Queens, NY — L'artigiano Gelato, a frozen desserts shop located at 90-15 Queens Boulevard in Elmhurst, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on May 28, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 89 points, placing the establishment in the C grade range. The closure was triggered by a critical violation requiring immediate action.

What Inspectors Found

During the May 28 inspection, inspectors cited one critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81. The violation, classified under Code 03E, documented that the establishment had no adequate potable water supply on the premises. Specifically, inspectors identified conditions falling under a category that includes water or ice not being potable or sourced from an unapproved origin, bottled water not certified by New York State, or a cross connection in the potable water supply system.

For a frozen desserts establishment, access to a safe and compliant water supply is a foundational operational requirement. Water is used in cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces and equipment, handwashing, and in some cases directly in food preparation. The absence of an adequate potable water supply presents conditions under which proper sanitation cannot be maintained, which is why such violations are designated critical and can result in immediate closure.

The DOHMH noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed on site at the time of the inspection. The establishment was closed as part of that response.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishments throughout the five boroughs and sets standards for sanitation, food handling, equipment, facilities, and utilities — including water supply. A compliant potable water supply is required under both Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, which New York City incorporates as a reference standard for food safety practices.

Under these frameworks, potable water must come from an approved public water system or another approved source, must be free from contamination, and must be delivered to the facility through a system that prevents cross-connection with non-potable sources. A cross connection — any link between a potable water line and a non-potable source — can allow contaminants to enter the water supply through back-siphonage or backflow, potentially compromising water used throughout the establishment.

When inspectors identify a critical violation of this nature, DOHMH is authorized to order immediate closure until the condition is corrected and the facility passes a reinspection. The closure is not a punitive measure but a public health intervention intended to prevent risk to consumers while the issue is resolved.

The inspection was conducted on May 28, 2026, and the data was released by DOHMH on June 1, 2026.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history for this establishment is available in the DOHMH public database. This appears to be among the first recorded inspections for this location under the current operator or business name.

Without prior inspection records, there is no historical trend to assess. The single inspection on file resulted in a score of 89 and a closed status.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant inspection grading system converts a numerical score into a letter grade based on the number and severity of violations found during an unannounced inspection. The scoring is as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — indicates a high standard of food safety compliance
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — indicates some violations were found; a reinspection will follow
  • C: Score of 28 points or more — indicates multiple or serious violations were documented

A score of 89 falls well within the C range. When a critical violation requiring immediate action is identified, the establishment may be closed regardless of whether a formal grade is posted at the time of inspection. Establishments that are closed must correct all cited conditions and pass a reinspection before reopening.

Grades are posted publicly at the restaurant and are also searchable through the DOHMH online inspection database.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC food service establishment at the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup tool, available through the NYC official government website. Inspection records include violation details, scores, grades, and closure history.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for L'artigiano Gelato including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.