and once as a general violation, suggesting a pattern rather than an isolated instance.
Additionally, inspectors noted that sanitized equipment and utensils, including in-use food dispensing utensils, were improperly used or stored. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized between uses to prevent cross-contamination. Repeated citations in this category indicate that standard sanitation protocols were not being consistently followed at the time of the inspection.
El Budare Cafe, a Latin American restaurant at 94-06 Roosevelt Avenue in Jackson Heights, received a score of 18 points. Inspectors identified two critical violations during the visit. The first involved wiping cloths that were not stored clean and dry or kept in a sanitizing solution between uses. Wiping cloths are a common source of bacterial transfer in restaurant kitchens, and the FDA Food Code requires that cloths used for wiping food contact surfaces be stored in an approved sanitizing solution when not actively in use.
The second violation cited El Budare Cafe for providing single-use plastic stirrers or single-use plastic splash sticks. This violation falls under New York City's local environmental regulations rather than traditional food safety codes. The city has implemented restrictions on certain single-use plastic items as part of broader sustainability initiatives, and restaurants are expected to comply with these provisions.
Popeyes, the national chicken chain location at 197-02 Hillside Avenue in Hollis, recorded the lowest score of the three at 17 points. The inspection identified violations related to non-food contact surfaces and equipment. Specifically, inspectors noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, or spaced to allow for adequate cleaning and inspection. While this type of violation does not directly involve surfaces that touch food, poorly maintained non-food contact areas can harbor pests and bacteria that may eventually compromise food safety.
Common Patterns
Several patterns emerge from the February 27 inspection results in Queens. The most prominent theme is sanitation, specifically the cleaning, storage, and handling of surfaces and equipment. Two of the three restaurants, Cocoluah Pizza and El Budare Cafe, received critical violations directly related to how surfaces and utensils were sanitized or stored between uses. These are among the most frequently cited violations across New York City restaurants and reflect ongoing challenges in maintaining consistent sanitation practices during busy service periods.
The three restaurants represent distinct cuisine types, including pizza, Latin American, and chicken, yet the underlying violations share common ground. Equipment maintenance and cleanliness appeared across all three inspections in various forms, whether involving food contact surfaces at Cocoluah Pizza, wiping cloths at El Budare Cafe, or non-food contact equipment at Popeyes.
Geographically, the restaurants are spread across different Queens neighborhoods, from Jamaica to Jackson Heights to Hollis, suggesting that these sanitation challenges are not concentrated in a single area but reflect borough-wide patterns that inspectors routinely encounter.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B score indicates that a restaurant has room for improvement but is not considered an immediate health risk. Restaurants receiving a B grade are required to address the cited violations and may request a re-inspection to improve their score. Many establishments correct their violations promptly and achieve higher grades on subsequent visits.
Diners can check any restaurant's current grade and full inspection history through the NYC Department of Health's online portal at the Restaurant Inspection Results page. Each restaurant's inspection record includes the specific violations cited, the date of the inspection, and any subsequent re-inspection results. This transparency allows consumers to make informed decisions about where they choose to eat.
It is worth noting that inspection scores represent a snapshot of conditions on a single day. A restaurant's score can vary between visits based on staffing, timing, and operational conditions at the moment inspectors arrive.
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 the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. A Grade A corresponds to a score of 0 to 13 points, indicating minimal or no violations. A Grade B reflects a score of 14 to 27 points, meaning violations were found but conditions are not considered an immediate public health hazard. A Grade C is assigned to restaurants scoring 28 points or higher, indicating more significant concerns.
Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and the condition in which it was found. Critical violations, such as improper food temperatures or inadequate sanitation of food contact surfaces, carry higher point values than general violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection can request a re-inspection, and only the final grade from the inspection cycle is posted publicly.
For the most current inspection data on any restaurant in New York City, visit the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection lookup tool or check individual facility pages on NYCRestaurantInspections.com.