New York, NY — Eighty-four New York City restaurants received Grade A health inspection scores on April 9, 2026, according to records from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Spanning all five boroughs and representing dozens of cuisine types, the results reflect a broad cross-section of the city's dining landscape. The group averaged a score of 8.7 points, well within the 0–13 point range required for an A grade.
The Inspections
Several restaurants recorded perfect or near-perfect scores. Palenque Colombian Food, a Spanish-cuisine spot on Graham Avenue in Brooklyn, and Ambo, an Indian restaurant on East 8th Street in Manhattan, each recorded zero violations, as did D & P 44th Floor Coffee Bar/Market at Hudson Yards. These three establishments had no violations documented during their inspections.
Among the low scorers, Hawa Smoothies & Bubble Tea on First Avenue in Manhattan and Gusto Latino on Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn each earned scores of 2, with minor non-food contact surface violations noted. Teriyaki 365 in Queens and Ouaga on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard in Manhattan also scored 2, each with similar surface maintenance citations.
Hai Sun on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn scored 2, with inspectors citing a garbage receptacle that lacked a tight-fitting lid. Aubi & Ramsa, a frozen desserts shop in Manhattan's Meatpacking District, scored 2 with a minor equipment surface citation.
Moving into the mid-range scores, Juici Patties on East 149th Street in the Bronx scored 5, with a thermometer availability issue noted. Ugly Donuts & Corn Dogs Cafe on Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn and Cozy on the Slope in Park Slope both scored 7, with surface maintenance and restroom maintenance violations respectively.
Subway at Hutchinson River Parkway in the Bronx scored 7, with inspectors noting a cold food temperature holding issue — a citation that also appeared at Subway on 11th Avenue in Manhattan, which scored 11. La Tamaleria Colombiana in Jackson Heights, Queens scored 8, with a drainage device citation recorded.
Several restaurants scored 10 points while still earning the A grade. Dunkin on Liberty Avenue in Queens was cited for improper utensil storage. Metro Cafeteria & Restaurant in Brooklyn scored 10, with both a surface cleanliness citation and a hot food temperature holding issue. Domino's on Amsterdam Avenue and Holy Schnitzel on the Upper West Side each scored 10, both cited for lacking a Food Protection Certificate holder on staff.
At the upper end of the A range, Il Corso Ristorante Italiano on West 55th Street in Manhattan scored 12, with evidence of mice recorded. Pinkberry on Second Avenue in Manhattan also scored 11, with live roaches documented in the facility. New Yw Golden Bakery in Sunset Park, Brooklyn scored 5 but had live roaches cited as well. These findings, while noted, fell within the scoring threshold for an A grade under current Health Department guidelines.
Several restaurants reached the 13-point ceiling of the A range. Tipico Dominicano in Queens was cited for a missing Food Protection Certificate. Mama Mezze on Broadway in Manhattan scored 13, with evidence of mice recorded. Crown Fried Chicken in Brooklyn and Cafe 1792 at Brookfield Place in Manhattan each scored 13, with food contact surface sanitation and food protection violations cited respectively.
Other notable Grade A recipients included Chor Bazaar on West 30th Street in Manhattan (12 points), Kyma in the Flatiron District (12 points), Gnocchi on 9th near Times Square (12 points), Los Charros Mexican Restaurant on Staten Island (9 points), and Dae Bak Restaurant in Flushing, Queens (11 points), which had evidence of rats recorded despite earning the passing grade.
Common Patterns
The most frequently cited violation category across the 84 restaurants was non-food contact surface maintenance — issues involving equipment made of unacceptable materials, surfaces not kept clean, or improperly sealed fixtures. This citation appeared in roughly a third of all inspected establishments. Anti-siphonage and back-flow prevention device deficiencies were the second most common finding, appearing at locations including Bolo Bolo in Cobble Hill, The Bay Cafe in Brighton Beach, and Rocco's of Roc Beach in Queens.
Food Protection Certificate violations — where a certified food protection manager was not present during the inspection — appeared at Domino's on Union Turnpike in Queens (5 points), Holy Schnitzel, and Tipico Dominicano, among others.
Geographically, Manhattan and Brooklyn led the day's results with the largest share of inspected restaurants. Queens was well represented with 20 establishments, while the Bronx contributed 7 and Staten Island 1, with Los Charros Mexican Restaurant the sole Staten Island entry. Cuisine diversity was notable: the list included Thai, Indian, Colombian, Caribbean, Greek, Korean, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, Latin American, Jewish/Kosher, vegan, and several beverage-focused establishments.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade A designation means inspectors found 13 or fewer points' worth of violations during the visit. The posted letter grade is required to be displayed in a front window or door where customers can see it before entering. Grades reflect conditions at the time of inspection and can change with subsequent visits.
Diners can look up any restaurant's full inspection history — including every cited violation and score — through the NYC Health Department's online restaurant inspection database. Each facility page on NYCRestaurantInspections.com links directly to the city's public records for that establishment.
It is worth noting that some restaurants in today's results carry a "Pending" grade rather than an A, even with scores in the A range. This occurs when an establishment is undergoing its initial inspection cycle and a grade has not yet been formally posted. These include Palenque Colombian Food, Ambo, Ng's Kitchen in Sunset Park, Koko Seafood Salad & Grill in Washington Heights, and Cugini Pizzeria & Restaurant in Queens.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City uses a point-based scoring system under Health Code Article 81. During an unannounced inspection, a sanitarian from the Health Department evaluates the establishment against dozens of criteria drawn from the New York City Health Code and the FDA Food Code. Each violation found is assigned a point value based on severity.
The grading thresholds are:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that score in the B or C range on an initial inspection are given the opportunity for a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted. The grade card must be prominently displayed at all times.
Violations range from minor administrative issues — such as a missing Food Protection Certificate — to more significant food safety concerns, such as improper cold holding temperatures or evidence of pest activity. All violations carry point values calibrated to their potential public health impact.
Residents can search inspection records at the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Restaurant Inspection Results portal, or browse facility-level histories at NYCRestaurantInspections.com.