Queens, NY — A health inspection at Kafe, a American restaurant located at 1080 Cypress Avenue in Queens, resulted in a score of 41 and a Grade C rating after inspectors documented evidence of mice on the premises. The inspection was conducted on April 7, 2026, with data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited one critical violation during the April visit. Under violation code 04L, inspectors recorded evidence of mice or live mice present in the establishment's food or non-food areas. This type of violation is classified as critical under the NYC inspection system, meaning it poses a direct potential risk to public health or food safety.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection cycle.

A Grade C is assigned to establishments that score 28 or more points. A single critical rodent-evidence violation can carry a substantial point value under DOHMH's weighted scoring system, which accounts for the direct contamination risk mice pose to food, food contact surfaces, and food storage areas.

Food Safety Context

Rodent activity in a food service establishment is addressed under NYC Health Code Article 81 and is consistent with standards outlined in the FDA Food Code. Both frameworks require that food establishments maintain effective pest management controls, including eliminating conditions that attract or harbor pests, sealing structural entry points, and ensuring food and waste are stored in a manner that does not provide a food source for rodents.

Mouse droppings, gnaw marks, or direct sightings can indicate that these controls have broken down. Because mice can contaminate surfaces and food with pathogens including Salmonella and Listeria, inspectors treat rodent evidence as a critical concern regardless of whether live animals are observed at the time of inspection.

The violation noted at Kafe applies to both food and non-food areas of the establishment, which suggests inspectors identified rodent activity in a broader portion of the premises, not limited to a single isolated location.

Inspection History

Kafe's inspection record over recent years shows variability in scores:

  • May 7, 2025: Score 31 (Grade C)
  • October 17, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)

The April 2026 inspection marks the second consecutive inspection cycle in which Kafe received a Grade C score. The 2022 Grade A result indicates the establishment has previously met the standards required for the top rating, but the past two inspection cycles reflect scores in the Grade C range.

Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that score in the B or C range during an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within a defined window. The score from the initial inspection determines the grade posted at the establishment until a re-inspection occurs. If the restaurant scores in the A range on re-inspection, the A grade is posted.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires restaurants to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location at the entrance. Grades are assigned based on the total point score from a DOHMH inspection:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or more

Points are assigned based on the number, type, and severity of violations cited. Critical violations, which carry higher point values, include issues related to food temperature, pest activity, and personal hygiene practices that pose the most direct risk to public health.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at the NYC Open Data portal. The database includes scores, violation descriptions, and grade history for all inspected establishments.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Kafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.