Queens, NY — Johnny Deli & Grocery, located at 132-07 Jamaica Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, received a score of 32 — a Grade C — following a health inspection conducted April 2, 2026. Inspectors documented four critical violations, including evidence of mice in the establishment. Inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 7, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The most serious violation documented during the inspection was Code 04L: evidence of mice or live mice present in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Mouse activity in a food service setting poses direct contamination risks and is classified as a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81.
Inspectors also cited the establishment twice for Code 04A, noting that a Food Protection Certificate was not held by a manager or supervisor of food operations. The Food Protection Certificate is required under NYC Health Code Article 81.05 and demonstrates that at least one manager has completed food safety training. Its absence is considered a critical violation because managerial food safety oversight is a core element of contamination prevention.
A fourth critical violation — Code 06C — was recorded for failure to protect food, supplies, or equipment from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Inspectors specifically noted that condiments were not stored in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, creating a pathway for cross-contamination.
Two non-critical violations were also noted:
- Code 20-01: A food allergy information poster was not conspicuously posted in the food preparation area, as required under NYC Health Code Article 81.51.
- Code 20-06: The establishment's current letter grade card or Grade Pending card was not posted in a location visible to customers.
Food Safety Context
The violations cited at Johnny Deli & Grocery are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, which sets food safety standards for all food service establishments operating in New York City. The FDA Food Code, which informs local regulations, identifies rodent activity and inadequate managerial food safety certification as risk factors that can contribute directly to foodborne illness outbreaks.
Evidence of mice is among the most serious findings an inspector can document. Rodents can contaminate food contact surfaces and food products with pathogens including Salmonella and Listeria. The repeated Code 04A citation indicates that the requirement for a certified food protection manager on site was not met at the time of inspection.
Inspection History
Johnny Deli & Grocery has received scores at or above the Grade C threshold in several recent inspections. The full recorded history is as follows:
- April 2, 2026: Score 32 (Grade C)
- February 12, 2026: Score 30
- November 21, 2025: Score 36
- 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 April 2026 inspection marks the third time in under two years the establishment has scored 32 or higher. Scores have generally remained elevated since mid-2024, with the exception of the March 2025 inspection, which produced a score of 25 — below the Grade C threshold.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to food service establishments based on inspection scores. The grading system is as follows:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or higher
Lower scores indicate fewer violations. An establishment that receives a score in the B or C range during an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is posted publicly. Grades must be displayed in a window visible from the street.
Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are available through the DOHMH's public inspection database at nyc.gov. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review current and historical inspection data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Johnny Deli & Grocery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.