Manhattan, NY — Reichenbach Hall, a German beer hall located at 5 West 37th Street in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 66 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 2, 2026. The score places the establishment in the Grade C range. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

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

The critical violation — code 04L — documented evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation due to the direct risk of food contamination. Mouse droppings, gnaw marks, or live rodent sightings each qualify as evidence under this code.

The non-critical violation — code 10F — identified non-food contact surfaces or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or positioned to allow adequate cleaning access. While not directly tied to food safety in the same acute way as a rodent finding, this type of violation can contribute to conditions that harbor pests and bacteria over time.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food safety standards for all licensed food service establishments in the five boroughs. Critical violations are those most directly linked to the risk of foodborne illness or contamination. The FDA Food Code, which New York City's regulations are largely modeled on, classifies rodent activity as an immediate threat to food safety given the potential for pathogens such as Salmonella, Hantavirus, and Leptospira to be introduced into food preparation and storage areas.

A score of 66 is well above the Grade C threshold of 28 points. Each violation carries a point value determined by its type and severity, and multiple findings within the same category can compound the total score. DOHMH inspectors assign points based on risk level, frequency, and the extent of the condition observed.

Establishments are not automatically closed for a Grade C score unless inspectors determine that conditions present an imminent hazard to public health. In this case, the restaurant remained open following the inspection.

Inspection History

Reichenbach Hall's recent inspection record shows significant variability in scores:

  • May 9, 2024: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • December 8, 2023: Score 29
  • August 11, 2022: Score 10 (Grade A)

The establishment earned Grade A scores in both 2022 and 2024, indicating that the conditions documented in the April 2026 inspection represent a departure from its recent compliance record. The December 2023 inspection also fell just above the Grade C threshold at 29 points, suggesting some ongoing compliance challenges in that period as well.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the total score assigned during a DOHMH inspection. Grades are calculated as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — indicates a high level of compliance with food safety standards
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — indicates some violations were found; a re-inspection will follow
  • C: Score of 28 or more points — indicates more significant violations; a re-inspection is required

When an establishment receives a score in the B or C range on an initial inspection, DOHMH schedules a re-inspection. The grade posted in the restaurant's window may reflect either the initial or re-inspection score, depending on which is more favorable under the city's grading rules.

Consumers can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including violation details and scores, through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are updated as new data is released and reflect the most recent publicly available information at the time of publication.

More About This Restaurant

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