New York, NY — Sixty-five restaurants across all five boroughs earned Grade A health inspection scores on March 4, 2026, according to data from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The inspected establishments represent more than 20 cuisine types, from Asian fusion and Japanese to German, Eastern European, and Latin American, with an average score of 9.5 points out of a possible 13-point threshold for the top grade.
The Inspections
Among the day's top performers, four restaurants earned scores of just 2 points, the lowest recorded in the batch. Taiwan Bear House on Pell Street in Manhattan's Chinatown was cited only for an improper thawing procedure. Nearby in Brooklyn, Kotti Berliner Doner Kebab received a score of 2 for single-service article violations at its 36th Street location. A Fei Chinese Restaurant on Throop Avenue in Brooklyn and Sushi Teru on Hudson Street in Manhattan each scored 2 as well, both cited for non-food contact surface cleanliness. Melt Shop on Maiden Lane in lower Manhattan rounded out the lowest-scoring group, also at 2 points for a similar surface violation.
Several well-known names appeared in the results. The Grill / The Pool at 99 East 52nd Street in Midtown Manhattan, one of the city's prominent fine-dining establishments, earned a score of 7 with a violation related to food handling under HACCP protocol. Jing Fong Restaurant on Centre Street, a Chinatown landmark, scored 12 for a violation involving damaged canned goods. Veselka, the celebrated Eastern European restaurant now at its Lorimer Street location in Brooklyn, scored 10 for a non-food contact surface issue.
The Bronx contributed several strong results. Blackstone Bar And Grill on Riverdale Avenue scored 4, while Domino's on East 204th Street and Dunkin on Westchester Avenue each earned scores of 4. Salvatore's Of Soho, an Italian restaurant on Riverdale Avenue, scored 13 for a hot food temperature holding violation. Fruit Paradise Ii on West 183rd Street scored 12, and Artizen, a coffee shop also on Riverdale Avenue, scored 13.
In Queens, Truth Restaurant And Lounge on Merrick Boulevard earned a score of 5 for a plumbing-related violation. La Tamaleria Colombiana on 37th Avenue scored 8, while Sebra's Corn Dogs, a Korean-style corn dog shop nearby, scored 11. Little Caesars on Fresh Pond Road scored 7, and Chick Rocks on Roosevelt Avenue earned a 13. 101 Cafe on 101st Avenue in Ozone Park scored 10 for a cold food temperature violation. Honest Restaurant, Kwality Ice Cream, an Indian restaurant on Hillside Avenue, also scored 10.
Brooklyn had the largest share of inspected restaurants. Chipotle Mexican Grill #2570 on Cropsey Avenue scored 9 for a hot food holding temperature violation. Chicken Koop on Havemeyer Street scored 10 for a ventilation issue, while Yummy Taco Brooklyn on Clarendon Road scored 11 with citations for pest management records and surface cleanliness. Burger King on 5th Avenue scored 11 with evidence of mice noted, and David's Bakery And Pizza on Avenue X scored 11 for cold food temperature issues. Piz-Zetta on Livingston Street scored 12, and Velvet Honey Coffee on Bath Avenue scored 12 for an incomplete juice label. Far East Restaurant Ny on 5th Avenue, Mike's Donuts on 5th Avenue, First Stop Deli on Avenue M, Krazy Chicken And Wings on Malcolm X Boulevard, Sabor Tropical on Menahan Street, Burger King, Popeyes on 5th Avenue, Cafe Supremo Colombian Bakery on 20th Avenue, and Dunkin on Avenue M all scored 13.
Manhattan accounted for the most diverse results. Yamada on Elizabeth Street scored 5, and Shopsins on Essex Street scored 11 with evidence of mice documented. Starbucks on Broadway scored 9 for pest harborage conditions, while Fivestuy Cafe in Stuyvesant Town scored 9 for a food protection issue. Cha-An Teahouse on East 9th Street scored 12 for dishwashing deficiencies. Il Gattopardo on West 54th Street, Mrs. Fish on Pell Street, Arthur's Tavern on Grove Street, and Al-Andalus on East 5th Street each scored 10 or 12. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream on West 16th Street scored 12. At the 13-point mark, Tal Bagels Deli on First Avenue, Polpette 71 on West 71st Street, Steak Frites Bistro on 9th Avenue, Suram on 10th Avenue, Soledad on 2nd Avenue, Dos Toros Taqueria on Park Avenue, Yaya Tea on Chrystie Street, Divin Wine Bar on 2nd Avenue, Springhill Suites & Fairfield Inn & Suites on West 36th Street, and Dancing Crane Cafe on 5th Avenue near the Metropolitan Museum all earned passing grades.
Staten Island was represented by Arianas Cucina on Amboy Road, which scored 3, Caravan Restaurant & Coffee Shop on Sand Lane with a 9, and Subway on Guyon Avenue with a 12.
Two restaurants — Bread & Spread in Brooklyn and Arianas Cucina — received Grade N designations, indicating they were undergoing initial inspections rather than re-inspections, though both scored well within Grade A range.
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited violation across the 65 inspections involved non-food contact surfaces — equipment or areas not kept clean or not properly sealed. This category appeared in more than 20 of the day's inspection reports. Plumbing and anti-siphonage violations were the second most common, followed by food temperature control issues, both for hot items not held at or above 140 °F and cold items held above 41 °F.
Evidence of mice was documented at several establishments including Shopsins, Burger King on 5th Avenue, and Burger King, Popeyes in Bay Ridge. Krazy Chicken And Wings was the only restaurant cited for evidence of rats. One Dunkin location on Jackson Avenue in Queens received an unusual citation: a live animal other than a fish in a tank or service animal was found in the facility.
Brooklyn led with 20 inspected restaurants, followed by Manhattan with 22, Queens with 9, the Bronx with 6, and Staten Island with 3. Cuisine types ranged from Japanese and Chinese to German, Eastern European, Korean, Caribbean, Indian, Middle Eastern, and French.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A score indicates a restaurant met the highest standards under the NYC Health Department's inspection system, with only minor violations documented. Even top-scoring establishments frequently receive some citations — a score of zero is rare. The violations noted in these inspections are typical of the kinds of operational issues inspectors identify during routine visits, and the low scores indicate these restaurants addressed food safety fundamentals effectively.
Diners can look up 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 inspected establishment, as required under NYC Health Code Article 81.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
The NYC restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on total violation points assessed during an inspection. A Grade A corresponds to a score of 0 to 13 points, indicating minor or few violations. A Grade B ranges from 14 to 27 points, and a Grade C is assigned for scores of 28 points or higher. Violations are weighted by severity under the FDA Food Code guidelines, with critical violations such as improper food temperatures carrying more points than general violations like signage issues.
Restaurants that do not earn an A on their initial inspection may request a re-inspection. Grade cards must be conspicuously posted at the entrance. Full inspection results, including specific violations and scores, are available on the NYC Department of Health website and on reporting platforms such as NYCRestaurantInspections.com.