New York, NY — Eighty-four restaurants across New York City's five boroughs passed health inspections with Grade A scores on March 13, 2026, according to records from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The establishments averaged 8.6 points across all inspections, well within the 0-13 point range required for the city's highest health grade. The restaurants represent diverse cuisines spanning American diners, Caribbean chicken shops, Japanese sushi bars, Chinese noodle houses, and Middle Eastern cafes across neighborhoods from Bay Ridge to Riverdale.
The Inspections
The day's results included two restaurants that received perfect scores with no documented violations. Cote Wine Bar on Mosholu Avenue in the Bronx and Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar on Emmons Avenue in Brooklyn both scored 0 points. While Applebee's received a citation for providing plastic straws without customer request—a non-critical violation that doesn't affect the score—Cote Wine Bar's inspection documented no violations whatsoever.
Several quick-service establishments demonstrated strong performance. Filly Luv, a chicken restaurant on Malcolm X Boulevard in Brooklyn, scored 2 points with inspectors noting only non-food contact surface cleanliness issues. Nom Wah (Kiosk 11) at Pier 57 in Manhattan also scored 2 points with the same type of violation—equipment surfaces that require better sealing or spacing but don't directly contact food.
Chinese restaurants featured prominently in the day's results. Xi'an Famous Foods on West 45th Street in Manhattan scored 3 points, cited for non-food contact surface issues and missing nutritional statements on menus for the 2,000-calorie-per-day reference. Another Xi'an Famous Foods location at 8 Liberty Place scored 7 points with violations related to single-service article protection during transport.
Coffee and tea establishments showed consistent compliance. Starbucks Coffee on East 90th Street and another Starbucks location on Broadway both scored 5 points with identical violations for non-food contact surface maintenance. Cafe Grumpy on Madison Avenue scored 7 points, cited for anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device issues that could affect plumbing safety.
American dining establishments ranged across the scoring spectrum. The Grey Dog on West 16th Street scored 4 points for lacking a handwashing sign near sinks—a violation of basic food safety communication requirements. Park Avenue Tavern on Park Avenue received 9 points after inspectors documented filth flies and conditions conducive to pest activity. The River Club on East 52nd Street scored 10 points when food wasn't properly cooled after cooking, a time-and-temperature control violation that can allow bacterial growth.
Caribbean cuisine showed strong representation. Bb's Burger Factory on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn scored 9 points with violations related to food contact surface materials and construction. Tropical Vybz in Queens scored 9 points as well, cited for improper pesticide storage and missing healthy eating information alongside food protection issues. Likkle More Jerk at Albee Square West scored 12 points with non-food contact surface violations.
Pizza establishments demonstrated varying performance levels. 1.50 Hot Pizza on Flatbush Avenue scored 4 points when inspectors found inadequate mechanical ventilation. Pizza Hut on Francis Lewis Boulevard also scored 4 points, lacking a contract with a pest management professional and missing extermination activity records. Pizzazz on Union Square East scored 11 points after cold temperature-controlled food was held above the required 41°F threshold.
Asian cuisine establishments faced temperature control challenges. Naked Dog, an Italian restaurant on Java Street in Brooklyn, scored 9 points with cold TCS food violations. T-Swirl Crepe, serving Japanese cuisine on Union Street in Queens, scored 8 points for non-food contact surface issues. Koreatgo on Pearl Street in Manhattan scored 11 points with both surface violations and hot food held below the required 140°F.
Tex-Mex and Mexican establishments showed mixed results. Chipotle Mexican Grill #4066 on West 231st Street in the Bronx scored 5 points when staff lacked proper hair restraints and outer garments showed contamination. Dos Toros on East 48th Street scored 9 points with both equipment surface violations and ventilation deficiencies.
Chain restaurants appeared throughout the list. Dunkin on Webster Avenue in the Bronx scored 7 points with food protection and drainage issues. Raising Cane's #0928 in Queens scored 6 points when food wasn't properly protected from contamination during storage and transport. McDonald's on Broadway scored 11 points for anti-siphonage and drainage problems.
Bakeries faced equipment and sanitation challenges. Tompkins Square Bagels on East 17th Street scored 8 points for non-food contact surface violations. Insomnia Cookies on Bedford Avenue scored 11 points when dishwashing and sanitizing procedures were found deficient, and in-use utensils were improperly stored. Lulu's Bakery on Union Turnpike scored 13 points after inspectors found evidence of mice in the establishment alongside single-service article violations.
Jewish and Middle Eastern cuisine establishments performed well overall. West Wing on Coney Island Avenue scored 9 points with dishwashing and sanitizing deficiencies. Memo Shish Kebab, a Turkish restaurant on Kings Highway, scored 13 points when sanitized equipment was improperly stored. Al Mehran, serving Pakistani cuisine on Parsons Boulevard, scored 10 points after hot TCS food fell below temperature requirements.
