Manhattan, NY — Metro Cafe, located at 297 7th Avenue in Manhattan, received a score of 22 following a health inspection conducted on March 18, 2026, placing the restaurant in Grade B territory and within five points of the Grade C threshold. The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 23, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited three violations during the March inspection — one critical and two non-critical.

The critical violation, Code 06C, documented that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, condiments were not stored in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, a condition that can expose food items to cross-contamination.

Among the non-critical violations, inspectors noted that the current letter grade or Grade Pending card was not posted as required (Code 20-06), and that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable materials or were not kept sufficiently clean and properly maintained to allow access for cleaning on all sides (Code 10F).

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain sanitary conditions that prevent contamination at all stages of food handling. The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's inspection standards, establishes specific requirements for condiment storage and dispensing to minimize the risk of cross-contamination from customer contact or improper handling.

A score of 22 falls within the Grade B range but sits near the upper boundary, where an additional violation or a higher point assessment for existing violations could push a future inspection result into Grade C territory. The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections, and restaurants are graded based on the most recent inspection cycle.

Inspection History

Metro Cafe's recent inspection record reflects a pattern of fluctuating scores, including prior Grade C results:

  • April 30, 2025: Score not recorded in released data
  • December 2, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • July 22, 2024: Score 28 (Grade C)
  • April 2, 2024: Score 29 (Grade C)

The restaurant's history shows it achieved a Grade A as recently as December 2024, before the most recent inspection returned a higher score. The two Grade C results from 2024 indicate that conditions have varied significantly over the past two years.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system is based on the numerical score assigned during a DOHMH inspection:

  • A: 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Scores reflect the number and severity of violations identified. Critical violations — those most directly linked to foodborne illness risk — carry higher point values than non-critical violations.

Consumers can view the full inspection history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at the city's open data portal. The DOHMH also provides guidance on how inspection scores are calculated and what each violation category means for public health risk.

More About This Restaurant

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