Queens, NY — Jade Eatery And Lounge, a Japanese restaurant located at 1 Station Square in Forest Hills, received a Grade C score of 31 points following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on April 7, 2026. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on April 9, 2026.

The inspection identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation. A Grade C is assigned when a restaurant scores 28 or more points during an inspection cycle.

What Inspectors Found

The critical violation cited during the April inspection involved improper cold food storage temperatures. Inspectors documented that temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F, in violation of established food safety standards. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, cold TCS foods — including proteins, dairy, and prepared items — must be maintained at or below 41°F to inhibit the growth of harmful bacteria. Smoked or processed fish must be held at or below 38°F, and reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods are subject to similarly strict temperature thresholds.

Temperature abuse is considered a critical violation because it directly increases the risk of bacterial growth that can lead to foodborne illness.

Inspectors also noted a non-critical violation under Code 10F, which identifies non-food contact surfaces or equipment made of unacceptable materials, not maintained in a clean condition, or not properly configured to allow cleaning access on all sides and underneath. While non-critical violations do not carry the same immediate public health risk as critical ones, they are required to be corrected as part of the restaurant's compliance obligations.

Food Safety Context

Cold holding temperature requirements are among the most fundamental components of food safety regulation. The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for NYC Health Code Article 81, identifies temperature control as a primary factor in preventing the conditions that allow pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus to reach dangerous levels in food.

DOHMH inspectors are trained to use calibrated thermometers to assess food temperatures across multiple storage units and service areas. A single documented reading above the required threshold is sufficient to constitute a critical violation under current scoring guidelines. Critical violations are assigned higher point values than non-critical ones, which is why a relatively small number of violations can result in a Grade C score.

Inspection History

The April 2026 inspection is part of a pattern of elevated scores at Jade Eatery And Lounge over recent years. The restaurant's documented inspection history includes:

  • April 7, 2026: Score 31 (Grade C)
  • October 20, 2025: Score 40 (Grade Z)
  • July 17, 2025: Score 30
  • November 21, 2023: Score 35 (Grade B)
  • March 6, 2023: Score 14

The March 2023 inspection — with a score of 14 — represents the restaurant's strongest recent performance. Since that inspection, scores have trended upward, with three consecutive results above 28 points. A Grade Z designation, as recorded in October 2025, is typically assigned when a restaurant is undergoing re-inspection or when a score is pending grade assignment under DOHMH's grading cycle.

Under the city's Cycle Inspection Initiative, restaurants that score 14 or above on an initial inspection are subject to an unannounced re-inspection. The final posted grade reflects the lower of the two scores from that cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a letter grading system to communicate inspection results to the public. Grades are calculated based on the total number of points assigned during an inspection:

  • A: 0 to 13 points (satisfactory)
  • B: 14 to 27 points (some violations identified)
  • C: 28 or more points (multiple or serious violations identified)

Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant's entrance. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade may request re-inspection before a grade is officially posted.

Consumers can view full inspection records, including violation descriptions and scores, through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Additional restaurant grade information is available through the NYC Open Data portal.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Jade Eatery And Lounge including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.