Queens, NY — Three restaurants across Queens received Grade B-level inspection scores on March 18, 2026, according to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene records. The establishments — spanning bakery, Thai, and bagel cuisines — recorded scores ranging from 18 to 20 points, with cold food temperature control emerging as the most frequently cited violation of the day.
Under the city's letter grading system, a Grade B corresponds to a score between 14 and 27 points, indicating that inspectors identified violations requiring correction but not posing an immediate threat to public health. The average score among the three restaurants was 19.3 points.
The Inspections
Miracali Iii, a bakery and desserts establishment located at 80-28 Baxter Avenue in Elmhurst, received a score of 20 points with a grade currently listed as pending. Inspectors documented that the facility did not have an accurate thermometer properly provided or located in refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment. This violation, while not classified as critical, reflects a gap in the restaurant's ability to verify that food is being stored at safe temperatures. Without functioning thermometers in storage units, staff cannot confirm compliance with temperature requirements outlined in NYC Health Code Article 81.
House of Thai, a Thai restaurant at 25-01 40th Avenue in Long Island City, also recorded a score of 20 points with a pending grade. The inspection identified critical violations related to cold time and temperature control for safety (TCS) food items held above 41°F. Under the FDA Food Code, cold TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. When cold foods are held above this threshold, the risk of bacterial proliferation increases, particularly for items such as proteins, dairy products, and prepared dishes common in Thai cuisine.
Bagel Station Express, located at 90-17 Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park, received the lowest score among the three at 18 points and was assigned a grade of N, which typically indicates a new establishment undergoing its initial inspection cycle. Like House of Thai, Bagel Station Express was cited for critical violations involving cold TCS food items held above the required 41°F threshold. For a bagel establishment that likely handles cream cheese, smoked fish, and other perishable spreads and toppings, maintaining proper cold storage temperatures is essential to food safety.
Common Patterns
The most notable pattern across the March 18 inspections is the prevalence of temperature-related violations. Two of the three restaurants — House of Thai and Bagel Station Express — were cited for the same critical violation involving cold TCS food items stored above safe temperature limits. This violation is consistently among the most commonly documented issues in New York City restaurant inspections, as temperature control is fundamental to preventing foodborne illness.
The third establishment, Miracali Iii, was cited for lacking a properly placed accurate thermometer, which is directly related to temperature monitoring. Taken together, all three violations point to a common theme: temperature management and monitoring in cold storage equipment.
The cuisines represented — bakery products, Thai food, and bagels — all involve perishable ingredients that require careful cold storage. Whether it is cream-based desserts, curry pastes and proteins, or cream cheese and lox, these food categories demand consistent refrigeration to remain safe for consumption.
Geographically, the three restaurants are spread across different Queens neighborhoods — Elmhurst, Long Island City, and Ozone Park — suggesting that the temperature control issues are not concentrated in a single area but rather reflect a common operational challenge across the borough.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B score does not mean a restaurant is unsafe to eat at. It means that inspectors found violations that need to be addressed. Restaurants receiving a B grade have the opportunity to request a re-inspection to improve their score and potentially earn an A grade.
For the two restaurants with pending grades, final letter grades will be assigned after the inspection process is complete. Bagel Station Express, with its N designation, is likely in the early stages of the grading cycle as a newer establishment.
Diners who want to check a restaurant's inspection history before visiting can look up any establishment through the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection search portal. Each facility's inspection results, including specific violations and scores, are publicly available and updated regularly.
The facility pages for each restaurant on NYCRestaurantInspections.com also provide detailed inspection histories, making it easy to track whether violations have been corrected over time.
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. The scoring works as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points — the restaurant is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points — violations were found that require correction
- Grade C: 28 or more points — significant violations were documented
Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and relevance to public health. Critical violations, such as improper food temperature control, generally carry higher point values than general violations like missing thermometers.
Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection can request an adjudication hearing or a re-inspection. Many establishments use the period between inspections to correct cited violations and improve their scores.
For more information about restaurant inspections in Queens and across New York City, visit the NYC Department of Health restaurant grading page or search individual restaurants through the city's public database.