Manhattan, NY — In Common Cafe, an Australian restaurant located at 441 9th Avenue in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 30, 2026. The establishment received a score of 78, placing it in the C range under the city's grading system. Inspectors documented three critical violations and three non-critical violations. This data was released by DOHMH on April 1, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited six violations during the March 30 visit, three of which were classified as critical — meaning they pose a direct risk of foodborne illness.

The first critical violation, Code 02G, involved cold temperature control failures. Inspectors found that temperature-sensitive foods were held above the required thresholds: cold TCS (time/temperature control for safety) items must be maintained at or below 41°F, smoked or processed fish at or below 38°F, and intact raw eggs at or below 45°F. Failure to maintain these temperatures allows pathogenic bacteria to multiply to unsafe levels.

The second critical violation, Code 02B, documented the opposite problem on the hot side: hot TCS food items were not held at or above 140°F. Together, these two temperature violations indicate a systemic breakdown in food temperature management at the time of inspection.

The third critical violation, Code 06D, cited food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use. This violation applies to any surface that comes into direct contact with food — including cutting boards, prep tables, and utensils — and is considered critical because unsanitized surfaces can transfer pathogens directly to food.

The three non-critical violations all involved Code 20-04 and were cited twice, relating to the absence of required postings: a "Choking First Aid" poster, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and signage for required resuscitation equipment including exhaled air resuscitation masks for adults and children, and latex gloves. A fourth non-critical violation, Code 10B, identified a failure to provide anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices where required, or improper drainage of equipment or floors.

The inspection record notes that violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site prior to or as a condition of reopening.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control is one of the foundational principles of safe food handling. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, restaurants are required to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot in order to prevent bacterial growth in what food safety regulators call the "temperature danger zone" — between 41°F and 140°F. When food spends extended time in this range, pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus can proliferate to levels capable of causing illness.

Code 06D violations — failure to sanitize food contact surfaces — are treated as critical because they represent a direct contamination pathway. Even if food is handled at correct temperatures, contact with an unsanitized surface can introduce harmful microorganisms.

When a combination of violations presents an immediate public health risk, DOHMH inspectors are authorized under Article 81 to order an establishment closed until conditions are corrected and a re-inspection is passed. The closure of In Common Cafe reflects that threshold being reached on this visit.

Inspection History

In Common Cafe's prior inspection record had been consistently strong before this visit:

  • 2024-10-18: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • 2023-05-17: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • 2022-05-06: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • 2022-03-18: Score 24

The restaurant earned Grade A scores in each of its three most recent graded inspections, with scores clustering in the low teens — well within the top performance tier. The March 2022 score of 24 preceded a May 2022 follow-up that resulted in a Grade A, suggesting the establishment corrected issues identified at that earlier visit. The 78 recorded on March 30, 2026 represents a significant departure from that recent trend.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires restaurants to post their most recent inspection grade in a visible location near the entrance. Grades are assigned based on the point score resulting from an inspection:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points

A score of 78 falls well into Grade C territory. Points are assigned based on the number and severity of violations, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones. Establishments that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH online database. Consumers can search inspection history, scores, and violation details by restaurant name or address at NYC Open Data or through the city's restaurant inspection lookup tool at nyc.gov.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for In Common Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.