Manhattan, NY — Rpm Underground, the American restaurant located at 244 West 54th Street, received a score of 25 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) health inspection conducted on April 1, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the Grade B range, within two points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on April 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two violations during the April visit — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under Code 04A, noted that no manager or supervisor of food operations held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). Under NYC Health Code Article 81, at least one supervisory employee at a food service establishment is required to hold a certified FPC, which demonstrates training in safe food handling practices. The absence of a certified manager on staff is treated as a critical violation because supervisory knowledge directly affects how a facility responds to and prevents food safety risks.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 08A, found that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This type of violation indicates that inspectors identified conditions — such as gaps in structure, improper storage, or accumulation of debris — that could attract or shelter pests. While categorized as non-critical, pest-harborage conditions can escalate if not corrected and are addressed under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and FDA Food Code standards for facility maintenance.

Food Safety Context

New York City requires food service establishments to maintain conditions that limit contamination risk and ensure qualified oversight of food operations. Critical violations, such as the missing FPC, are weighted more heavily in scoring because they represent a direct or indirect threat to public health. Non-critical violations reflect conditions that, while not immediately dangerous, can contribute to unsafe environments if left unaddressed.

A score of 25 represents the upper end of the Grade B band. Under the NYC letter grading system, scores closer to the 27-point ceiling carry meaningful public health implications, as they indicate an inspection performance significantly below Grade A standards.

Inspection History

Rpm Underground's recent inspection record shows notable variation in scores:

  • February 4, 2026: Score 47
  • January 18, 2024: Score 5 (Grade A)
  • March 3, 2023: Score 24

The February 2026 inspection, which produced a score of 47, was the restaurant's most recent prior visit on record. That score would fall well into Grade C territory. The current April 2026 score of 25, while an improvement, remains near the lower boundary of acceptable Grade B performance.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores following an initial and re-inspection cycle:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points

Grades are required to be posted in a visible location at the establishment's entrance. Consumers can look up the full inspection history for any NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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