Manhattan, NY — Lloyd's Carrot Cake, located at 1565 Lexington Avenue in East Harlem, received a Grade B score of 21 following a health inspection conducted on March 12, 2026. The score places the café in the upper range of the Grade B category, just seven points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection, carried out by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. Inspectors cited the establishment for the violations found, and the data was released publicly on March 16, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The single critical violation documented during the inspection involved food, supplies, or equipment not being adequately protected from potential sources of contamination. Specifically, inspectors noted issues related to storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service of food items. The citation also referenced condiments not being provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food establishments are required to protect all food items and supplies from contamination at every stage of handling. This includes maintaining proper barriers, coverings, and dispensing methods to prevent exposure to environmental contaminants, cross-contamination, or unsanitary contact. The FDA Food Code similarly requires that food be protected from contamination by separating it from potential hazards during all phases of operation.

A score of 21, while still within the Grade B range, sits notably close to the Grade C boundary. In NYC's scoring system, lower scores indicate fewer violations, meaning a score at the higher end of any grade range reflects a greater number or severity of documented issues relative to establishments with the same letter grade.

Food Safety Context

Food contamination prevention is a foundational element of restaurant food safety programs. When food, supplies, or equipment are left unprotected, they may be exposed to airborne particles, pest activity, chemical residues, or cross-contact with allergens and pathogens. Condiment dispensing requirements exist to prevent customer contact with shared food products, reducing the risk of communicable disease transmission.

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of all permitted food establishments in New York City at least once per cycle. Establishments that receive Grade B or C scores have the option to request a re-inspection to improve their grade.

Inspection History

This is the first inspection record available for Lloyd's Carrot Cake in the DOHMH public dataset. No prior scores, grades, or enforcement actions were identified in the data reviewed.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Each violation carries a specific point value based on its nature and severity. Critical violations, such as the contamination protection issue cited at Lloyd's Carrot Cake, generally carry higher point values than non-critical violations due to their greater potential impact on public health.

Consumers can verify restaurant inspection results through the DOHMH restaurant grades search portal or by checking the letter grade card posted at the establishment. Inspection data is public record and is updated regularly as new inspections are completed and processed by the department.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Lloyd's Carrot Cake including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.