New York, NY — Seventy-one restaurants across all five New York City boroughs received Grade A scores during health inspections conducted on April 6, 2026, according to records from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The group averaged 8.8 points, well within the 0–13 point range required for the city's top grade. The inspected establishments span more than two dozen cuisine types, from seafood and bakeries to Latin American kitchens and coffee bars.
The Inspections
Two establishments recorded perfect scores of zero points. Red Hook Lobster Pound on Van Brunt Street in Brooklyn and Cote Wine Bar on Mosholu Avenue in the Bronx both completed their inspections with no violations documented.
Several restaurants earned scores in the low single digits. Domino's on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Manhattan received a score of 2, with an inspector noting a missing anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device. McDonald's on Hylan Boulevard in Staten Island and Kennedy Fried Chicken in Queens each also scored 2, both cited for non-food contact surfaces not kept to code. Paquita, a West Village coffee and tea spot in Manhattan, scored 2 with a pesticide storage notation. IHOP on Liberty Avenue in Queens matched that score, with inspectors recording missing handwashing signage and a choking first aid poster.
In the 3–5 point range, Pollos Mario in Woodside, Queens scored 3 for non-food contact surface issues, as did Starbucks in the Bronx and Society Cafe in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. Dunkin' in Forest Hills, Queens scored 4, alongside Raj's Indian Kitchen in Manhattan's Financial District and Sweetgreen on Park Avenue, which had two violations including a plumbing-related notation. A Daughter And Two Son's in the Bronx also scored 4, with a pesticide storage citation added to a surface cleanliness note.
At 5 points, Maxin Bakery in Flushing was cited for a food adulteration or misbranding concern. Thai 101 in Brooklyn's Clinton Hill neighborhood recorded a tobacco or open-container violation in a food prep area. Dunkin' on Bell Boulevard in Queens had a food protection during storage notation, and Playa Bowls in DUMBO was cited for a food contact surface sanitation issue.
Moving into the 6–9 point band, By Clio Bakery on Third Avenue in Brooklyn scored 6 for surface cleanliness. Clem's in Williamsburg and Werkstatt in Kensington each scored 7, with Clem's cited for food contact surface sanitation and Werkstatt for ware washing deficiencies. Danny's Szechuan Garden Restaurant in Howard Beach, Queens also scored 7 for food protection during storage. Cafe Paradiso near Lincoln Center scored 7 after an inspector found a hot food item not held at the required 140°F minimum. Dear Irving On Broadway in Midtown scored 7 for a plumbing back-flow issue.
At 8 points, Monteleone Bakery Cafe in Carroll Gardens had a surface cleanliness citation. Pico De Gallo in Jackson Heights scored 8 with a ventilation notation. The Bronx's 1930 Lechonera El Sazon Criollo scored 8 with two citations, including a wiping cloth storage issue. Rosalia's Pizzeria in Forest Hills also scored 8 for food protection.
Thai Cuisine in the Bronx scored 9, with a cold food temperature holding violation noted. Villaggio in Whitestone, Queens scored 9 after inspectors found a reheating temperature concern. La Playa Restaurant in Far Rockaway and Wonder on the Upper East Side each scored 9 as well, with Wonder receiving a plumbing notation. Prima Pizza in Queens Village scored 9 for ware washing deficiencies.
In the 10–11 point range, St. John's University Library Cafe in Jamaica scored 10 for a missing Food Protection Certificate among management. The Dead Rabbit, the well-known Irish bar in the Financial District, scored 10 after an inspector noted no hand washing facility in close proximity to a toilet room. New York Stock Exchange Executive Services at 11 Wall Street also scored 10 for a plumbing issue. The Hideout on the Lower East Side scored 10 for a personal cleanliness violation. The Rogue Panda in Brooklyn scored 10 for a missing Food Protection Certificate. Fuh Wah Restaurant in the Bronx scored 10 for wiping cloth storage. Al-Andalus in the East Village and Bar 42 in Hell's Kitchen each scored 10, with Bar 42 also missing a management Food Protection Certificate.
