New York, NY — Five Queens restaurants received Grade B scores during New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspections conducted on April 9, 2026, with violations ranging from evidence of rodent activity to improperly sanitized food contact surfaces. The five establishments posted an average score of 19 points, placing them within the Grade B range that signals correctable violations without an immediate public health emergency.
The Inspections
Inspectors identified critical rodent-related violations at two of the five establishments. Subway, located at 68-20 Rockaway Beach Boulevard in the Rockaway Beach section of Queens, received a score of 20 and was cited for evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas — a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81. The location's grade was listed as Pending at the time of inspection, indicating a reinspection will determine the posted letter grade.
Also cited for the same critical rodent violation was Mahim African Restaurant at 116-59 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica, which received a score of 18 with a grade status of N, meaning no letter grade was assigned following this inspection cycle. Rodent evidence violations are considered critical because mice can contaminate food and surfaces with pathogens including Salmonella and Leptospira.
Sanitation failures at food contact surfaces were documented at two other locations. Coffee Shot, a coffee and tea shop at 107-06 71st Road in Forest Hills, scored 20 and was cited twice for food contact surfaces not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use — a critical violation that can allow cross-contamination between food preparation cycles. Bagel Station Express at 90-17 Rockaway Boulevard in Ozone Park received a score of 18 and was also cited twice for the same food contact surface sanitation violation. Both establishments carried a grade status of N.
The fifth restaurant, Coffee & Green at 21-06 36th Avenue in Astoria, received a score of 19 and a Pending grade. Inspectors noted two non-critical violations: damaged or swollen canned goods not properly segregated from intact products, and wiping cloths not stored correctly between uses. While these violations are non-critical, they reflect gaps in food storage and sanitation protocol under FDA Food Code standards.
Common Patterns
Several threads run through this group of inspections. Rodent activity appeared at two establishments — one in Rockaway Beach and one in Jamaica — representing geographically distant locations but sharing the same critical citation. Rodent evidence is among the most heavily weighted violations in the NYC inspection scoring system and typically contributes 7 points per instance to a restaurant's total score.
Food contact surface sanitation failures appeared at both Coffee Shot and Bagel Station Express, both cited twice for the same violation. Repeated citations for the same issue within a single inspection can indicate a systemic gap in staff training or cleaning protocols rather than an isolated incident.
The five restaurants span a range of cuisine types — sandwiches, coffee, American, African, and bagels — suggesting the violations identified on this date were not specific to any single style of food preparation. Neighborhoods represented include Rockaway Beach, Forest Hills, Astoria, Jamaica, and Ozone Park, covering a broad geographic spread across the borough.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B does not mean a restaurant is unsafe to visit. Under the NYC inspection system, Grade B establishments are required to correct their violations and are subject to reinspection. Many restaurants receive a B score during an unannounced inspection and subsequently earn an A upon reinspection once the cited issues are addressed.
Restaurants with a Pending grade, as seen with Subway and Coffee & Green, have the option to request a reinspection before a letter grade is posted publicly. During that window, the Pending placard is displayed in place of a letter grade. A grade of N indicates the inspection was an initial visit in a new inspection cycle and no letter grade has yet been assigned.
Diners can look up any NYC restaurant's full inspection history — including violation details, scores, and grade history — through the NYC Health Department's restaurant inspection search tool. This resource is updated regularly and reflects the most current posted grade for each establishment.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a points-based grading system administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. During unannounced inspections, inspectors assess violations across categories including food handling, temperature control, pest activity, personal hygiene, and facility conditions. Each violation carries a point value, with critical violations — those most directly linked to foodborne illness — weighted more heavily than general violations.
The grade thresholds are as follows: a score of 0 to 13 points results in an A grade; 14 to 27 points results in a B grade; and a score of 28 points or higher results in a C grade. All five restaurants inspected on April 9 fell within the B range, with scores between 18 and 20.
Critical violations, as defined under NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned with FDA Food Code standards, include issues such as evidence of pests, improper food temperatures, and failure to sanitize food contact surfaces. Non-critical violations typically address conditions that, while requiring correction, do not pose an immediate risk of foodborne illness.
Restaurants are inspected at least once per year, with higher-risk establishments inspected more frequently. Following an initial inspection that results in a B or C score, the restaurant has the right to a reinspection before a grade is publicly posted. The posted grade must be displayed in a window visible from the street.
For the latest inspection results across all five boroughs, visit the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's official inspection lookup portal.