Staten Island, NY — Masala Harbor, an Indian restaurant located at 323 Victory Boulevard in Staten Island, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a routine inspection conducted on January 21, 2026. The establishment received a score of 51, well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation, and was ordered to cease operations after inspectors documented multiple critical violations including the presence of live roaches and evidence of mice.
The closure marked the second time in approximately two weeks that the restaurant was shut down by health authorities, following a prior closure on January 13, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 21 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified two critical violations and three non-critical violations at the Victory Boulevard location.
The most serious findings involved pest activity. Inspectors documented live roaches present in the facility's food and non-food areas, cited under violation code 04M. Additionally, evidence of mice or live mice was found in the establishment's food and non-food areas, cited under violation code 04L. Both pest-related findings are classified as critical violations under NYC health inspection protocols, as they pose a direct risk to food safety and public health.
Inspectors also cited three non-critical violations during the visit. Two separate citations were issued under violation code 28-03 for lighting fixtures located over or within food storage, preparation, service, or display areas that were not fitted with shatterproof bulbs or properly shielded and encased. Unprotected lighting fixtures in food handling areas present a contamination risk if bulbs shatter due to heat, temperature changes, or accidental contact.
A third non-critical violation was documented under code 10F for non-food contact surfaces or equipment that were either made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow adequate cleaning access on all sides.
Food Safety Context
The presence of roaches and mice in a food service establishment represents a significant food safety concern. According to the FDA Food Code, pest activity in food handling environments can lead to the contamination of food products and food contact surfaces through direct contact, droppings, and the spread of pathogenic bacteria.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain their premises free of vermin and conditions that attract or harbor pests. The simultaneous presence of both roach and rodent activity, as documented at Masala Harbor, indicates conditions that the DOHMH determined required immediate corrective action, resulting in the establishment's closure.
Restaurants closed by the DOHMH must address all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before being permitted to resume operations. The lighting and equipment violations, while classified as non-critical, also require remediation as part of the facility's overall compliance with health code standards.
Inspection History
Masala Harbor's recent inspection record shows a pattern of compliance issues followed by corrective action:
- January 23, 2026: Score 2 (Grade Z), establishment reopened
- January 21, 2026: Score 51, closed by DOHMH (the inspection detailed in this report)
- January 13, 2026: Score 54, closed by DOHMH
The timeline indicates that the restaurant was first closed on January 13 after receiving a score of 54. Following that closure, the establishment was inspected again on January 21 — the inspection covered in this article — and received a score of 51 with continued pest activity documented, resulting in a second closure. The restaurant subsequently passed a re-inspection on January 23 with a score of 2, indicating that substantial corrective measures were implemented.
The Grade Z designation recorded on January 23 indicates a re-inspection score rather than a standard letter grade assignment. The low score of 2 at that re-inspection suggests the restaurant had effectively addressed the violations that led to closure.
It should be noted that there is a lag between when inspections are conducted and when the data becomes publicly available. This inspection was conducted on January 21, 2026, with the data released by the DOHMH on February 9, 2026.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by the DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Masala Harbor's score of 51 during the January 21 inspection placed it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive high scores or are found to have conditions posing an immediate public health hazard may be closed by the DOHMH until violations are corrected.
Residents and diners can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly accessible restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection scores, violation details, and grade histories are updated regularly as new data is released by the department.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Masala Harbor including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.