Manhattan, NY — Mochi Dolci, an Asian/Asian Fusion restaurant located at 222 West 79th Street in Manhattan's Upper West Side, received a score of 37 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted March 25, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the Grade C category, indicating significant food safety concerns identified by inspectors. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 27, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March visit, related to food protection and contamination risk.

The violation, recorded under Code 06C, noted that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, inspectors cited that condiments were not being served in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, condiments made available to customers must be protected from contamination. Acceptable methods include individual single-use packets, pump dispensers that prevent direct contact, or direct vendor dispensing. Open or refillable condiment containers at the table or service counter present a potential cross-contamination risk, as multiple customers may handle shared surfaces or containers.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Critical violations are those the DOHMH has determined pose a direct or significant risk to public health. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, establishments are required to handle and store food, equipment, and supplies in ways that prevent contamination at every stage — from receipt and storage through preparation, display, and service to customers.

Condiment handling is a frequently cited area in restaurant inspections. The FDA Food Code specifies that condiments must be protected from contamination through proper storage and service methods. The risk associated with improperly protected condiments includes potential exposure to environmental contaminants, cross-contact from customer handling, and the spread of pathogens between individuals sharing common service items.

A critical violation of this type contributes more heavily to an establishment's overall inspection score than a non-critical violation, reflecting the elevated public health risk it represents.

Inspection History

Mochi Dolci has been inspected multiple times in recent years. Its score history shows a pattern of elevated scores in recent cycles:

  • August 11, 2025: Score 33 (Grade C)
  • March 12, 2024: Score 24 (Grade B)
  • September 13, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • May 17, 2023: Score 28 (Grade C)

The restaurant received a Grade A as recently as September 2023, indicating that it has previously demonstrated the ability to meet the city's highest food safety standards. However, the two most recent inspections — in August 2025 and March 2026 — both resulted in Grade C scores, suggesting recurring compliance challenges.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires all restaurants to post their most recent DOHMH letter grade in a window visible to the public. Grades are assigned based on inspection scores as follows:

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

Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. A Grade C does not automatically result in a restaurant closure; however, it does indicate that inspectors found violations significant enough to warrant corrective action. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection, at which point a new grade may be assigned.

Consumers can review the full inspection record for any New York City restaurant, including violation details, scores, and grade history, through the DOHMH's public online database at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are a matter of public record and are updated following each completed inspection cycle.

More About This Restaurant

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