New York, NY — Fifty-seven restaurants across all five New York City boroughs received Grade A scores during health inspections conducted on March 20, 2026, according to records from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The restaurants spanned a wide range of cuisines and neighborhoods, with an average score of 9.9 points — well within the 0–13 point range required for the city's top grade.
The Inspections
The day's lowest score went to White Castle at 2701 Boston Post Road in the Bronx, which recorded just 2 points — among the best possible outcomes under the city's system. Inspectors noted a plumbing-related violation involving anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention. Also earning a 2-point score was Green Mandala, a juice and smoothies café on East 28th Street in Manhattan, cited for a non-food contact surface issue.
Several establishments posted 5-point scores. 7th Avenue Donuts & Diner in Brooklyn was cited for improper food storage or protection from contamination. Amazon Cafeteria at 450 West 33rd Street in Manhattan and Burger King on Delancey Street both received the same score with similar equipment cleanliness notes.
At 6 points, BNP Paribas Coffee Bar on Seventh Avenue in Midtown was cited for single-service article handling and food contact surface issues. A cluster of restaurants scored 7 points, including Space Karaoke in Koreatown, cited for a cross-contamination concern; L.S. Forever Deli in Brooklyn; Wing Hing Restaurant on Rogers Avenue; Daisy's Juice Bar and Cafe in the Bronx; Gigi's Coffee House in Brooklyn; Tee's Teriyaki House in East New York; Florist Bar & Co in Flushing, Queens; and Dave's Hot Chicken on West 125th Street in Harlem.
Establishments scoring 8 points included Tha Cafe in Queens, New Tian Fu Restaurant #9 in Flushing, and Holydog Cafe on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, which was noted for a missing pest management contract and a failure to post healthy eating information.
At 9 points, Puerto Plata Restaurant in Jamaica, Queens was cited for equipment surface issues, while Rothschild TLV on the Upper East Side was noted for a hot food temperature holding concern. Pikasso Y Mas in the Bronx received the same score with handwashing signage and surface maintenance violations.
Several restaurants earned 10-point scores, among them Towne Deli & Pizza on Staten Island with a cold food temperature holding violation; Leone's Pizzeria & Restaurant in Queens; L'Aroma Deli Cafe in Ridgewood, Queens; Subway on Grand Street in Manhattan; KFC in the Bronx; Nutricion Activa in Corona, Queens; Yosweets on West 181st Street in Manhattan, which documented evidence of mice; Le Pain Quotidien on Broadway in Midtown; and Energy Fuel in Brooklyn.
Restaurants scoring 11 points included Ivan Ramen on Clinton Street in the Lower East Side, cited for both a food adulteration note and a cold holding temperature concern; Ava Social on West 38th Street; Viva Events & Catering on East 58th Street with a hot holding temperature violation; and China Delight in Queens, cited for improper pesticide storage.
At 12 points — the highest score still qualifying for Grade A — inspectors documented violations at a wide range of establishments. Nolbu Restaurant in Flushing was cited for a hot food temperature issue. Mole Cantina Mexicana on the Upper East Side received a sanitized utensil storage note. Bareburger in Bayside, Queens was cited for a plumbing violation. Elora's in Brooklyn was noted for an employee conduct concern in food preparation areas. Prince Coffee House on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx was cited for a food source issue. Bayside Chicken Lovers and NTK Luncheonette in Queens, Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in the East Village, Tara Rose on Third Avenue in Manhattan, Lighthouse Fishmarket in East Harlem, Juicy King Crab Express in Brooklyn, Lao Jiu Guan in Sunset Park, Sunset Ridge Cafe & Grill in Brooklyn, and Bar Vivant on the Upper East Side all posted 12-point scores with varied violations.
The day's 13-point scores — the ceiling of the Grade A range — were recorded at Sevilla on Charles Street in the West Village; La Cabana in Flatbush; Maison May in Fort Greene; Spiro's Cafe & Pizza in Sunset Park; Los Primos Delicatessen in East New York; Alcholos Bakery in the Bronx, which documented mouse evidence; Sip & Guzzle on Cornelia Street in the West Village; Stepping Stone Cafe in Queens; Jeong Yuk Jeom on Broadway in Midtown, cited for undercooked or raw animal protein disclosure requirements; and Tera NYC on Essex Street, cited for thermometer placement in cold storage.
Common Patterns
The 57 inspected restaurants spanned all five boroughs — with Manhattan and Brooklyn representing the largest share — and covered more than 20 cuisine types. Coffee shops and juice bars appeared frequently, as did American diners, Chinese restaurants, and fast-food chains. Queens contributed a notably diverse mix, from Caribbean spots and Latin American restaurants to Korean barbecue and Chinese take-out.
The most common violation category across the day's inspections involved non-food contact surface maintenance — equipment cleanliness and proper sealing — which appeared across dozens of establishments. Temperature control violations for both hot and cold Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods were also frequently noted, consistent with citywide inspection trends. Plumbing issues, specifically anti-siphonage and back-flow prevention, surfaced at multiple locations as well.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A score does not mean an inspection found zero violations. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, inspectors assign points for each documented violation, and establishments scoring 0–13 points earn a Grade A. Some violations, particularly minor equipment or surface issues, carry lower point values and do not necessarily indicate a food safety risk. More serious violations — such as temperature control failures or evidence of pests — carry higher point values and are weighted accordingly.
Diners can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including violation descriptions and scores, through the NYC Department of Health's online database. Grades must be posted in the window of each establishment.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a numeric scoring system developed in consultation with the FDA Food Code. Every violation found during an unannounced inspection is assigned a point value based on its severity and public health risk.
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that do not receive a Grade A on their initial inspection are re-inspected. If the score improves, the better grade is posted. Establishments may also request an administrative tribunal hearing to contest violations.
Inspection records for all 57 restaurants from March 20, 2026 are publicly available through the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's restaurant inspection search tool. Consumers are encouraged to check scores before dining and to report concerns through NYC 311.