Manhattan, NY — A Chelsea coffee and tea establishment received a Grade C score following a health inspection that identified two critical violations, according to records released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
Ora La Casa De Las Flores, located at 401 West 24th Street in Manhattan, received a score of 38 during an inspection conducted on April 6, 2026. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 8, 2026. Both violations documented were classified as critical, meaning they represent conditions that pose a direct risk of foodborne illness or injury.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented two critical violations during the April visit.
The first involved food, supplies, or equipment not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, a requirement designed to prevent cross-contamination between customers.
The second critical violation cited food contact surfaces, refillable or reusable containers, or equipment as improperly constructed, placed, or maintained. Inspectors also noted that an acceptable culinary sink or other approved method for washing food was not provided. Under applicable food safety standards, all surfaces that come into direct contact with food must be maintained in a condition that prevents contamination.
No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
New York City restaurant inspections are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the standards for food handling, storage, equipment maintenance, and sanitation that all food service establishments must meet. The violations identified at Ora La Casa De Las Flores correspond to requirements that are also addressed in the FDA Food Code, the model regulatory framework on which many local food safety rules are based.
Critical violations carry greater point values in the DOHMH scoring system because they are directly associated with conditions that can lead to foodborne illness. Improper handling of condiments and inadequate food-washing facilities are among the categories regulators consider high priority because they involve repeated, direct contact with food or food surfaces.
The inspection was conducted as part of DOHMH's routine unannounced inspection program, which covers all permitted food service establishments in the five boroughs. Establishments have the right to request re-inspection, and scores may change following corrective action.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for this location in DOHMH public records. This appears to be among the earlier inspections on record for this establishment.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points — fewest violations
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points — some violations identified
- C: Score of 28 or more points — most violations identified
A score of 38 places Ora La Casa De Las Flores firmly in Grade C territory. Establishments that receive a score above 13 on an initial inspection are subject to a re-inspection, at which point a new grade is assigned based on the follow-up results. During the interval between inspections, an establishment may post a "Grade Pending" card in lieu of a letter grade.
Consumers can look up current inspection records and grades for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available at the NYC Open Data portal and the DOHMH website. Records include inspection dates, scores, violation codes, and grade history.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Ora La Casa De Las Flores including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.