Queens, NY — Queens Buffet & Cajun Seafood, located at 90-10 Atlantic Avenue in Queens, received a health inspection score of 26 on April 7, 2026, placing it at the upper edge of the Grade B range — one point below the Grade C threshold. The score was recorded by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), with the data released publicly on April 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the April 7 visit. The violation, cited under Code 06C, involved food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, inspectors noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

This type of violation is considered critical because condiments that are accessible to multiple customers without individual packaging or controlled dispensing create a pathway for cross-contamination. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, restaurants are required to prevent contamination of food and food-contact surfaces at all points of service. The requirement that condiments be served in single-use containers or dispensed by staff exists to minimize the transfer of pathogens between customers and shared food items.

Critical violations are those that pose a direct risk to public health. While a single critical violation may not result in closure, it carries greater weight in the overall scoring system and can significantly affect a restaurant's final grade.

A score of 26 represents the second-highest possible outcome within the Grade B range. Had inspectors documented one additional point in violations, the restaurant would have received a Grade C under the city's grading system.

Inspection History

The April 2026 inspection follows a period of elevated scores at this location. The recent inspection record includes:

  • November 24, 2025: Score 41 (Grade Z)
  • December 11, 2025: Score 30
  • December 23, 2025: Score 41 (Grade Z)

A Grade Z designation is assigned when a restaurant is inspected but a letter grade has not yet been determined, often during an initial inspection cycle or following a reopening. Scores in the 30 to 41 range indicate a pattern of significant violations over the preceding months.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system is based on the total number of points assigned during a health inspection, with more points indicating more or more serious violations. The current grading scale is:

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

Restaurants are required to post their most recent grade card in a window visible from the street. Consumers can also look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant search tool at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Queens Buffet & Cajun Seafood including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.