New York, NY — On March 27, 2026, New York City health inspectors awarded Grade A scores to 109 restaurants across all five boroughs, with an average score of 8.9 points. The results reflect the diversity of the city's dining landscape, from national chains to neighborhood staples, spanning cuisines from Polish to Pakistani, Thai to Tex-Mex.
The Inspections
The day's standout performer was Chipotle Mexican Grill #2308 on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island, which recorded a perfect score of 0 — the only establishment that day to do so with no violations documented.
Several restaurants earned scores of 2, among the lowest recorded that day. McDonald's on 82nd Street in Queens and McDonald's on Broadway in Brooklyn each received a 2, with inspectors noting non-food contact surfaces that were not kept clean or properly sealed. Arbuz Cafe in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, which serves juices and fruit salads, also scored a 2, with a citation for food contact surface design and maintenance. Polonica, a Polish restaurant on 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, earned a 2 for similar non-food contact surface conditions, as did Poke City on Livingston Street in Downtown Brooklyn — which was also cited for improper pesticide storage — and Cafe Riazor, a Spanish spot on West 16th Street in Manhattan.
In the 3-point range, Chipotle Mexican Grill at Battery Park City in Manhattan and Burger King on Westchester Avenue in the Bronx each received minor citations for non-food contact surfaces. Joe & The Juice on Broadway in the Upper West Side picked up the same violation.
Moving into the mid-range scores, Up Thai on 2nd Avenue in Manhattan scored a 4, with inspectors noting a food contact surface maintenance issue and an improper thawing procedure. The Original Pizza of 4th Ave in Sunset Park, Brooklyn scored a 5 for a food storage protection issue, as did Dunkin' / Baskin Robbins in Queens, Los Mariscos on West 15th Street in Manhattan, and Pica Pica Con Sabor in Williamsburg, Brooklyn — the latter for improperly stored wiping cloths. Wu & Nussbaum on Broadway in Manhattan scored a 5 with a personal cleanliness citation, and Maman on Court Street in Brooklyn and Harlem Breakfast Club on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard each earned a 5 as well. Chip City on Madison Avenue and Keybar BK in Bushwick also recorded 5-point scores, along with Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn and Haraz Coffee House in SoHo.
In the 6–7 point range, Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery & Grill on Boston Road in the Bronx, BB's Burger Factory on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn, Lucky Dog in Williamsburg, and Dunkin' in Midtown Manhattan all recorded low scores. Chick-fil-A on 6th Avenue in Manhattan earned a 7 for the absence of an accurate thermometer in refrigeration equipment, while Five Guys in Woodside, Queens, scored a 7 for a hot food temperature holding issue. Halal Quickbites in Queens, Clearview Park Golf Course, and Amy's Bread (Cafe at New York Public Library) also landed in the 7-point range.
Among restaurants scoring 8 or 9, Sardi's Restaurant on West 44th Street — a Broadway-area institution — received a 9 for a hot food temperature holding citation. Point Seven at 200 Park Avenue scored 8 for a back-flow prevention device issue. The Mary Lane on Bank Street in the West Village, Tap NYC on 3rd Avenue, and Skyview Diner in the Bronx all scored 9. Fumo SoHo on Broome Street earned a 9 with two minor violations, including a labeling issue for cooking oils. Early Bird Coffe in Riverdale, Bronx, scored 9 for a missing handwashing sign.
At 10 points, Dolly Varden on West 51st Street was cited for ventilation issues. Red Mist on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn scored 10 with inspectors documenting evidence of mice — a finding that, while serious, did not prevent the restaurant from earning a Grade A given the overall low point total. Ofrenda on 7th Avenue South in the West Village, Smile To Go in Tribeca, and Do Not Disturb on West 12th Street all scored 10. Taqueria Al Pastor in Ridgewood, Queens, and Heytea in Downtown Brooklyn also recorded 10-point scores.
Several restaurants scored at the top of the Grade A range — 11 to 13 points. Pak Lahori Chilli on Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn earned an 11 for ventilation and surface conditions. Lee's Deli on East 188th Street in the Bronx scored 11 with a harborage condition citation. Lure Fishbar on Mercer Street in SoHo scored 12, with inspectors noting filth flies. Panda Express #2792 on Broadway in Manhattan scored 12 for a missing Food Protection Certificate. Serafina in the West Village and Domino's Pizza #3685 on West 72nd Street also recorded 12-point scores.
At 13 points — the maximum for a Grade A — Las Chatas Taqueria & Deli Grocery in the Bronx, Dunkin in Midtown, and U Cafe in Brooklyn each had evidence of mice documented by inspectors. Spot Dessert Bar in Flushing, Queens, scored 13 with live roaches noted in the facility. Pasquale's Rigoletto Restaurant on Arthur Avenue in the Bronx earned a 13 for harborage conditions. Katana Sushi in Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn, The Boiling Palace in Marine Park, Truck Stop Kitchen in Queens, BK Halal Grill in Brooklyn, Wonder in Washington Heights, and Mission Chinese Food / Basement in Chinatown also all earned their Grade A at 13 points.
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited violation across the 109 restaurants involved non-food contact surfaces — equipment, shelving, and fixtures that were not kept clean, not made of acceptable materials, or not properly sealed. This category appeared in dozens of inspection reports and reflects one of the most common maintenance challenges in commercial kitchens.
Temperature control was the second most common violation category. Multiple restaurants were cited for hot food held below 140°F or cold food held above 41°F, both thresholds defined under the FDA Food Code and incorporated into NYC Health Code Article 81.
Pest-related violations appeared in a notable subset of restaurants, including evidence of mice, roaches, or harborage conditions. While these citations carry significant public health implications, restaurants receiving such findings at 13 or fewer points total can still qualify for a Grade A. The grading system is cumulative — a single pest citation does not automatically disqualify an establishment from a top grade.
Geographically, Brooklyn accounted for the largest share of inspected restaurants on this date, followed by Manhattan and Queens. The Bronx and Staten Island were also represented. Cuisine diversity was broad, spanning American, Chinese, Mexican, Caribbean, Italian, Japanese, Greek, Pakistani, Polish, Brazilian, and more.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A rating signals that a restaurant met New York City's food safety standards on the day of inspection. It does not mean a restaurant was violation-free — it means the total point value of all violations documented fell within the acceptable Grade A threshold. Diners can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including specific violations and scores, through the NYC Department of Health's online restaurant inspection database.
Inspection grades are required to be posted in a visible location at each restaurant's entrance, allowing diners to check a restaurant's most recent grade before entering.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a points-based grading system under NYC Health Code Article 81. Points are assigned for each violation found during an unannounced inspection. The grade thresholds are:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that do not receive an A on their initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is assigned. A "Grade Pending" posting means a restaurant has requested that re-inspection and is awaiting the result. On March 27, a small number of establishments in this dataset — including Habibi Bar and Restaurant and one location of BB's Burger Factory — received a Grade Pending designation despite low scores, reflecting this review process.
Diners can search inspection results at the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection lookup tool or browse local results at NYCRestaurantInspections.com.