Queens, NY — Johnny Deli & Grocery, a Latin American deli and grocery located at 132-07 Jamaica Avenue in Richmond Hill, received a score of 30 during a health inspection conducted on February 12, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The inspection, the results of which were released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 17, 2026, identified two non-critical violations at the establishment.
Johnny Deli & Grocery restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">What Inspectors Found
During the February 12 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented two non-critical violations at the Jamaica Avenue location.
The first violation, cited under code 20-06, noted that the restaurant's current letter grade or Grade Pending card was not posted as required. NYC restaurants are required to conspicuously display their most recent grade card where it is visible to customers before they enter the establishment.
The second violation, cited under code 10F, identified that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This type of violation relates to the general maintenance and sanitary condition of equipment that does not come into direct contact with food but still must meet cleanliness standards to prevent pest harborage and contamination risks.
While neither violation was classified as critical, the cumulative point total of 30 resulted in a Grade C designation for the establishment.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH. Each violation observed during an inspection is assigned a point value, and the total determines the restaurant's letter grade. Restaurants are required to post their grade cards in a location visible to the public, a requirement that Johnny Deli & Grocery was found not to be meeting during this inspection.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, emphasizes that maintaining clean and properly constructed equipment — including non-food contact surfaces — is an important component of an overall food safety program. Equipment that cannot be adequately cleaned may harbor bacteria or attract pests, creating conditions that could lead to more serious food safety concerns over time.
Inspection History
Johnny Deli & Grocery's inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores over the past several years. The establishment's recent inspection history includes:
- November 21, 2025: Score 36 (Grade Z)
- October 7, 2025: Score 48
- August 1, 2025: Score 36 (Grade C)
- March 21, 2025: Score 25
- August 26, 2024: Score 32 (Grade C)
- April 1, 2024: Score 30
- February 15, 2023: Score 23 (Grade B)
The February 2026 score of 30 is consistent with the establishment's recent trend. Since August 2024, Johnny Deli & Grocery has not scored below 25 points on any inspection, and has received a Grade C or equivalent designation in four of its last five graded inspections. The restaurant's most recent score below the Grade C threshold was a 25 recorded in March 2025, which still fell in the Grade B range. The last time the establishment received a Grade A-level score was in February 2023, when it scored 23.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points — indicates the fewest violations
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points — indicates moderate violations
- Grade C: 28 or more points — indicates the most violations recorded
A Grade C does not necessarily mean a restaurant poses an immediate health danger, but it does indicate that inspectors documented conditions that require correction. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection or an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant, including Johnny Deli & Grocery, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database provides detailed violation descriptions, inspection dates, scores, and grade outcomes for all permitted food service establishments in the five boroughs.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Johnny Deli & Grocery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.