Queens, NY — Raaz Hookah Lounge, located at 192-08 Northern Boulevard in Queens, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 3, 2026. The restaurant recorded a score of 38, placing it in Grade C territory under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 6, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the April inspection. The violation, classified under Code 04A, identified that no manager or supervisor of food operations on the premises held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC).
The Food Protection Certificate is a credential issued by DOHMH following completion of an approved food safety course and passage of an examination. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, at least one certified manager or supervisor must be present and available on site during all hours of food service operation. The requirement is intended to ensure that someone with formal food safety training is responsible for overseeing preparation, handling, and storage at all times.
No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
The Food Protection Certificate requirement exists as a foundational safeguard in food service environments. The NYC Health Code Article 81, along with the FDA Food Code upon which many of its provisions are based, establishes that trained supervision is a core component of a safe food operation. Certified managers are expected to recognize food safety hazards, implement corrective actions, and train staff on proper food handling practices.
When no certified individual is present during an inspection, the violation is classified as critical — meaning it represents a condition that, if uncorrected, could directly contribute to foodborne illness. A critical violation carries more points toward a restaurant's inspection score than a general violation, which is reflected in the 38-point score recorded at this location.
The establishment is listed as a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant. Hookah lounges that serve food are subject to the same DOHMH inspection standards as any other food service establishment.
Inspection History
Records show Raaz Hookah Lounge has undergone several DOHMH inspections in prior years. The facility's documented inspection history includes:
- November 17, 2023: Score 91 (Grade N)
- January 27, 2023: Score 24
- March 18, 2022: Score 0
The November 2023 inspection recorded a score of 91 under a Grade N designation. A Grade N is assigned during an initial inspection cycle before a grade has been officially issued, and a score of that level would typically reflect a significant number of violations at that time. The January 2023 inspection resulted in a score of 24, which falls in Grade B range. The March 2022 inspection recorded a score of 0, indicating no violations were cited at that time.
The April 2026 inspection represents a return to elevated scores following the cleaner 2022 result.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or higher
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. A Grade A represents the highest level of compliance under the scoring system. A restaurant scoring in Grade C range, as Raaz Hookah Lounge did in April 2026, is required to post the grade card so it is visible to the public.
Restaurants may request a re-inspection before a grade is officially assigned, and scores can improve or worsen between inspection cycles depending on operational conditions at the time of each visit.
NYC restaurant inspection records are public and can be searched through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov. Consumers can look up inspection scores, violation details, and grade history for any permitted food service establishment in the five boroughs.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Raaz Hookah Lounge including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.