Queens, NY — Il Bacco, a long-established Italian restaurant at 253-24 Northern Boulevard in Little Neck, received a Grade B score of 25 following a health inspection conducted on March 11, 2026. The score places the restaurant near the upper boundary of the Grade B range, just three points below the Grade C threshold of 28. Inspectors documented two critical violations and one non-critical violation during the visit.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 13, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified two critical food safety violations, both related to improper temperature control of time and temperature controlled for safety (TCS) foods.
The first critical violation (Code 02B) cited hot TCS food items not held at or above 140 °F. Maintaining hot foods at this minimum temperature is required to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria that can cause foodborne illness.
The second critical violation (Code 02G) cited cold TCS food items held above 41 °F. This violation also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F, intact raw eggs held above 45 °F, and reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods held above required temperatures. Proper cold holding is essential to slowing bacterial growth in perishable items.
Inspectors also documented one non-critical violation (Code 10F) for non-food contact surfaces or equipment that were not kept clean or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning.
Food Safety Context
Temperature control is one of the most fundamental requirements in food safety. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, restaurants must maintain hot foods at 140 °F or above and cold foods at 41 °F or below. The range between these temperatures — often called the "danger zone" — allows rapid bacterial multiplication that can lead to foodborne illness.
Having both hot and cold holding violations documented in a single inspection indicates a broader temperature management concern, as it suggests issues across multiple areas of food storage and preparation rather than an isolated lapse.
Inspection History
The Grade B result marks a notable departure from Il Bacco's prior inspection record, which had been consistently strong:
- June 17, 2024: Score 9, Grade A
- March 13, 2023: Score 13, Grade A
- January 11, 2022: Score 12, Grade A
The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores across at least three consecutive inspection cycles before this March 2026 result. The jump from a score of 9 to a score of 25 represents a significant increase in documented violations.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total points accumulated during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Il Bacco's score of 25 places it in the upper portion of the Grade B range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection to attempt a better score.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by viewing the letter grade card posted at the establishment's entrance. Additional food safety information is available through the NYC Department of Health website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Il Bacco including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.