Common Patterns
Non-food contact surface violations dominated the inspection findings, appearing in approximately 40% of all cited establishments. These violations involve equipment surfaces that don't directly touch food—walls behind cooking equipment, undersides of shelving, or spaces between appliances—but still require proper construction, cleaning, and maintenance to prevent overall facility contamination.
Temperature control violations appeared across multiple cuisine types, with cold food held above 41°F cited at locations including Pizzazz, Naked Dog, and 277 Park Avenue Cafe'. Hot food violations, where items weren't maintained at or above 140°F, affected establishments like Al Mehran and Koreatgo. These time-and-temperature control violations represent critical food safety issues under NYC Health Code Article 81, as improper temperatures allow rapid bacterial growth in potentially hazardous foods.
Personal cleanliness violations appeared at several locations. Chipotle Mexican Grill #4066, Nuevo Rincon Del Sabor Restaurant, and Chop't all received citations for staff lacking effective hair restraints or wearing soiled outer garments. The violations indicate moments when inspector observations didn't align with required standards, though they don't necessarily indicate systemic hygiene failures.
Equipment and plumbing issues crossed all establishment types. Anti-siphonage and back-flow prevention violations—which protect potable water from contamination—appeared at Subway, Dunkin, Cafe Grumpy, and Stop809. Mechanical ventilation deficiencies were documented at 1.50 Hot Pizza and Dos Toros, indicating exhaust systems that don't adequately remove heat, smoke, or cooking odors.
Dishwashing and sanitizing violations emerged at multiple locations including Energy Fuel, West Wing, and Insomnia Cookies. These violations indicate cleaning and sanitizing procedures for dishes, utensils, and equipment don't meet Department of Health standards—a critical issue since improperly sanitized items can transfer bacteria between different foods and customers.
Pest-related findings appeared at several establishments. Park Avenue Tavern showed evidence of filth flies and conditions conducive to rodent or insect activity. Pizza Hut lacked a pest management contract and activity records. Lulu's Bakery showed evidence of mice. Hunter's Steak & Ale House on Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, which scored 10 points, demonstrated harborage conditions that could attract pests.
What This Means for Diners
All 84 establishments remain open for business with posted Grade A cards, indicating they meet the city's standards for food safety compliance at the time of inspection. Under NYC regulations, restaurants scoring 0-13 points receive Grade A, while scores of 14-27 earn Grade B and scores of 28 or higher result in Grade C. The grading system provides consumers with at-a-glance information about inspection results, though it represents conditions on a single inspection date rather than ongoing performance.
The violations documented across these Grade A establishments don't indicate imminent health hazards—inspectors close restaurants immediately when they find conditions that pose actual danger to public health. Instead, these violations represent areas where operations diverged from optimal standards: a missing handwashing sign, equipment surfaces requiring better maintenance, or temperature logs showing brief excursions outside ideal ranges.
Restaurants have the right to request re-inspections if they believe violations have been corrected, and many establishments schedule these follow-ups within weeks of initial inspections. The Department of Health conducts unannounced inspections at restaurants at least once per year, with additional inspections triggered by complaints, special investigations, or previous poor performance.
Consumers can verify any restaurant's current grade and inspection history by visiting the NYC Health Department's restaurant inspection database or checking the grade card that must be posted in a front window or near the entrance. The database provides complete violation details, inspection dates, and scoring breakdowns for all food service establishments across the five boroughs.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
The NYC restaurant grading system assigns point values to violations based on their potential public health impact. Critical violations—such as improper food temperatures, inadequate handwashing facilities, or evidence of mice—carry higher point values than general violations like missing permits or minor equipment issues. The total points determine the letter grade, with lower scores indicating better compliance.
Grade A establishments (0-13 points) represent roughly 90% of all NYC restaurants in typical inspection cycles. Grade B establishments (14-27 points) indicate moderate compliance issues requiring correction. Grade C establishments (28+ points) show significant food safety concerns, though they may remain open while correcting violations. Restaurants scoring above certain thresholds may receive immediate closure orders if inspectors identify imminent health hazards.
The Department of Health trains inspectors according to standardized protocols based on the FDA Food Code, which provides science-based guidance for preventing foodborne illness. Inspectors evaluate five major risk factors: improper holding temperatures, inadequate cooking, contaminated equipment, poor personal hygiene, and food from unsafe sources. Violations directly related to these factors receive higher point values than administrative or facility issues.
New York City's inspection system differs from those in other jurisdictions—some cities use numerical scoring without letter grades, while others employ pass-fail systems or multi-tier rating schemes. NYC's letter grade system, implemented in 2010, aimed to provide clear, comparable information that consumers could quickly understand and use in dining decisions.
For complete inspection information, visit the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene restaurant inspection database at www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/restaurant-grades.page. Consumers with food safety concerns about specific establishments can file complaints through 311 or the NYC311 mobile app, which triggers follow-up investigations. The Department of Health investigates all complaints and conducts additional inspections when warranted by reported conditions.