New York, NY — Three Queens restaurants received Grade B scores from New York City health inspectors on March 26, 2026, with scores ranging from 14 to 18 points. The inspections, conducted by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, identified violations spanning pest management, temperature control, and food contact surface maintenance across three distinct cuisine types.

The Inspections

Mahim African Restaurant, located at 116-59 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, scored 18 points during its March 26 inspection. Inspectors documented two violations: the establishment did not have a contract with a licensed pest management professional in place, and records of extermination activities were not maintained on premises as required. A second violation noted that anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required, and that equipment or floor drainage did not meet code standards. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, pest management contracts and associated documentation are required to demonstrate ongoing, proactive efforts to prevent infestation. The absence of such records does not necessarily indicate an active pest problem, but represents a compliance gap that inspectors are required to cite.

A few miles west, Bagel Station Express, at 90-17 Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park, also received a score of 18, with two of its violations flagged as critical. Inspectors found that cold Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F — the maximum allowable temperature under the FDA Food Code for potentially hazardous refrigerated items. This type of violation is considered critical because improper cold holding temperatures can accelerate bacterial growth in foods such as dairy, deli meats, and prepared items. Additionally, inspectors cited the absence of a food allergy information poster in a location conspicuous to food workers during preparation — a requirement under New York City regulations intended to reduce the risk of allergen-related incidents for customers. The combination of a temperature control lapse and an allergy compliance gap placed Bagel Station Express at the higher end of the Grade B range.

Rounding out the day's Grade B results, Levy Restaurant Inc, a pizza establishment at 150-19 Liberty Avenue in South Jamaica, received the lowest score of the three at 14 points — the minimum threshold for a Grade B. Inspectors recorded a single violation: food contact surfaces were not properly maintained. Under FDA Food Code standards, food contact surfaces — including cutting boards, prep tables, and utensils — must be kept clean, smooth, and free of cracks or damage that could harbor bacteria or be difficult to sanitize. A score of 14 places Levy Restaurant just above the Grade A cutoff and suggests the operation was otherwise in compliance during the inspection visit.

Common Patterns

The three inspections on March 26 reflect violation categories commonly seen across New York City restaurants: pest management documentation gaps, temperature control deficiencies, and equipment maintenance. While the three establishments serve different cuisines — African, bagels, and pizza — the violations identified do not cluster around any single cuisine type or food preparation style.

Geographically, all three restaurants are located in southeastern Queens, in neighborhoods that include Jamaica and Ozone Park. This reflects the density of food service establishments in these commercial corridors rather than any localized inspection pattern.

Two of the three establishments — Mahim African Restaurant and Bagel Station Express — scored 18 points, while Levy Restaurant came in at 14. The average score across the three inspections was 16.7 points, placing the group comfortably within the Grade B band. Critical violations were limited to Bagel Station Express, where the temperature holding issue was flagged twice in the inspection record.

What This Means for Diners

A Grade B indicates that a restaurant had violations identified during inspection that require correction, but that inspectors did not determine those violations posed an immediate public health hazard at the time of the visit. Grade B restaurants are given the opportunity to correct cited violations and may request a re-inspection, at which point a new score and grade will be issued.

New York City requires restaurants to post their most recent letter grade in a window visible to passersby. Diners can also look up any restaurant's full inspection history — including violation descriptions, scores, and inspection dates — through the NYC Department of Health's online restaurant inspection lookup tool. Checking a restaurant's history over multiple inspections often provides more context than a single score.

Restaurants graded N (Not Yet Graded) are typically in the process of being re-inspected or are awaiting a grade card. Both Mahim African Restaurant and Bagel Station Express carried a Grade N designation at the time of the March 26 inspection, which may reflect timing in the grading cycle rather than an escalated compliance concern.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a points-based grading system administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Each violation carries a point value based on its severity, and the total determines the letter grade:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points — the restaurant met acceptable standards
  • Grade B: 14–27 points — violations were found that need correction
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — more significant violations were identified

Inspections are unannounced and occur at least once per year for most establishments. Restaurants that score 14 or more points on an initial inspection are subject to a follow-up inspection, typically within a month, at which point a final grade is assigned based on the second visit's score.

For more information, diners can visit the NYC DOHMH restaurant inspection results database or review NYCRestaurantInspections.com for local coverage of inspection activity across the five boroughs.