Bronx, NY — New Garden, a Chinese restaurant at 1535 Westchester Avenue, received a Grade B with a score of 27 following a health inspection conducted on March 4, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the upper boundary of the Grade B range, just one point below the 28-point threshold that triggers a Grade C designation.
The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 6, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection:
Food, supplies, or equipment were not protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The citation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
This violation falls under DOHMH Code 06C, which addresses safeguards against contamination across all stages of food handling. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.
Despite only one violation being cited, the 27-point score reflects the severity weight assigned to this particular contamination-related finding under the city's scoring system.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments, requiring that all food items be protected from contamination at every stage of handling. The FDA Food Code similarly mandates that food contact surfaces and storage areas be maintained to prevent cross-contamination from environmental and human sources.
Contamination protection violations are classified as critical because they represent conditions that can directly contribute to foodborne illness. When food is left exposed or condiments are not properly dispensed, the risk of bacterial contamination increases, particularly in high-volume restaurant environments.
A score of 27 is notable because it represents the maximum number of points a restaurant can accumulate and still retain a Grade B. Any additional violation points at the next inspection could result in a Grade C, which would require the restaurant to undergo a re-inspection or face additional administrative action.
Inspection History
New Garden's inspection record over the past several years shows fluctuating scores:
- Nov 6, 2024: Score 13, Grade A
- Jul 17, 2023: Score 0, Grade P (pending adjudication)
- Jul 14, 2023: Score 10
- Jul 11, 2023: Score 73, closed by DOHMH
- Mar 30, 2023: Score 16, Grade B
- Sep 12, 2022: Score 28
The restaurant's history includes a closure in July 2023 when it received a score of 73. Following that closure, the restaurant underwent re-inspection and achieved progressively lower scores, ultimately earning a Grade A with a score of 13 in November 2024. The current score of 27 represents a significant increase from that most recent Grade A result.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on violation point totals:
- A: 0–13 points
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade may opt for a re-inspection to attempt a better score.
Residents can verify inspection results and review violation details through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or the NYC Open Data portal. All inspection records referenced in this report are drawn from publicly available city data.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for New Garden including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.