At 11 points, El Campeon De Los Pollos 2 in Ozone Park scored for surface cleanliness. Upside Pizza in SoHo had two violations including a plumbing concern. Sandwich And Pickle in Staten Island scored 11 with three citations including a cold food temperature holding issue and an improper thawing procedure. Ya Ya Roasted in Staten Island scored 11 for an improper thawing procedure.
Several restaurants scored 12 points, the upper boundary of the A grade range, including Artuso Pastry Shop in the Belmont section of the Bronx, Boat in Cobble Hill, The Smith on Second Avenue in Midtown, Mickey Spillane's Hell's Kitchen NYC, Spring Hill Hotel in Midtown, Il Forno / Iron Bar & Grill in Hell's Kitchen, Kam's Garden Chinese Restaurant in Queens, 220 Central Park South, 55 Deli-Coffee Shop in Woodside, Remi43 Flower & Coffee on Second Avenue, Krunchy Cueritos in Washington Heights, Quique Crudo in the West Village, and Puri Bakery in Gravesend, Brooklyn.
At exactly 13 points, the maximum for an A grade, inspectors documented a range of violations across a final group of establishments. La Vista Pizza on Second Avenue in Midtown was cited for evidence of mice in the establishment. Bagelsmith in Williamsburg scored 13 for surface cleanliness. Subway in Midtown had two violations including a food contact surface sanitation issue. El Manatial in Jackson Heights scored 13 after a hot food holding temperature concern was noted. Rico's Chicken Pollos A La Brasa in Flushing, Santa Ana Restaurant in Bushwick, Tortilleria Rosticeria El Guerrerense in Washington Heights, and Just Salad on Lexington Avenue all scored 13 for food protection during storage or transport. Villager in Crown Heights scored 13 for a plumbing issue. Qahwah House in the West Village received two citations including a wiping cloth notation. Origin Cafe & Wine Bar in Long Island City scored 13 for food contact surface sanitation. Santiago's Deli & Bagels in Bath Beach, Brooklyn scored 13 for surface cleanliness, and Visit Sicily NYC in the East Village scored 13 after inspectors found a cooling temperature procedure concern.
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited violation type across the April 6 inspections involved non-food contact surfaces — equipment, shelving, floors, and structural elements not kept clean or made of acceptable materials. This category appeared in roughly a third of the A-grade establishments and is among the most common citations citywide. Plumbing issues, specifically missing or non-functional anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, appeared in several establishments across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Food temperature holding violations, both hot and cold, appeared in a smaller subset, concentrated in restaurants serving cooked proteins and Latin American cuisines.
Geographically, Manhattan and Queens led in total inspected establishments, with Brooklyn close behind. The Bronx and Staten Island each contributed a smaller number. Cuisine diversity was broad: Latin American restaurants made up one of the larger represented groups, followed by American, Chinese, Italian, pizza, bakery, and coffee-focused concepts. Middle Eastern, Thai, Irish, Continental, Eastern European, Indian, and salad-focused restaurants also appeared in the day's results.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A score does not indicate a violation-free inspection. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, restaurants accumulate points for each violation, and those with 13 or fewer points receive an A. Violations range from minor procedural issues — missing signage, wiping cloth storage — to more significant food safety concerns such as temperature control failures or pest evidence. Each violation carries a point value based on its severity and risk level.
Diners can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including the specific violations cited and point values assigned, through the NYC Department of Health's restaurant inspection database. Inspection results are also posted publicly at each establishment.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a letter grade system administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Inspectors score restaurants based on compliance with the NYC Health Code and applicable provisions of the FDA Food Code:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants must post their grade card in a front window visible to passersby. A "Grade Pending" sign may appear when a restaurant is awaiting a re-inspection score following an initial inspection that did not result in an immediate A. Two of the establishments in the April 6 group — Red Hook Lobster Pound and Pollos Mario — received Grade Pending designations despite low point totals, reflecting the normal procedural sequence in those cases.
Inspections are unannounced and occur at least once per year for most establishments, more frequently for those with prior compliance issues. The full database of NYC restaurant inspection results is available through the city's open data portal and the NYC Health Department website.