Queens, NY — River Japanese Cuisine, located at 61-44 Springfield Boulevard in Queens, received a score of 31 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 19, 2026. A score of 28 or higher results in a Grade C under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 23, 2026.
The restaurant remained open following the inspection. No closure order was issued.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors identified one violation during the March visit, classified as non-critical under the city's scoring framework.
The cited violation — Code 10F — relates to non-food contact surfaces or equipment made of unacceptable material, or surfaces not kept clean, not properly sealed, or not adequately raised, spaced, or made movable to allow cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. While this category of violation does not involve direct food contamination, it reflects equipment and maintenance standards that support an overall hygienic environment in food service operations.
No critical violations, such as those involving improper food temperature, evidence of pests, or cross-contamination risks, were documented during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
New York City requires all restaurants to post their most recent inspection grade prominently. The grading system, administered under NYC Health Code Article 81, is designed to give the public transparent access to food safety conditions at establishments across the five boroughs.
Equipment and surface maintenance standards referenced in Code 10F are grounded in both the NYC Health Code and the FDA Food Code, which establish that non-food contact surfaces must be constructed and maintained in ways that do not create harborage points for debris, moisture, or pests. Surfaces that cannot be adequately cleaned or that trap organic material may contribute to unsanitary conditions over time, even without direct food contact.
The single violation documented during this inspection was weighted heavily enough in the city's point-based scoring system to push the restaurant's score above the Grade C threshold of 28 points.
Inspection History
River Japanese Cuisine's most recent prior inspection on record occurred on September 29, 2025, when the establishment received a score of 26 and a Grade N designation. A Grade N — "Not Yet Graded" — is typically assigned following an initial inspection in a new grading cycle, meaning a follow-up inspection is expected before a letter grade is officially posted.
Inspection history in brief:
- September 29, 2025: Score 26 (Grade N)
- March 19, 2026: Score 31 (Grade C)
The transition from a near-passing score of 26 to a Grade C score of 31 reflects a modest increase in cited violations between inspection cycles.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant inspection grades are determined by the total number of points accumulated during a DOHMH inspection. Each violation carries a point value based on its risk category. The grading breakdown is as follows:
- Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
- Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 points or higher
- Grade N: "Not Yet Graded" — typically issued after an initial cycle inspection, with a re-inspection to follow
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or Grade C on an initial inspection are typically subject to a re-inspection within a set timeframe. The grade posted in the window reflects the score from the most recent graded inspection. Consumers can review full inspection records, including violation details and historical scores, through the city's public restaurant inspection database at the DOHMH website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for River Japanese Cuisine including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.