Queens, NY — La Guardia Cafe, a Latin American restaurant at 97-02 23rd Avenue in Queens, received a score of 26 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 19, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the upper boundary of the Grade B range, two points below the threshold at which a Grade C is assigned. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit. The citation, filed under Code 02G, noted that cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F. No non-critical violations were recorded during the same inspection.
Cold temperature control is among the highest-priority areas inspectors evaluate. When perishable foods — including cooked items, dairy, meat, and certain prepared foods — are held at temperatures above the required threshold, bacterial growth accelerates, increasing the potential for foodborne illness. Code 02G also encompasses elevated temperature requirements for smoked or processed fish (38°F) and reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the temperature, storage, and handling standards that govern food service operations across the city. The FDA Food Code, which informs these local regulations, identifies improper cold holding as one of the leading contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks.
A score of 26 falls within the Grade B band (14–27 points) but sits near its upper limit. The inspection did not result in a closure; violations were cited and the establishment remained open. Under DOHMH protocol, restaurants with scores in the Grade B range are subject to a re-inspection within a defined window, at which point a final grade letter is assigned and posted.
Inspection History
La Guardia Cafe has a multi-year inspection record with DOHMH. Prior visits include:
- October 17, 2025: Score 24 (Grade Z)
- July 9, 2025: Score 28
- November 27, 2024: Score 23 (Grade B)
- April 3, 2024: Score 42
The restaurant's scores have fluctuated across inspection cycles. The April 2024 visit produced a score of 42 — well into Grade C territory. More recent inspections have trended into the Grade B range, though the current score of 26 represents the highest recorded since that 2024 visit. The October 2025 score of 24 carried a Grade Z designation, which DOHMH assigns when a grade is pending adjudication rather than reflecting a finalized letter grade.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the total score accumulated during an inspection cycle. The scoring system works as follows:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. A score of 26 earns a Grade B, but leaves minimal margin before a Grade C threshold is reached.
Consumers can review current and historical inspection data for any NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection records are public and updated on an ongoing basis.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for La Guardia Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.