Manhattan, NY — Great Taste Usa, a Chinese restaurant at 33 Catherine Street in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a January 30, 2026 inspection that resulted in a score of 42. The inspection documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation, leading to the establishment being re-closed by the agency.
This closure marks the latest in a series of enforcement actions against the restaurant, which has been closed multiple times within the past year.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 30 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified two violations at the establishment.
The critical violation, cited under Code 03A, involved food from unapproved or unknown sources. This category covers several serious food safety concerns, including food that is home canned or home prepared, animals slaughtered or butchered on premises, and Reduced Oxygen Packaged (ROP) fish not frozen before processing. The presence of food from sources that cannot be verified poses a direct risk to consumer safety, as these items may not have undergone required safety inspections, proper temperature controls, or pathogen testing.
Inspectors also documented a non-critical violation under Code 10B, related to plumbing and drainage issues. Specifically, the citation noted deficiencies with anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, improper drainage of equipment or floors, and improper disposal of condensation or liquid waste. While classified as non-critical, plumbing deficiencies can create conditions that compromise food safety and sanitation over time.
The combined score of 42 places the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C, the lowest letter grade issued by DOHMH.
Food Safety Context
The critical violation documented at Great Taste Usa relates directly to provisions in NYC Health Code Article 81, which requires all food served in food service establishments to come from approved, inspectable sources. This regulation aligns with the FDA Food Code, which establishes that food must be obtained from sources that comply with applicable laws and that are inspected and approved by regulatory authorities.
The requirement for approved food sources is one of the foundational principles of food safety regulation. When food enters a restaurant from unknown or unapproved channels, there is no way to verify that it was produced, stored, and transported under safe conditions. This includes confirming proper temperature maintenance, absence of contamination, and compliance with labeling and traceability requirements.
The plumbing violation, while non-critical, also connects to health code requirements for maintaining sanitary conditions. Back-flow prevention devices are required to prevent contaminated water from flowing back into clean water supplies, a safeguard that protects both food preparation areas and handwashing stations.
Inspection History
Great Taste Usa has a documented pattern of inspection challenges over the past year. The restaurant's recent inspection history includes:
- February 4, 2026: Score 2 (Grade Z), reopened
- January 30, 2026: Score 42, re-closed by DOHMH (current inspection)
- December 29, 2025: Score 79, closed by DOHMH
- October 31, 2025: Score 48
- April 15, 2025: Score 5 (Grade Z)
- April 11, 2025: Score 50, closed by DOHMH
- April 8, 2025: Score 67, closed by DOHMH
The record shows that the restaurant has been closed by DOHMH on at least four occasions since April 2025. Following closures, the establishment has undergone re-inspections and been permitted to reopen after demonstrating improved conditions, as indicated by the significantly lower scores recorded on subsequent visits. However, the pattern of high scores followed by closures and brief improvements suggests recurring compliance difficulties.
Notably, the restaurant was reopened on February 4, 2026, just five days after the January 30 closure, with a score of 2 — indicating that nearly all violations had been corrected at the time of the re-inspection.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH restaurant grading system:
- A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less serious violations. A Grade Z designation indicates a restaurant that has been re-inspected or is in the adjudication process, and a letter grade has not yet been assigned for that cycle.
The January 30 inspection score of 42 falls in the Grade C range. Restaurants receiving grades below A have the option to request a hearing before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to contest their scores.
Data and Resources
This inspection was conducted on January 30, 2026, with data released by DOHMH on February 6, 2026. Inspection results and restaurant grades are public record and can be verified through the NYC DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can check current grades and inspection histories for any restaurant in New York City through the city's online portal.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Great Taste Usa including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.