Manhattan, NY — Haagen - Dazs at 263 Amsterdam Avenue received a score of 28 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 25, 2026, placing the frozen dessert shop in Grade C territory — the lowest passing grade under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on March 27, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one non-critical violation during the March 25 visit, citing the location under Code 09C for improper design, construction, materials, or maintenance of a food contact surface. Specifically, inspectors recorded that a surface was not easily cleanable, sanitized, and maintained as required under applicable standards.

Food contact surfaces — equipment and materials that come into direct contact with food during preparation, storage, or service — receive close scrutiny during health inspections. Under applicable standards, such surfaces must be constructed of materials that can be effectively cleaned and sanitized, and must be kept in good repair to prevent contamination risks.

The citation did not result in a closure order. The shop was permitted to continue operating, with the violation noted for the record.

Food Safety Context

Food contact surface standards are addressed under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments throughout the five boroughs, as well as the FDA Food Code, which provides the underlying framework for surface material and maintenance requirements.

Under these regulations, food contact surfaces must be smooth, non-porous, and free of cracks or damage that could harbor bacteria or prevent thorough cleaning. Surfaces that cannot be properly cleaned and sanitized present a potential pathway for cross-contamination — a concern in any food service setting, including frozen dessert preparation.

Code 09C violations address the physical condition and design of equipment, rather than active contamination events. While classified as non-critical under the DOHMH violation classification system, such violations can carry significant point values under the city's scoring methodology, contributing to a higher total score even when no critical violations are identified.

In this inspection, the single cited violation produced a score of 28 — the threshold at which a Grade C is issued. This outcome represents a notable departure from the shop's recent compliance record.

Inspection History

Prior inspections at this location reflect a consistent pattern of strong compliance:

  • November 18, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 15, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • April 7, 2022: Score 10 (Grade A)

The March 2026 result marks the first time the Amsterdam Avenue location has received a Grade C in at least four inspection cycles. The shop had earned Grade A scores in each of its three preceding unannounced inspections.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

The DOHMH assigns letter grades to food service establishments following unannounced inspections. Grades are based on a point system where a lower score reflects fewer or less severe violations:

  • A = 0 to 13 points
  • B = 14 to 27 points
  • C = 28 or more points

Establishments that receive a score of 14 or higher during an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within approximately one month. If the score remains in B or C range at re-inspection, the grade that reflects the lower of the two scores is posted publicly at the establishment. A Grade C posting indicates that inspectors identified violations significant enough to push the cumulative score to 28 or above.

Restaurants have the right to appeal inspection results through the city's Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

Members of the public can view current and historical inspection records for any licensed food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup tool, available via the NYC Open Data portal. Records can be searched by restaurant name, address, or borough.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Haagen - Dazs including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.