Queens, NY — Sabor Restaurant & Bakery, a Latin American restaurant located at 15-20 College Point Boulevard in College Point, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 11, 2026. The establishment received a score of 3, which falls within the A grade range of 0-13 points. Despite the low score, the closure action indicates that violations requiring immediate attention were identified and addressed on site.

The closure marks the second time in less than a month that the restaurant has been closed by health authorities, following a prior closure on February 18, 2026 that carried a significantly higher score of 52.

What Inspectors Found

The March 11 inspection documented four non-critical violations at the establishment. No critical violations were recorded during this visit.

Inspectors cited the restaurant twice under violation code 10F for non-food contact surfaces or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. This code addresses the condition and maintenance of surfaces that do not come into direct contact with food but still must meet sanitary standards within a food service establishment.

The remaining two violations were cited under code 28-01, which pertains to nuisance conditions created or allowed to exist at the facility. This code is applied when a facility is found not free from unsafe, hazardous, offensive, or annoying conditions. The duplicate citations suggest inspectors identified this condition in more than one area of the establishment.

It is worth noting that all four violations were classified as non-critical, and the resulting score of 3 is among the lowest — and therefore best — scores a restaurant can receive. The closure action, paired with the language that "violations were cited and those requiring immediate action were addressed," suggests the establishment took corrective steps during the inspection itself.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments in New York City are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH. Inspectors evaluate restaurants across a range of categories including food handling, temperature control, personal hygiene, facility maintenance, and pest activity. Each violation is assigned a point value, with critical violations carrying higher point totals than non-critical ones.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, establishes standards for the design, construction, and maintenance of food service facilities. Non-food contact surfaces, while not directly involved in food preparation, must still be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition to prevent the harboring of pests and the accumulation of debris that could compromise the overall sanitary environment.

The nuisance condition violations cited under code 28-01 reflect broader facility maintenance standards that go beyond food handling to encompass the overall safety and condition of the premises.

Inspection History

Sabor Restaurant & Bakery has a documented inspection history spanning several years. The record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores across inspection cycles:

  • March 13, 2026: Score 0, Grade Z — Reopened
  • March 11, 2026: Score 3 — Closed by DOHMH (this inspection)
  • February 18, 2026: Score 52 — Closed by DOHMH
  • March 18, 2025: Score 13, Grade A
  • February 25, 2025: Score 29
  • October 4, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
  • June 26, 2024: Score 32
  • January 23, 2023: Score 13, Grade A
  • July 18, 2022: Score 33

The history reveals a recurring pattern in which the restaurant receives a high score on an initial inspection, followed by a significantly improved score on re-inspection that results in an A grade. The February 2026 closure with a score of 52 represented a notable departure from its previous A-grade results, and the March 11 closure — though carrying a much lower score — came during what appears to have been a re-inspection cycle. The restaurant was documented as reopened on March 13, 2026, with a score of 0.

Data for this inspection was released by DOHMH on March 18, 2026, one week after the inspection was conducted.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores:

  • A: 0-13 points — Represents the highest level of compliance with health regulations
  • B: 14-27 points — Indicates moderate violations were found
  • C: 28 or more points — Indicates significant violations requiring attention

With a score of 3, Sabor Restaurant & Bakery's results on this inspection would place it well within the A grade range. Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must correct all conditions that led to the closure before being permitted to reopen, which records indicate occurred on March 13, 2026.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly available online. The database provides current grades, violation details, and complete inspection histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Sabor Restaurant & Bakery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.