Manhattan, NY — Jugos, a Latin American restaurant at 377 1st Avenue in Manhattan, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a routine inspection on January 14, 2026. The establishment received a score of 51, placing it well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C and resulting in immediate closure.
The restaurant has since reopened following a subsequent inspection on January 20, 2026, where it received a score of 3.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 14 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented two violations at Jugos — one critical and one non-critical.
The critical violation, coded 04N, involved the presence of filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in the establishment's food and non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies. The presence of these pests in a food service establishment poses a direct risk to food safety, as flies can carry and transfer bacteria and other pathogens to food preparation surfaces and stored ingredients.
The non-critical violation, coded 08A, cited that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This violation indicates that inspectors identified structural or environmental conditions within the restaurant that could attract or shelter pests, such as gaps in walls, unsealed entry points, or improper waste storage.
Together, these two violations resulted in a combined score of 51 points, leading DOHMH to close the establishment and require immediate corrective action before the restaurant could resume operations.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The program is designed to protect public health by ensuring restaurants maintain safe food handling, storage, and preparation practices.
Pest-related violations are among the most commonly cited issues in NYC restaurant inspections. Under the FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's local regulations, food establishments are required to maintain facilities that prevent the entry and harborage of pests. The presence of flies in food preparation or storage areas is considered a critical violation because of the potential for contamination. Flies are known vectors for bacteria including Salmonella, E. coli, and Shigella, and their presence can indicate broader sanitation concerns.
When DOHMH determines that conditions at an establishment pose an immediate threat to public health, inspectors have the authority to close the restaurant until violations are corrected. Closure requires the operator to address all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before resuming service.
Inspection History
Jugos has undergone multiple inspections over the past several years, with a pattern of fluctuating scores:
- January 20, 2026: Score 3 (Grade Z) — Reopened following closure
- January 14, 2026: Score 51 — Closed by DOHMH
- October 1, 2025: Score 18
- July 8, 2025: Score 43 (Grade Z)
- March 13, 2025: Score 3 (Grade P)
- March 6, 2025: Score 67 — Closed by DOHMH
- September 21, 2023: Score 11 (Grade A)
The inspection history shows that the January 2026 closure was the second time in less than a year that DOHMH closed Jugos. The restaurant was also closed on March 6, 2025, when it received a score of 67. Following that closure, the establishment passed a re-inspection on March 13, 2025, with a score of 3. However, subsequent inspections in July and October 2025 showed scores of 43 and 18 respectively, indicating ongoing compliance challenges.
The restaurant's most recent re-inspection on January 20, 2026, resulted in a score of 3, indicating that Jugos addressed the cited violations and met DOHMH standards to reopen.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A Grade Z indicates the restaurant is awaiting adjudication of its inspection results through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). A Grade P indicates the restaurant is in a pending status during a re-inspection cycle.
Jugos' score of 51 on January 14 placed it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that score 28 or above on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within a short window, to improve their score before a letter grade is formally posted.
About the Data
This article is based on public inspection data released by DOHMH on February 6, 2026. The inspection described was conducted on January 14, 2026. There may be a delay between when an inspection occurs and when the results are published in the city's open data system.
New York City restaurant inspection results are public record and are available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, current grade, and violation details through the city's official online portal. Inspection scores and grades provide one measure of a restaurant's compliance with health and safety standards at the time of the inspection.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Jugos including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.