Manhattan, NY — Maraca Nyc, located at 3795 10th Avenue in the Inwood neighborhood of Manhattan, received a score of 36 during a health inspection conducted on May 31, 2023, according to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) records. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade in the city's restaurant grading system.

Inspectors documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the visit. The most serious finding involved the absence of adequate hand washing facilities.

What Inspectors Found

The critical violation cited during the inspection involved hand washing infrastructure. Inspectors documented that no hand washing facility was available in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of food preparation, food service, or ware washing areas. The citation further noted issues that may have included the facility not being accessible, being obstructed, being used for non-hand washing purposes, lacking hot and cold running water or adequate water pressure, or missing soap or an acceptable hand-drying device.

Hand washing access is considered one of the most fundamental food safety requirements. The FDA Food Code identifies proper hand hygiene as a primary defense against the transmission of foodborne illness, and NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that hand washing stations be conveniently located, fully supplied, and accessible to food workers at all times during operation.

Inspectors also cited a non-critical violation related to pest conditions. The establishment was found not to be free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. While this violation did not rise to the critical level, it indicates environmental conditions that could attract or sustain pest activity if not addressed.

Food Safety Context

The hand washing violation is classified as critical because inadequate hand hygiene is directly linked to the spread of foodborne pathogens, including norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, contamination from food workers' hands is among the leading contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings.

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes specific requirements for food service establishments, including the placement, accessibility, and supply of hand washing stations. The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model for many local food safety regulations, requires that hand washing sinks be equipped with running water at a temperature of at least 100°F, along with soap and single-use towels or air-drying devices.

Pest harborage conditions, while cited as non-critical in this instance, can escalate if left unaddressed. DOHMH guidelines require that food establishments maintain their premises in a condition that does not attract or harbor pests, including sealing entry points, removing debris, and maintaining proper waste management.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available in DOHMH public records for this establishment. This may indicate that the May 2023 inspection was the restaurant's initial inspection cycle, or that previous records are not reflected in the current dataset.

It should be noted that this inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 6, 2026. The inspection itself was conducted nearly three years prior, on May 31, 2023. The restaurant's current operating status and any subsequent inspections are not reflected in this data release.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on violation point totals accumulated during inspections:

  • A: 0–13 points — The establishment is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations.
  • B: 14–27 points — Some violations were identified that require correction.
  • C: 28 or more points — Significant violations were documented, indicating areas needing immediate attention.

Maraca Nyc's score of 36 falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants receiving a Grade C have the option to request a re-inspection or an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

All New York City restaurant inspection results are public record and can be accessed through the DOHMH restaurant inspection portal. Consumers can search inspection histories by restaurant name, address, or borough to review current grades and past violation details.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Maraca Nyc including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.