Manhattan, NY — Purple Waves, an American restaurant at 285 West 110th Street in Manhattan, received a score of 37 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 6, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest grade in the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented violations related to dishwashing and sanitation practices.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 6 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Purple Waves for one non-critical violation:

  • Code 10G: Dishwashing and ware washing — cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment, was found to be deficient.

This violation indicates that the restaurant's procedures for properly cleaning and sanitizing dishes, utensils, and kitchen equipment did not meet the standards required by the city's health code at the time of inspection.

While the violation is classified as non-critical, the overall inspection score of 37 reflects a broader assessment of conditions at the establishment. Inspection scores are cumulative, with points assigned based on the nature and severity of each condition observed. A score of 37 indicates that inspectors identified conditions warranting significant point deductions across the evaluation.

The action taken by DOHMH was that violations were cited in the following area(s), meaning the restaurant was not ordered closed but was formally notified of the conditions requiring correction.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in the city must follow. Proper dishwashing and ware washing procedures are a foundational element of food safety, as inadequately cleaned utensils and equipment can serve as vectors for cross-contamination and foodborne illness.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local jurisdictions including New York City, specifies that food-contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized after each use, between handling different raw foods, and at minimum every four hours during continuous use. Sanitizing may be achieved through hot water immersion at appropriate temperatures or through chemical sanitizing solutions at proper concentrations.

Deficiencies in dishwashing protocols can allow the persistence of bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria on surfaces that come into direct contact with food served to customers. Maintaining effective ware washing procedures is considered one of the most fundamental safeguards in commercial food service operations.

Inspection History

A review of Purple Waves' inspection record over the past two years shows a pattern of fluctuating scores:

  • Feb 6, 2026: Score 37 (Grade C range)
  • Dec 23, 2025: Score 24 (Grade B range)
  • Nov 24, 2025: Score 24 (Grade B range)
  • Apr 16, 2025: Score 5 (Grade A)
  • Mar 18, 2025: Score 34 (Grade C range)
  • Feb 6, 2024: Score 20 (Grade B range)

The record shows that the restaurant achieved a Grade A score of 5 in April 2025, indicating a period of strong compliance. However, the most recent inspection represents the highest score recorded for the establishment in the available data, suggesting conditions at the time of the February 2026 visit had deteriorated from the levels observed during the spring 2025 inspection.

The pattern of scores moving between Grade B and Grade C ranges, with an intermittent Grade A, indicates inconsistent maintenance of health code standards over time.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance with health code standards. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection and have the opportunity to post a "Grade Pending" sign while awaiting adjudication or re-inspection.

A Grade C score does not necessarily mean a restaurant will be closed. It indicates that conditions observed during the inspection resulted in a cumulative point total of 28 or higher, and the establishment is expected to address the cited violations.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. The database is updated regularly as new inspection data is processed and released.

More About This Restaurant

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