Manhattan, NY — Mughlai Indian Cuisine, an Indian restaurant located at 1724 2nd Avenue on the Upper East Side, received a score of 37 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 12, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.

The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 18, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 12 inspection, inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the establishment:

Improper thawing procedures (Violation Code 09B): Inspectors cited the restaurant for not following proper food thawing methods. Under food safety regulations, frozen foods must be thawed using approved methods — in a refrigerator at 41°F or below, under clean running water at 70°F or lower, as part of the cooking process, or in a microwave if the food will be cooked immediately afterward. Thawing food at room temperature or in standing water creates conditions where bacteria can multiply rapidly on the outer surfaces of the food while the interior remains frozen.

While only one violation was formally recorded during this inspection cycle, the resulting score of 37 points indicates that the establishment accumulated a significant number of condition-level points during the inspection process. The score substantially exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The program aligns with the FDA Food Code, which provides science-based guidance for reducing the risk of foodborne illness.

Proper thawing is considered a fundamental food safety practice because the "temperature danger zone" — between 41°F and 135°F — allows harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria to double in number in as little as 20 minutes. When food is thawed improperly, such as being left on a counter or submerged in warm standing water, the outer layers of the food can remain in this danger zone for extended periods, even while the center of the food remains frozen.

DOHMH inspectors evaluate restaurants on a points-based system where points are added for each violation observed. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. The inspection recorded one formally cited violation, though the total score of 37 reflects the cumulative assessment of conditions observed throughout the establishment during the inspection visit.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Mughlai Indian Cuisine in the DOHMH public database. This may indicate that:

  • The restaurant is a newly opened establishment undergoing its initial inspection cycle
  • The restaurant may have previously operated under a different name or permit
  • Earlier records may not yet be reflected in the publicly available dataset

The February 12, 2026 inspection represents the first publicly recorded inspection for this establishment at this location.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violations)
  • Grade B: 14–27 points (moderate violations)
  • Grade C: 28 or more points (highest number of violations)

With a score of 37, Mughlai Indian Cuisine falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct violations and potentially receive a lower score and higher grade. Restaurants may also choose to have their grade adjudicated through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Grades must be posted in a conspicuous location near the restaurant's entrance where they are visible to the public before entering the establishment.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection records are public information and are updated regularly as new inspections are completed and data is processed for release.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Mughlai Indian Cuisine including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.