Queens, NY — Little Flower Cafe, a Middle Eastern restaurant located at 25-35 36 Avenue in Queens, received a score of 34 during a New York City health inspection conducted on January 15, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest grade in the city's restaurant inspection grading system.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026, approximately seven weeks after the inspection took place.

What Inspectors Found

During the January inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented two non-critical violations at the establishment. No critical violations were recorded.

The first violation, cited under Code 10F, identified that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This type of violation pertains to the general maintenance and cleanliness of equipment and surfaces that do not come into direct contact with food but are still required to meet sanitary standards.

The second violation, cited under Code 19-06, noted that the restaurant was providing single-use, non-compostable plastic straws to customers without customer request, including providing such straws at a self-serve station. This violation relates to New York City's plastic straw regulations, which require food service establishments to offer plastic straws only upon customer request.

While neither violation was classified as critical, the combined score of 34 points placed the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary standards for food service establishments. The inspection scoring system assigns point values to violations based on their severity and potential impact on public health, with higher scores indicating more significant compliance issues.

Non-food contact surface violations, such as those cited under Code 10F, address equipment maintenance standards outlined in the FDA Food Code. While these surfaces do not directly touch food, improperly maintained equipment can harbor bacteria and pests, contributing to broader sanitation concerns within an establishment.

The plastic straw violation reflects local environmental regulations enacted to reduce single-use plastic waste. While not directly related to food safety, compliance with all applicable regulations factors into a restaurant's overall inspection score.

It is notable that the restaurant's score of 34 was generated entirely from non-critical violations. The absence of critical violations — which typically involve conditions that directly contribute to foodborne illness risk — suggests that the establishment's food handling practices were found to be in compliance during this inspection. The elevated score reflects the cumulative weight of the non-critical issues documented.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Little Flower Cafe in the DOHMH public database. This may indicate that the January 2026 inspection was the establishment's first recorded inspection, or that the restaurant is relatively new to operation at this location.

  • January 15, 2026: Score 34, Grade C — two non-critical violations cited

As this represents the only available data point, there is no trend information to report regarding the restaurant's compliance trajectory.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores. The grading thresholds are as follows:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points — indicates minimal violations
  • Grade B: 14–27 points — indicates moderate violations
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — indicates more significant compliance issues

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the opportunity to request a re-inspection. Establishments may also contest their scores through an administrative tribunal hearing at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

A Grade C does not necessarily indicate an immediate risk to public health, but it does signal that an establishment has accumulated a significant number of violations that require attention and correction.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly accessible database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the restaurant's entrance, as required by law. Additional inspection details, including specific violations and scores, are available at NYCRestaurantInspections.com.

More About This Restaurant

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