Queens, NY — La Esquina Del Sabor, a Latin American restaurant at 99-01 Northern Boulevard in Queens, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 30, 2026. The restaurant scored 26 points — placing it at the upper boundary of the Grade B range and just two points below the Grade C threshold.
The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on April 3, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March inspection:
- Code 06E: Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, critical violations are those with a direct or significant relationship to factors that could cause foodborne illness. A Code 06E violation indicates that equipment or utensils previously sanitized were not being maintained or used in a manner that preserves their sanitary condition — a concern because improper handling of sanitized items can reintroduce contamination to food or food-contact surfaces.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code establish standards for equipment sanitation and utensil storage specifically to prevent cross-contamination and the spread of pathogens. Properly sanitized utensils must be stored in a way that protects them from recontamination between uses. In-use dispensing utensils — such as those used for serving food — are subject to particular scrutiny because of their frequent contact with ready-to-eat items.
A single critical violation of this type, while not resulting in a closure, carries meaningful weight in the scoring system. At 26 points, La Esquina Del Sabor's score sits at the highest end of the B range, with 27 being the last score eligible for a B grade before a C grade begins at 28.
Inspection History
La Esquina Del Sabor has been inspected multiple times in recent years. The record shows a pattern of variable scores:
- May 14, 2026: Score 23 (Grade Z — grade pending)
- March 30, 2026: Score 26 (Grade B)
- December 4, 2024: Score 19
- July 29, 2024: Score 29 (Grade C)
- April 2, 2024: Score 48
The restaurant previously received a Grade C in July 2024 with a score of 29, and recorded a score of 48 in April 2024 — a notably elevated result. The scores from late 2024 through early 2026 reflect improvement, though the March 2026 score of 26 indicates the restaurant remains near the lower end of acceptable performance under the grading system.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores as follows:
- A: 0–13 points (fewest violations)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants may request a re-inspection before a grade is posted publicly. Grades must be displayed in a location visible from the street.
Current inspection records for any NYC restaurant are available through the NYC Open Data portal and the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup tool at nyc.gov/health.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for La Esquina Del Sabor including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.