New York, NY — Fifty-nine New York City restaurants across all five boroughs received Grade A health inspection scores on April 3, 2026, according to records from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The group averaged 9.6 points, well within the 0–13 point range required for top marks, and included everything from a perfect-scoring vegan destination in Midtown to chicken counters, Italian trattorias, Japanese hand roll bars, and Caribbean bakeries.
The Inspections
The day's standout performance came from Little Dirt Candy, the plant-based restaurant at 270 Park Avenue in Manhattan, which recorded a score of 0 with no violations documented — a clean sweep under the Health Department's inspection criteria.
Several other establishments scored in the low single digits. Daigo Hand Roll Bar on Gold Street in Brooklyn earned a score of 2, with inspectors noting a garbage receptacle issue. Beerland in Coney Island also scored 2, cited for a non-food contact surface concern. Manhattan's cookie shop Chip City on 7th Avenue matched that mark, with inspectors noting a surface maintenance issue and a missing food allergy information poster.
Columbus Citizens Foundation on East 69th Street in Manhattan and Queens frozen dessert shop Isabella's Frozen Treats each scored 4, both cited for non-food contact surface conditions. Bar Calico on Lexington Avenue in Gramercy also landed at 4 for a similar finding.
Moving into the mid-range, Daddy's Cafe on McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn scored 5, with inspectors citing a pesticide storage concern. A cluster of establishments scored 7, including Popeyes on Court Street in Brooklyn (non-food contact surface), the kosher spot Oligarch in Richmond Hill, Queens (food protection during storage), Chick-Fil-A on Third Avenue in Manhattan (food protection), Dyckman Palace Pizza in Inwood (surface condition), juice and smoothie bar Hey Yogurt on West 3rd Street (personal cleanliness and ventilation), Halal Quickbites in Ozone Park, Queens (surface condition), and Arch Amenities Group on West 52nd Street, cited for a cold holding temperature deviation.
Brooklyn's Starbucks at 6 MetroTech scored 8 for a food protection issue, while Staten Island's Piccolino on Amboy Road matched that score with a food contact surface sanitation citation.
At 9 points, several establishments earned A grades: Burger King on East Tremont Avenue in the Bronx, Panini Grill on Forest Avenue in Staten Island (cold holding), Gregorys Coffee on 8th Avenue in Manhattan (evidence of mice noted), Subway on Avenue U in Brooklyn (surface and storage concerns), The Mccarren on Union Avenue in Williamsburg (ventilation), Lola's on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn (surface condition), and Best Wok Chinese Food in Cambria Heights, Queens (cold holding temperature).
Establishments scoring 10 included Kassim's Bakery & Restaurant in Jamaica, Queens (surface condition); Dunkin on Main Street in Queens (hot holding temperature); Commons Cafe at Dentistry College on East 24th Street in Manhattan (food adulteration protocol); Hainan Jones in Midtown (utensil storage); Paris Baguette in Flushing (hot holding); and Quickly Elm in Elmhurst, cited for a food source concern.
At 11 points: Dunkin'/Baskin Robbins on Roosevelt Avenue in Queens (damaged canned goods); Tacos Gloria in Corona (fly presence noted); Dunkin on Roosevelt Avenue in Woodside (food protection); Portofino Cafe on Williamsbridge Road in the Bronx (cold holding); and Dominos on Queens Boulevard (surface condition).
The 12-point cohort was the day's largest, with restaurants right at the top of the Grade A threshold: Wing Wagon in Prospect Heights (ventilation); Mi Casa Bakery in the Norwood section of the Bronx (harborage conditions); Tiny's Diner on Riverdale Avenue in the Bronx (food handling protocol); Swick 2 Go in Astoria (food contact surface design); Sakura in Howard Beach (hand washing facility access); The Turk's Inn in Bushwick (single service article and sanitation); Guardian Life at Hudson Yards (food contact surface and wiping cloth storage); Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on First Avenue in Manhattan (hot holding); Domino's Pizza on East 116th Street in East Harlem (surface condition); Misipasta in Williamsburg (food protection); Kennedy Fried Chicken on East 138th Street in the Bronx (cold holding and surface condition); and Want Italy Pasta & Go in the Financial District (single service article).
Establishments earning a score of 13 — the maximum for an A grade — included The Penn Club on West 44th Street (food contact surface sanitation); Supper on East 2nd Street in the East Village (surface condition); El Crucero Restaurant & Grill on East 138th Street in the Bronx, where live roaches and harborage conditions were recorded; Lone Wolf in Bushwick (Food Protection Certificate and smoking policy concerns); Prince Tea House in Flushing (surface conditions); Todo Sabores Bar in Woodside (surface condition); Chun Vegetarian on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn (cold holding); Island Rolls N Bowls on Roosevelt Island (food protection); Chinese Musician in Greenpoint (food contact surface design); Cuisine Imperial in Queens (food protection); Serafina Times Square on West 49th Street (back-flow prevention device); and El Braserio Taqueria on East 182nd Street in the Bronx (surface condition).
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited violation category across the 59 restaurants on April 3 involved non-food contact surfaces — equipment or materials that were not properly maintained, sealed, or kept clean. This category appeared in roughly a third of all cited establishments and is among the most common findings citywide, typically addressed through equipment repairs or cleaning protocols.
Cold and hot holding temperature deviations were the second most common category, appearing at roughly a dozen locations. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, cold temperature-controlled-for-safety (TCS) foods must be kept at or below 41°F, while hot TCS foods must remain at or above 140°F. Brief deviations from these thresholds during active service or restocking are common triggers for these violations.
Geographically, Queens led the day's count with the most inspected establishments at 21, followed by Manhattan (18), Brooklyn (16), the Bronx (7), and Staten Island (2). Cuisine variety was broad: Italian restaurants were the most represented single category, followed by chicken-focused concepts, American diners, and Mexican eateries. Japanese, Chinese, Caribbean, Turkish, Jewish/Kosher, Southwestern, and vegan cuisines also appeared, reflecting the breadth of New York's dining landscape.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A posted in a restaurant window means the establishment scored between 0 and 13 points on its most recent inspection cycle. That does not mean a restaurant had zero violations — it means any violations found were minor enough in nature and number to fall within the top tier. Many of the restaurants in this group had one or two low-point violations that were noted by inspectors but did not prevent a Grade A outcome.
Diners can look up any NYC restaurant's full inspection history, including all cited violations and scores, through the NYC Department of Health's online restaurant inspection database. Inspection records include the date of each inspection, the score, the grade assigned, and the specific violation codes recorded.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant letter grading system, administered under Health Code Article 81, assigns grades based on the total points accumulated during a sanitary inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Points are assigned based on the severity and nature of each violation found. Some violations carry a fixed number of points; others are scored based on risk category. Establishments that do not achieve a Grade A on their initial inspection are re-inspected, and the grade from the second inspection is the one posted publicly. Restaurants may also request a hearing before the Health Department's administrative tribunal if they dispute their score.
Grades must be posted in a window visible from the street. The NYC Health Department conducts unannounced inspections at least once a year at every permitted food service establishment in the city. Diners can review full inspection records at the NYC Health Department's restaurant inspection lookup portal.