Queens, NY — Prime Astoria, a Caribbean restaurant at 40-06 Astoria Boulevard in Queens, received a Grade C following a March 27, 2026 inspection by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Inspectors recorded a score of 55, well above the threshold for the city's lowest public grade. The data was released by DOHMH on March 31, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited three critical violations and one non-critical violation during the inspection.

The most significant critical finding involved evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food and non-food areas, a violation classified under Code 04L. Rodent activity in a food service environment poses direct risks of contamination to food, surfaces, and equipment.

Two additional critical violations related to temperature control for food safety. Inspectors documented that cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F — the maximum safe cold-holding temperature under Code 02G. This category includes a wide range of perishable items such as meats, dairy, and prepared foods. Violations of this type indicate a breakdown in refrigeration or food handling practices that can allow harmful bacteria to multiply to unsafe levels.

A third critical violation, Code 02H, noted that cooked or hot-held food was not cooled using an approved method. Under this requirement, food must be reduced from 140°F to 70°F within two hours, and from 70°F to 41°F within an additional four hours. Failure to follow this cooling process is a recognized pathway for bacterial growth in foods that appear safe but may carry elevated pathogen levels.

The single non-critical violation, Code 08A, cited conditions in the establishment conducive to rodent, insect, or pest harborage — a structural or maintenance finding that can contribute to ongoing pest activity if not addressed.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control and pest management are foundational requirements under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food protection standards for all licensed food service establishments in New York City. The regulations align with the FDA Food Code, which establishes science-based practices for reducing foodborne illness risk in commercial kitchens.

The two-hour and four-hour cooling rule under Code 02H exists because cooked food passing slowly through the temperature danger zone (41°F to 140°F) can allow pathogens such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium perfringens to multiply to levels that cause illness. Similarly, cold-holding failures under Code 02G indicate that food may have spent extended time at unsafe temperatures prior to service.

Rodent violations carry particular weight in DOHMH scoring. Evidence of mice or live mice in a food preparation or storage area is treated as a critical violation because of the direct contamination risk to food and food-contact surfaces.

Inspection History

Prime Astoria has been inspected previously, and its recent history shows a pattern of elevated scores:

  • October 19, 2025: Score 87
  • December 4, 2022: Score 24 (Grade B)

The October 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 87 — an exceptionally high figure that indicates a substantial number of violations were cited at that time. The December 2022 inspection produced a score of 24, which falls within the Grade B range. The current score of 55 represents a continuation of the elevated scoring seen in the most recent prior cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a letter grading system based on inspection scores, which are calculated by assigning point values to each violation cited. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or higher

A Grade C is the lowest grade issued under the standard cycle. Restaurants receiving a Grade C may request a re-inspection or an administrative hearing to contest violations. Grades must be posted in a location visible to the public.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at NYC Open Data. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or borough to review current and historical inspection records.

More About This Restaurant

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