Manhattan, NY — Mchale's Bar & Grill, the Irish pub located at 251 West 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted March 26, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 24, placing the restaurant near the upper boundary of the B range and just four points below the Grade C threshold. The data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 30, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors cited one critical violation during the March inspection:
- Code 04M: Live roaches identified in the facility's food or non-food area.
The presence of live roaches constitutes a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food safety standards for all permitted food service establishments in the city. Critical violations are those the DOHMH has determined pose a direct risk to public health. A single critical violation of this type carries a significant point penalty and contributed substantially to the 24-point score recorded during this visit.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and standards aligned with the FDA Food Code, pest activity in a food service establishment is treated as a critical concern because insects can carry and transfer pathogens to food contact surfaces and food itself. Facilities are required to maintain active pest management programs and eliminate conditions that allow pest entry or harborage.
A score of 24 falls within the Grade B band (14–27 points), but it sits at the higher end of that range. Establishments scoring 28 or above receive a Grade C, which is typically associated with more significant compliance concerns and can affect public perception and business operations. The four-point margin in this case underscores the seriousness of the single violation documented.
Inspection History
Mchale's Bar & Grill has a mixed compliance record over recent years:
- October 29, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- September 19, 2024: Score 81
- March 4, 2024: Score 5 (Grade A)
- April 27, 2023: Score 24
- March 3, 2022: Score 11 (Grade A)
- January 14, 2022: Score 33
The restaurant has demonstrated the ability to meet Grade A standards, earning scores of 12 and 5 in 2024 alone. The September 2024 score of 81 and the current score of 24 represent departures from that pattern. The April 2023 inspection also recorded a score of 24, suggesting this is not the first time the establishment has approached the Grade C threshold.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City requires all letter grades to be posted prominently at the entrance of food service establishments. The grading scale is as follows:
- Grade A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
- Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 or more points
Scores reflect the number of violation points recorded during an unannounced inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations.
Consumers can review the full inspection history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health. Complaints about food safety conditions at city restaurants may be filed through 311.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Mchale's Bar & Grill including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.