Manhattan, NY — Restaurante Ecuatoriano Genesis, a Latin American restaurant located at 538 West 207th Street in the Inwood neighborhood, received a score of 53 during a health inspection conducted on February 17, 2026. The score places the establishment well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating, the lowest grade assigned under the New York City restaurant grading system.
Inspectors from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the inspection. The action taken was a citation of violations in the identified areas.
What Inspectors Found
The critical violation cited during the inspection involved the improper use or storage of sanitized equipment or utensils, including in-use food dispensing utensils (violation code 06E). This type of violation indicates that equipment or utensils that had been sanitized were not being handled, stored, or used in a manner that maintained their sanitary condition. Cross-contamination risks increase when sanitized items come into contact with unsanitary surfaces or are stored improperly before use in food preparation or service.
The non-critical violation involved deficiencies in dishwashing and ware washing procedures, specifically related to the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment (violation code 10G). This citation indicates that the establishment's warewashing processes did not meet the standards required to adequately clean and sanitize items used in food service.
Together, these violations reflect a pattern of concerns related to the sanitation and handling of equipment and utensils throughout the establishment's food service operations.
Food Safety Context
Proper sanitization of food-contact surfaces, equipment, and utensils is a foundational requirement under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. These regulations require that all utensils and food-contact surfaces be cleaned and sanitized between uses and stored in a manner that prevents contamination.
The FDA Food Code specifies that sanitized equipment must be stored in a clean, dry location and protected from splash, dust, and other sources of contamination. In-use utensils such as scoops, ladles, and tongs must be stored in a way that prevents the handle from contacting food and keeps the item from becoming re-contaminated.
Deficiencies in warewashing operations can compromise the effectiveness of the entire sanitation process. When dishes, utensils, or equipment are not properly cleaned and sanitized, harmful bacteria and other contaminants may remain on surfaces that come into direct contact with food served to customers.
A score of 53 points represents a significant accumulation of violation points and is notably above the 28-point minimum for a Grade C designation.
Inspection History
The February 2026 inspection represents a notable change from the establishment's earlier inspection record. Prior inspections documented by DOHMH include:
- November 27, 2024: Score of 18, Grade Z (grade pending adjudication)
- April 17, 2024: Score of 23
- October 6, 2022: Score of 10, Grade A
The restaurant had previously earned a Grade A in October 2022 with a score of 10, indicating a strong compliance record at that time. However, subsequent inspections in 2024 showed rising scores of 23 and 18, indicating increasing compliance concerns. The current score of 53 represents the highest violation point total in the establishment's available inspection history and a significant departure from its earlier performance.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection or an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
The inspection data referenced in this article was collected on February 17, 2026, and released by DOHMH on February 19, 2026. Inspection results reflect conditions observed at the time of the inspection and may not represent current conditions at the establishment.
Residents and diners can look up the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available on the NYC Open Data portal and the ABC Eats website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Restaurante Ecuatoriano Genesis including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.