Manhattan, NY — Potbelly, the sandwich chain located at 22 East 17th Street in Manhattan, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted March 26, 2026, according to records released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 3, 2026. The restaurant scored 22 points — placing it near the upper end of the Grade B range, just five points below the Grade C threshold.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented five violations during the March inspection, three of which were classified as critical.

The first critical violation, cited under Code 06C, noted that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential contamination. Specifically, condiments were not stored in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, creating a risk of cross-contamination.

The second critical violation, Code 02G, recorded that cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above the required 41°F threshold. Maintaining proper cold temperatures is a key control measure against the growth of foodborne pathogens.

The third critical violation, Code 06E, identified sanitized equipment or utensils — including in-use food dispensing utensils — as improperly used or stored, which can compromise the sanitation of food contact surfaces.

Two non-critical violations were also recorded. Code 10F cited non-food contact surfaces made of unacceptable materials or not kept adequately clean. Code 20-06 noted that the current letter grade or Grade Pending card was not posted as required.

Food Safety Context

Critical violations are defined under NYC Health Code Article 81 as conditions that pose a direct risk of foodborne illness. Temperature control violations like Code 02G align with guidance in the FDA Food Code, which identifies improper cold holding as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks. Similarly, inadequate protection of food and utensils — as cited under Codes 06C and 06E — can facilitate contamination at multiple points in food preparation and service.

A score of 22 falls within the Grade B range but sits close to the boundary of Grade C territory, indicating a meaningful accumulation of cited violations during this inspection cycle.

Inspection History

Potbelly's inspection record at this location shows a pattern of elevated scores in recent cycles:

  • 2023-03-20: Score 7 (Grade A)
  • 2024-07-09: Score 34
  • 2024-12-18: Score 31 (Grade Z)
  • 2025-01-16: Score 50
  • 2025-03-12: Score 20
  • 2025-10-08: Score 44
  • 2025-11-25: Score 57 (Grade Z)
  • 2026-03-26: Score 22 (Grade B)

The restaurant earned a Grade A in March 2023 but has scored above 20 in every subsequent inspection on record. Prior inspections in late 2024 and throughout 2025 produced scores ranging from 31 to 57, with two resulting in a Grade Z designation, which is assigned when a restaurant scores poorly on a re-inspection.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades based on inspection scores under the following scale:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Grades must be posted prominently at the restaurant entrance; the absence of the current grade card was itself cited as a violation during this inspection.

Consumers can review the full inspection record for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection lookup tool at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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