Manhattan, NY — Harlem Amor, located at 2082 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on May 15, 2026. The establishment received a score of 156, a figure far exceeding the 28-point threshold that defines a C grade under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors cited two critical violations and ordered immediate corrective action as a condition of the closure.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on May 19, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented two critical violations during the May 15 inspection, both of which fall under categories the city considers direct risks to public health.
The first critical violation, Code 02B, noted that hot temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were not being held at or above 140°F. Under food safety standards, hot TCS foods — including cooked meats, poultry, and other potentially hazardous items — must be maintained at 140°F or higher to prevent bacterial growth. Temperatures below this threshold create conditions that allow pathogens such as Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens to multiply to dangerous levels.
The second critical violation, Code 06D, identified that food contact surfaces were not being properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities during which contamination could have occurred. Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, preparation tables, utensils, and equipment that comes into direct contact with food during preparation or service. Inadequate sanitization of these surfaces can facilitate cross-contamination and the transfer of harmful bacteria between food items.
DOHMH noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the inspection. The closure order remained in effect pending verification that conditions had been brought into compliance.
Food Safety Context
The violations identified at Harlem Amor fall under standards codified in NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishment operations in New York City, and align with requirements established in the FDA Food Code, a federal model adopted in whole or in part by most jurisdictions nationwide.
Code 02B violations relate to time and temperature control, one of the most fundamental principles in food safety. The 140°F holding temperature for hot foods is designed to keep food outside what regulators call the "temperature danger zone" — the range between 41°F and 140°F in which bacterial proliferation is most rapid. Extended time in the danger zone is a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks.
Code 06D violations address sanitation of surfaces that directly contact food during preparation. Proper warewashing and sanitization protocols — including the use of approved chemical sanitizers at correct concentrations or heat-based sanitization — are required between uses and whenever contamination may have occurred. Failure to follow these protocols is associated with cross-contamination events that can affect multiple menu items and multiple customers.
A score of 156 is substantially above the ranges typically associated with most cited establishments. For context, a score above 28 results in a C grade; the majority of inspections that result in closure orders involve scores in the range of dozens to low hundreds. A score of this magnitude reflects a significant accumulation of violation points across the categories assessed.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history for Harlem Amor is available in the DOHMH public dataset. This may indicate the establishment is newly opened, recently changed ownership under a new permit, or that prior records are not yet reflected in the publicly accessible data. DOHMH inspection records are updated on a rolling basis and may not capture all historical inspection activity at a given address.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grading system for restaurants is based on the score an establishment receives during a DOHMH inspection. Scores reflect the number of points assigned to violations identified during the inspection, with more serious violations carrying higher point values. The grade categories are:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points — the highest possible grade
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 or more points
Establishments that receive a score of 28 or higher during an initial inspection are not immediately issued a grade card. Instead, they are given the opportunity to correct violations and are subject to a re-inspection, at which point the grade card is posted. If the score remains high at re-inspection, a C grade card is posted. Restaurants may also request an administrative hearing to contest their score.
Closures are ordered when inspectors identify conditions they determine present an imminent public health hazard. In such cases, the establishment must address the cited conditions before reopening.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Harlem Amor including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.