Manhattan, NY — Joe & The Juice, located at 1400 Madison Avenue in East Harlem, received a Grade B with a score of 25 points following a New York City health inspection conducted on March 4, 2026. The score places the juice and smoothie bar near the top of the Grade B range, just two points below the 28-point threshold that triggers a Grade C.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection:

  • Food contact surfaces not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred (Violation Code 06D).

This violation pertains to surfaces that come into direct contact with food during preparation and serving. At a juice and smoothie establishment, this can include blender components, cutting boards, countertops, and utensils used to handle fresh fruits and vegetables. Proper washing, rinsing, and sanitizing between uses is essential to prevent cross-contamination and the potential transfer of harmful bacteria.

No non-critical violations were recorded during the inspection. The action taken was that violations were cited in the identified area.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that all food contact surfaces be cleaned and sanitized between uses, particularly when switching between different food items or after any interruption that could introduce contaminants. This requirement aligns with the FDA Food Code, which specifies that food contact surfaces must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized at defined intervals throughout the day and between tasks.

For establishments that prepare fresh juices and smoothies, sanitation of blending equipment and preparation surfaces is particularly important. Raw produce can carry pathogens, and equipment that is not properly sanitized between batches can facilitate cross-contamination.

A score of 25 points is notable because it sits in the upper range of Grade B territory. While the restaurant retains a B grade, the proximity to the Grade C threshold of 28 points indicates that the violation carried significant weight in the scoring.

Inspection History

Joe & The Juice at this location has a mixed inspection record over the past several years:

  • Nov 19, 2024: Score 4 (Grade A)
  • Dec 19, 2023: Score 20
  • Sep 27, 2022: Score 23 (Grade B)
  • Mar 25, 2022: Score 28

The most recent prior inspection in November 2024 resulted in a strong Grade A with a score of just 4 points. The drop to 25 points represents a significant shift from that result. Earlier inspections in 2022 and 2023 also showed elevated scores, suggesting the current result reflects a return to patterns seen before the 2024 improvement.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on violation points accumulated during inspections:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade may request a re-inspection or hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

Inspection results for Joe & The Juice and all NYC restaurants are available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can review detailed violation histories and scores at [NYC Open Data](https://data.cityofnewyork.us/) or through the ABCEats search tool on the DOHMH website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Joe & The Juice including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.