Staten Island, NY — Masala Harbor, an Indian restaurant at 323 Victory Boulevard, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a January 2026 inspection that resulted in a score of 54 points. Inspectors documented live roaches in the facility and conditions conducive to pest activity, leading to the immediate closure of the establishment.
The inspection, conducted on January 13, 2026, identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation. Under NYC's restaurant grading system, a score of 54 places the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C, the lowest letter grade issued.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 13 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Masala Harbor for two violations:
The critical violation involved live cockroaches found in the facility's food or non-food areas (violation code 04M). The presence of live roaches in a food service establishment represents a direct risk to food safety, as cockroaches are known carriers of bacteria including Salmonella and E. coli, and can contaminate food, preparation surfaces, and utensils.
The non-critical violation cited the establishment for not being free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests (violation code 08A). This violation indicates that inspectors identified environmental conditions within the restaurant that could attract or sustain pest populations, such as gaps in walls or floors, improper food storage, or inadequate waste management.
The combination of active pest presence and conditions supporting continued pest activity led DOHMH to close the establishment. According to the inspection record, violations were cited and those requiring immediate action were addressed.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments operating in New York City. Under these regulations, DOHMH has the authority to close any restaurant that presents an imminent health hazard to the public. Live pest infestations, particularly cockroaches in food handling areas, are among the conditions that can trigger an immediate closure order.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, classifies the presence of insects in food preparation and service areas as a priority violation due to the potential for disease transmission. Cockroaches can carry over 30 species of bacteria, and their presence in a restaurant environment indicates potential failures in sanitation protocols, structural maintenance, or integrated pest management practices.
Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before they are permitted to resume operations. This process requires the establishment to demonstrate that the conditions leading to the closure have been fully remediated.
Inspection History
Masala Harbor's recent inspection record shows a pattern of activity in January 2026:
- January 13, 2026: Score of 54, closed by DOHMH (the inspection detailed in this report)
- January 21, 2026: Score of 51, establishment closed
- January 23, 2026: Score of 2 (Grade Z), reopened
The inspection history indicates that following the initial closure on January 13, the restaurant underwent at least one additional inspection on January 21 that also resulted in closure with a score of 51. The establishment subsequently passed a re-inspection on January 23, 2026, receiving a score of 2 points, which falls well within Grade A range and resulted in the restaurant being permitted to reopen.
The Grade Z designation on the January 23 record indicates a re-inspection following a closure, rather than a standard grading inspection. The significant improvement from 54 points to 2 points suggests the restaurant undertook substantial corrective measures to address the violations identified during the earlier inspections.
It should be noted that the inspection detailed in this article was conducted on January 13, 2026, with the data released by DOHMH on February 6, 2026. There may be a lag between when inspections occur and when records become publicly available.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the option to request a re-inspection. Critical violations, such as the live roach presence documented at Masala Harbor, carry higher point values than general violations, reflecting their greater potential impact on public health.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database provides current grades, inspection dates, violation details, and historical records for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Masala Harbor including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.