New York, NY — Thirty-eight restaurants across all five boroughs earned Grade A scores during New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspections conducted on March 19, 2026. The inspected establishments posted an average score of 9.2 points, well within the 0-to-13-point range required for the city's top letter grade. The results reflect a broad cross-section of the city's dining landscape, covering more than a dozen cuisine types from hamburgers and pizza to Caribbean, Chinese, and Jewish/Kosher fare.
The Inspections
Among the day's strongest performers, Five Guys Famous Burgers And Fries on West 55th Street in Manhattan earned a score of 2, with inspectors noting only a minor anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention issue. Just blocks away on the Upper East Side, Manhattan West also scored a 2, cited for an improperly covered garbage receptacle.
Brooklyn's Roll-N-Roaster on Emmons Avenue, a longtime Sheepshead Bay fixture, posted a score of 3 after inspectors documented a non-food contact surface cleanliness issue. In Queens, Chipotle Mexican Grill #3742 on Roosevelt Avenue matched that score of 3 for a similar equipment-related finding, while Js Restaurant & Diner on Baisley Boulevard also earned a 3.
In the West Village, Bedford Studio on Bedford Street scored a 5 after inspectors found a food contact surface that was not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses. Brooklyn's Shapeshifter Lab on Union Street received the same score of 5 for an identical violation. Plymouth Cafe in Brooklyn Heights scored 4 for a non-food contact surface issue.
Several mid-range performers demonstrated that even minor temperature and sanitation findings leave room for a strong grade. Dbl Pie Pizza on Amsterdam Avenue scored 8 after inspectors documented a cold time-and-temperature-controlled-for-safety (TCS) food item held above 41°F. Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn scored 9 for a hot TCS item not held at or above 140°F — a common finding across the city's kitchens. Arthur & Sons, the Italian restaurant on Eighth Avenue in Manhattan, scored 11 for a cold TCS temperature violation.
The city's bagel shops had a notable showing. Hand Rolled Bagel Cafe in Whitestone, Queens, scored 12 for a food contact surface sanitization issue. Zucker's Bagels & Smoked Fish in Tribeca and Bagel Express Ii on Second Avenue both scored 12 as well, cited for equipment cleanliness and surface sanitization, respectively.
Coffee and tea establishments were well represented with six locations passing. Ground Central Coffee Company in Midtown scored 13 for a dishwashing deficiency. The Fitch Coffee Bar near the southern tip of Manhattan also scored 13, with findings related to back-flow prevention and food contact surface sanitization. High Beam Coffee Roastery in Red Hook, Brooklyn, scored 12 after inspectors noted a food adulteration issue and a missing food allergy information poster. The Hill's Cafe in Forest Hills, Queens, scored 13 for similar dishwashing and allergy poster findings. Muz Muz on Graham Avenue in Williamsburg scored 10.
Queens and Brooklyn each contributed heavily to the day's results. Popeyes on Hillside Avenue in Queens scored 6, while a separate Popeyes location on Fifth Avenue in Brooklyn scored 8, and a third Popeyes on Northern Boulevard in Jackson Heights scored 13 with findings for personal cleanliness and hot food temperature. Azoguenita Bakery & Restaurant on Roosevelt Avenue scored 9, and Mala Siblings, also on Roosevelt Avenue in Flushing, scored 13 for a hot food holding temperature finding.
Brooklyn's West Wing on Coney Island Avenue and The Bay Cafe on Neptune Avenue, both serving Jewish/Kosher cuisine, each scored 9. Wei Fort Greene on Fulton Street scored 12 for equipment storage and personal cleanliness findings. A & L Pizza Restaurant in Bensonhurst and Mike's Pizza & Restaurant in Flatbush scored 12 and 9, respectively. Cinnabon / Carvel on Kings Highway scored 12 for pest harborage conditions.
Staten Island's sole representative, W's Bar And Restaurant on Amboy Road in Tottenville, scored 12 after inspectors found a thermometer was not properly located in cold storage equipment. The Bronx contributed two locations: La Salle Grocery in Hunts Point scored 13 for vermin-proofing conditions, and Speedy Tacos And Chicken near the Riverdale border scored 13 for a non-food contact surface issue.
Rounding out the list, Wasabi Sushi & Bento in Lower Manhattan scored 7, Dunkin in Corona, Queens, scored 8, Lil Frankie's Grocery in the East Village scored 9, Coco Bubble Tea / Crab House Time Square / Pronto Pasta near Times Square scored 11, and Pizza Hut on Third Avenue in East Harlem scored 13.
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited category involved non-food contact surfaces that were not clean or properly maintained, appearing in more than a third of the inspections. Temperature control violations — both cold TCS items held above 41°F and hot TCS items not held at 140°F — were the second most common finding. Equipment sanitation and back-flow prevention issues rounded out the recurring themes.
Brooklyn led all boroughs with 13 restaurants inspected, followed by Manhattan with 11, Queens with 8, the Bronx with 2, and Staten Island with 1. The cuisine breakdown reflected New York's diversity: four pizza establishments, three chicken outlets, three bagel shops, six coffee and tea locations, and a range of American, Latin American, Caribbean, Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Mexican, Jewish/Kosher, and frozen dessert operations.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A score indicates that a restaurant received between 0 and 13 violation points during its inspection, meeting the NYC Department of Health's highest standard. Inspectors evaluate food handling, temperature control, personal hygiene, facility maintenance, and pest management under NYC Health Code Article 81.
Diners can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including specific violations and scores, through the NYC Department of Health's online restaurant inspection portal or by checking the letter grade card posted at the entrance of every establishment. All 38 restaurants from March 19, 2026, are profiled with full violation details on NYCRestaurantInspections.com.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades based on total violation points assessed during an inspection. A score of 0 to 13 points earns a Grade A, the highest rating. Scores of 14 to 27 points result in a Grade B, and scores of 28 points or more receive a Grade C. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. During the adjudication period, restaurants display a "Grade Pending" card rather than the letter grade.
The grading system, administered under the authority of the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, has been in effect since July 2010. Violation points are assigned based on the severity and nature of each finding, with critical violations related to food temperature, contamination, and pest activity carrying the highest point values. Non-critical violations such as missing signage or minor equipment issues carry lower point values.
For full inspection details on any restaurant mentioned in this report, visit the individual facility pages linked above or search the NYC DOHMH restaurant inspection database.