Manhattan, NY — Le Cafe Coffee at 1 Penn Plaza received a Grade B rating after a health department inspection on March 6, 2026, with a score of 23 points—placing the establishment near the upper limit of the B grade range. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released the inspection data on March 11, 2026.

During the inspection, health officials cited violations in two areas and documented the findings in accordance with NYC Health Code Article 81. The establishment remained open following the inspection, with violations cited for corrective action.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the March 6 inspection.

The critical violation involved food contamination (Code 04H), with inspectors noting that raw, cooked, or prepared food was adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan requirements. This violation category directly impacts food safety and represents a risk factor identified in the FDA Food Code.

The non-critical violation (Code 10H) concerned single-service articles. Inspectors documented that single-service items were not properly provided, or that such articles were reused or not protected from contamination during transport, storage, or dispensing. The citation also noted that drinking straws were not completely enclosed in wrappers or dispensed from sanitary devices.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires food service establishments to maintain sanitary conditions and follow proper food handling protocols. The critical violation cited—food contamination under HACCP plan requirements—addresses one of the five key risk factors identified by the FDA Food Code that contribute to foodborne illness.

Cross-contamination occurs when harmful bacteria or allergens transfer from one food item to another, often through improper handling, inadequate separation of raw and cooked foods, or failure to maintain proper cleaning protocols. The FDA Food Code requires establishments to implement HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) plans to identify and control potential food safety hazards.

The single-service article violation, while classified as non-critical, relates to sanitary practices that help prevent contamination during food service operations.

Inspection History

DOHMH records show Le Cafe Coffee's prior inspection performance:

  • November 22, 2024: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • August 7, 2024: Score 31

The establishment received a Grade A rating in its most recent prior inspection in November 2024, indicating compliance with health standards at that time. The current Grade B score of 23 points represents a decline from that performance level and places the establishment just 5 points below the Grade C threshold.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City restaurant grades are determined by point totals from health inspections:

  • Grade A: 0-13 points
  • Grade B: 14-27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer violations. Le Cafe Coffee's score of 23 points falls in the upper range of Grade B, approaching the Grade C threshold.

Restaurants must post their current grade cards in a conspicuous location visible to the public. Consumers can verify inspection results and view detailed violation information through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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