Manhattan, NY — A Manhattan location of the international bakery chain Le Pain Quotidien was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection on May 21, 2026, that resulted in a score of 38 points and the identification of a critical sewage contamination violation. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on May 25, 2026.
The restaurant, located at 1800 Broadway in Manhattan, received a C grade — assigned to establishments scoring 28 or more points — and was ordered closed until violations requiring immediate action were addressed.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors cited two violations during the May 21 inspection: one critical and one non-critical, both related to drainage and sewage conditions.
The critical violation, Code 04F, documented that a food preparation area, food storage area, or another area used by employees or patrons was contaminated by sewage or liquid waste. This type of violation is classified as critical because sewage contact with food contact surfaces or food itself presents a direct risk of foodborne illness.
The non-critical violation, Code 10B, noted that anti-siphon or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required, or that equipment and floors were not properly drained. Inspectors also cited the sewage disposal system as being in disrepair or not functioning properly, and noted that condensation or liquid waste was improperly disposed of.
DOHMH noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain food preparation and storage areas free from contamination by sewage, wastewater, or other liquid waste. Back-flow prevention and proper drainage are standard requirements designed to prevent cross-contamination between wastewater systems and food contact surfaces.
The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for many local food safety regulations, identifies sewage backup and contamination as conditions that can warrant immediate closure of a food service operation. When a critical violation of this nature is identified, DOHMH is authorized to order immediate closure until the condition is corrected and the establishment passes re-inspection.
The closure order does not necessarily indicate that food served to customers was directly affected. However, the presence of sewage contamination in areas where food is prepared or stored represents a condition that regulators require to be resolved before service can resume.
Inspection History
The May 2026 closure follows a recent period of mixed inspection results for this location. The prior inspection in April 2026 also resulted in a score above the Grade A threshold:
- April 10, 2026: Score 29 (Grade C)
- February 12, 2025: Score 9 (Grade A)
- November 6, 2024: Score 27 (Grade B)
- June 1, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
- June 10, 2022: Score 0 (Grade A)
- April 19, 2022: Score 5 (Grade A)
- March 2, 2022: Score 10 (Grade A)
The location had maintained consistent A grades from 2022 through early 2025. The November 2024 inspection produced a score of 27 — just below the C threshold — and the April 2026 inspection scored 29. The May 2026 inspection, which resulted in the closure order, produced the location's highest recorded score at 38.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grade system is based on the total points assessed during an inspection, with lower scores reflecting fewer violations:
- Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 or more points
When an establishment is closed by DOHMH, a grade card is not posted until the location passes a re-inspection and is permitted to reopen. Scores are cumulative across all violations identified during a single inspection visit.
Members of the public can look up current inspection scores and violation history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online database at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection records are public and updated as new data becomes available following each inspection cycle.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Le Pain Quotidien including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.