New York, NY — Fifty-three restaurants across all five boroughs earned Grade A health inspection scores on March 3, 2026, according to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene records. The inspected establishments averaged a score of 9 points, well within the 0–13 point range required for the city's highest letter grade. The results reflect a broad cross-section of the city's dining landscape, from national chains and neighborhood pizzerias to specialty coffee shops and international cuisine.
The Inspections
Several restaurants achieved perfect or near-perfect results. Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar on Emmons Avenue in Brooklyn recorded a score of 0, with no violations documented during its inspection. Three establishments earned scores of 2: Cafe 23 on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, Pret A Manger on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, and Earthbar on Front Street in Brooklyn, each cited only for non-food contact surfaces not being properly maintained. Also scoring 2 were Magguy Cafe & Bakery in Queens and Jin Xi Dessert in Brooklyn, both noted for similar surface maintenance issues.
Bank of America Tea Bar in Midtown Manhattan received a score of 3, cited for a back-flow prevention device not being provided where required. In the Bronx, Dunkin' Donuts on Metropolitan Avenue scored 4 for a similar plumbing-related violation, while Kennedy Fried Chicken in Brooklyn also earned a 4, with inspectors noting a damaged canned food segregation issue alongside a surface cleanliness citation.
Brooklyn's pizza establishments showed well. Cozie's Pizzeria on Greenwood Avenue scored 5, though inspectors documented evidence of mice in the establishment. Espresso Pizzeria on 5th Avenue in Bay Ridge scored 11, cited for plumbing and food contact surface maintenance. Downtown, Abitino's Pizza on Broadway in Manhattan scored 8 for a thermometer placement issue.
The city's coffee and tea establishments were well represented. Brooklyn Barista Coffee scored 5 for a food contact surface sanitation issue. Herbal Dispense on Staten Island earned a 5 for improper utensil storage. La Cabra in Brooklyn scored 10, with inspectors noting conditions conducive to pests. Blank Street Coffee on Broadway in Manhattan scored 11, cited for evidence of mice. Nurish on Washington Avenue in Brooklyn, Stepping Stone Cafe in Queens, The Hill's Cafe in Queens, and Sump Coffee in Williamsburg each scored 13.
Italian dining earned strong marks. Barano on Broadway in Brooklyn scored 9, cited for a cooling procedure violation involving time and temperature control for safety (TCS) foods. Fradei on South Portland Avenue scored 11 for improper utensil storage.
International cuisines fared well across the boroughs. Oishii Sushi in Astoria, Queens, scored 9, cited for not having a pest management contract on file. 5ive Spice, a Southeast Asian restaurant on 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, and Quick Pho Vietnamese Cuisine in Midtown both scored 12 for food contact surface design issues. Truva Cafe & Grill, a Turkish restaurant in Astoria, scored 13 for food protection during storage. Kiki's Grill & Rotisserie (#2), serving Greek cuisine on Division Street in Manhattan, also scored 13 for a similar storage protection citation.
Latin American and Spanish restaurants also performed strongly. Raices Colombianas Bakery Restaurant in Queens scored 7. Taqueria Y Paleteria in Washington Heights scored 9. Happy World, a Mexican spot in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, scored 12, cited for cold food temperature control and a missing food allergy poster. Cantina Cubana on Avenue B in Manhattan and Las Cazuelas Restaurant on Staten Island each scored 13.
In the Bronx, Morris Park Bake Shop scored 7 after inspectors documented eating or drinking in a food preparation area. Chocolate House on Jerome Avenue scored 7 for missing thermometers and plumbing issues. Dunkin' Baskin Robins on East Tremont Avenue scored 8. Jade Lounge Corp scored 7, and E & L Bakery & Coffee Shop scored 12, with inspectors noting evidence of mice and surface maintenance issues.
Additional establishments rounding out the day's results included Moot Bar in Brooklyn at 7 for a missing hand-washing sign, Mojoilla Pancake Store # 26 in Flushing at 8, Ps Nutrition in Corona at 9, Joe's Bar & Grill in Brooklyn at 10 for improper pesticide labeling, Cafe St. Marks on Staten Island at 10, Park Bar near Union Square at 12, Sweet Polly in Brooklyn at 12, Qbk Sports in Queens at 12 for a missing Food Protection Certificate, Sweet Rehab on the Upper East Side at 11, Applebees Neighborhood Grill And Bar in Elmhurst at 5, Magnolia Bakery on Columbus Avenue at 13, Earthbar on Broadway in Manhattan at 12, Baya Bar on 2nd Avenue at 13, Hardee in Brooklyn at 13, Lins's Little Mooshu in Queens at 13, and Bed Stuy Fish Fry at 13, where inspectors noted live roaches in the facility.
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited violation across the March 3 inspections involved non-food contact surfaces not being properly maintained, cleaned, or sealed — appearing in nearly a third of all inspections. Plumbing-related citations, including missing anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, were the second most common category. Pest-related findings, including evidence of mice and conditions conducive to pests, appeared at several locations.
Brooklyn led all boroughs with 19 inspected restaurants, followed by Manhattan with 16, Queens with 9, the Bronx with 6, and Staten Island with 3. Coffee and tea shops represented the largest single cuisine category with eight establishments, followed by American cuisine with seven. The diversity extended from soul food and Chinese to Turkish, Greek, and Southeast Asian dining.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A score indicates that a restaurant met the Department of Health's standards during its inspection, with no more than 13 violation points recorded. While a Grade A does not mean zero violations were found — only one restaurant on this date had no documented violations — it does mean the issues identified were considered minor under the city's scoring rubric.
Diners can verify any restaurant's inspection history through the NYC Department of Health's online database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the entrance of every establishment, as required by local law.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by the Department of Health under NYC Health Code Article 81, assigns letter grades based on violation points accumulated during unannounced inspections. A score of 0–13 points earns a Grade A, 14–27 points results in a Grade B, and 28 or more points yields a Grade C. Violations are weighted by severity: critical violations related to food temperature, contamination, or pest activity carry more points than general violations involving signage or equipment maintenance.
Restaurants that do not earn an A on their initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The letter grade posted at the entrance reflects the establishment's most recent adjudicated result. For complete inspection histories and violation details, diners can visit the NYC Department of Health restaurant inspection portal or search individual facility pages on NYCRestaurantInspections.com.