Queens, NY — Pizzeria Panaderia Mexicana, a bakery located at 76-17 Roosevelt Avenue in the Jackson Heights neighborhood, received a score of 42 and a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 10, 2026. Inspectors documented two critical violations and one non-critical violation during the visit.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 13, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant violation cited involved food protection failures. Inspectors found that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Additionally, condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, creating further contamination risks.

Inspectors also cited the establishment for not having a Food Protection Certificate (FPC) held by a manager or supervisor of food operations. New York City requires that every food service establishment have at least one supervisory staff member who holds a valid FPC, ensuring that someone on-site has demonstrated knowledge of safe food handling practices.

A non-critical violation was also recorded for missing required signage. The establishment did not have a "Choking first aid" poster displayed, nor was an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign posted. Required resuscitation equipment signage — covering exhaled air resuscitation masks for adults and pediatrics, along with latex gloves — was also absent.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain conditions that prevent contamination of food products at all stages of handling. The Food Protection Certificate requirement, outlined in Section 81.15, exists to ensure that at least one person in a supervisory role has completed an approved food safety course and can oversee proper food handling procedures.

The FDA Food Code emphasizes that protecting food from contamination during storage and display is a fundamental principle of food safety operations. Exposed food products can come into contact with airborne contaminants, pests, or other environmental hazards that may introduce harmful pathogens.

The condiment violation specifically addresses the risk of cross-contamination when shared or open condiment containers are accessible to multiple customers or are not properly dispensed.

Inspection History

The February 2026 inspection follows a turbulent recent history for the establishment:

  • October 27, 2025: Score of 84, indicating numerous violations
  • November 13, 2025: Score of 77, resulting in the establishment being closed by DOHMH
  • November 18, 2025: Score of 2 (Grade Z), recorded following a re-inspection after the closure

The November closure and subsequent re-inspection that produced a score of 2 suggested the establishment had made substantial corrections at that time. However, the February 2026 inspection indicates that some compliance issues have resurfaced, with the score of 42 placing the establishment back in Grade C territory.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer violations:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

A score of 42 falls well within the Grade C range. Establishments that receive a grade below A have the option to post the letter grade or a "Grade Pending" sign while they await a re-inspection or adjudication hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Public Resources

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database provides detailed violation descriptions, scores, and grade histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

Residents who observe potential food safety concerns at any establishment can contact 311 or file a complaint through the NYC 311 website or mobile application.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Pizzeria Panaderia Mexicana including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.