Manhattan, NY — Papathai, a Thai restaurant at 2115 Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on February 17, 2026. The inspection resulted in a score of 14 and documented evidence of rats at the establishment. The closure marks the second time in approximately one week that the restaurant has been shut down by health authorities.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 17 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at the establishment:
Evidence of rats or live rats was documented in the restaurant's food or non-food areas (violation code 04K). This violation is classified as critical under the NYC restaurant inspection framework, meaning it presents a direct risk to public health and requires immediate corrective action.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this particular inspection. The restaurant received a score of 14 points, which falls within the Grade B range under the city's grading system.
Despite the relatively low point total, the presence of rat activity prompted the DOHMH to re-close the establishment. Rodent evidence is treated with particular seriousness by health inspectors, as rats can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas with pathogens that cause serious illness, including salmonella and leptospirosis.
Food Safety Context
The closure was carried out under the authority of NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments in the five boroughs. Under these regulations, the DOHMH has the authority to immediately close a restaurant when conditions are found that represent a public health hazard. Evidence of active pest activity, particularly rodent infestation, is among the conditions that can trigger an immediate closure action.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local food safety regulations nationwide, classifies the presence of rodents in a food establishment as a critical risk factor. Rodents can carry and transmit numerous disease-causing organisms and can contaminate large quantities of food through contact, droppings, and urine.
Restaurants that are closed by the DOHMH must address the cited violations and pass a reinspection before they are permitted to reopen to the public. The reinspection process verifies that the conditions that led to the closure have been corrected and that the establishment can operate in compliance with health regulations.
Inspection History
Papathai's recent inspection record shows a pattern of significant food safety concerns in early 2026:
- February 19, 2026: Score 0, Grade Z — Establishment reopened after meeting reinspection requirements
- February 17, 2026: Score 14, Grade B range — Establishment re-closed by DOHMH (rat evidence documented)
- February 11, 2026: Score 80, Grade N — Establishment closed by DOHMH
- December 9, 2025: Score 27, Grade N
The timeline reveals that the restaurant was first closed on February 11, 2026, following an inspection that produced a score of 80 — a figure indicating numerous violations were present at that time. The restaurant subsequently reopened on February 19 after passing reinspection with a score of 0, indicating no violations were found at that point.
However, the February 17 inspection — which occurred between the initial closure and the recorded reopening date — documented rat evidence and resulted in the establishment being re-closed. The data release dates and inspection sequence suggest the restaurant experienced multiple closure and reinspection events within a compressed timeframe. The inspection data used in this report was released by the DOHMH on February 19, 2026.
The December 2025 inspection, which produced a score of 27, placed the restaurant at the upper boundary of the Grade B range and just one point below Grade C territory.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points — Indicates the fewest violations
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points — Indicates moderate violations
- Grade C: 28 or more points — Indicates the most violations
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the option to post the letter grade or a "Grade Pending" card while they await a re-inspection. Scores are cumulative, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.
It is important to note that a restaurant's grade reflects conditions observed at a specific point in time. Conditions can change between inspections, and a closure followed by a successful reinspection indicates that identified problems have been addressed.
Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly available inspection database or through the ABCEats application. Inspection reports, including violation details and scores, are public record and are updated as new inspections are completed.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Papathai including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.