Manhattan, NY — The Hilton New York Times Square, located at 234 West 42nd Street, received a score of 49 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 25, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 27, 2026. The score of 49 represents a significant departure from the hotel restaurant's recent inspection performance, which had previously earned consecutive Grade A ratings.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 25 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented the following violation:
A non-critical violation was cited under code 09E for failure to post a wash hands sign near or above a hand washing sink.
While the inspection resulted in only one documented violation — a non-critical citation — the total score of 49 points indicates that additional point deductions contributed to the overall result. Under the DOHMH scoring system, points are assessed based on the nature and severity of conditions observed during the inspection. The score reflects the cumulative assessment recorded by inspectors during the visit.
The action taken by DOHMH was noted as "violations were cited in the following area(s)," indicating that the establishment was not ordered closed at the time of inspection but was cited for conditions requiring correction.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in New York City must meet. Hand washing signage requirements, as cited in this inspection, are part of broader hygiene protocols designed to reduce the risk of foodborne illness transmission.
The FDA Food Code identifies proper hand washing as one of the most critical interventions for preventing the spread of pathogens in food service environments. Signage requirements serve as a visible reminder to food handlers and are considered a basic compliance measure by public health authorities.
Under New York City's restaurant inspection program, establishments that receive a Grade C are eligible to request an adjudicatory hearing with the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). The establishment may also request a re-inspection, during which a new score may be issued.
Inspection History
The Hilton New York Times Square's prior inspection record shows a pattern of generally strong compliance before this most recent result:
- Oct 23, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- May 31, 2023: Score 10 (Grade A)
- Apr 6, 2023: Score 40 (No grade recorded)
The two most recent inspections prior to this visit both resulted in Grade A scores, with the establishment earning scores of 12 and 10 respectively. However, the April 2023 inspection also resulted in an elevated score of 40, suggesting that periodic compliance challenges have occurred in the past.
The current score of 49 is the highest (worst) score recorded in the establishment's available inspection history.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points identified during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants are required to post their most recent grade card in a location visible to the public near the entrance. Establishments that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to improve their score.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including specific violations and scores, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The NYC Open Data portal also provides downloadable inspection records for research and reference purposes.
All inspection data referenced in this article is drawn from public records made available by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Hilton New York Times Square including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.