Manhattan, NY — San Antonios, a Latin American restaurant located at 247 Eldridge Street on Manhattan's Lower East Side, received a score of 30 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on January 17, 2026. The score places the establishment in the Grade C range, the lowest passing grade in the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 27, 2026, approximately six weeks after the inspection took place.
What Inspectors Found
During the January inspection, inspectors cited San Antonios for a violation related to plumbing infrastructure and drainage systems. Specifically, the restaurant was documented as lacking required anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, with additional findings related to improper drainage of equipment or floors, and improper disposal of condensation or liquid waste.
Back-flow prevention devices are critical components of commercial kitchen plumbing systems. These devices prevent contaminated water from flowing backward into the clean water supply, which could introduce harmful bacteria or chemicals into water used for food preparation, cooking, and handwashing. When these safeguards are absent or not functioning, the risk of cross-contamination through the water supply increases.
The drainage and liquid waste disposal issues cited in the inspection can contribute to standing water accumulation, which may create conditions favorable to pest activity and bacterial growth in food preparation environments.
While the violation was classified as non-critical under the DOHMH inspection framework, the cumulative point value of all cited conditions resulted in the restaurant's score of 30, exceeding the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation and food safety standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The plumbing and drainage requirements cited in this inspection align with provisions in the FDA Food Code, which serves as the model framework for state and local food safety regulations nationwide.
The FDA Food Code specifies that plumbing systems in food establishments must be designed and maintained to prevent backflow and cross-connections that could compromise the potable water supply. Proper drainage is also required to prevent the accumulation of wastewater in areas where food is stored, prepared, or served.
DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of the city's approximately 27,000 restaurants at least once per inspection cycle. Restaurants that receive scores of 28 or above are eligible for a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score.
Inspection History
San Antonios has no prior inspection history available in the DOHMH public database. The January 17, 2026 inspection appears to be the first recorded inspection for this establishment at the Eldridge Street location. This could indicate that the restaurant is a relatively new establishment, or that it operates under a recently issued permit.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection. Fewer points indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- A: 0-13 points — The highest grade, indicating minimal violations
- B: 14-27 points — Moderate violations documented
- C: 28+ points — The lowest passing grade, indicating more significant violations were found
San Antonios' score of 30 falls just above the Grade C threshold. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request an adjudicatory hearing or await a re-inspection, during which corrected conditions can result in an improved score and grade.
Restaurant inspection results, including scores, grades, and specific violations, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can access current grades and full inspection histories for any inspected restaurant in New York City through the city's open data portal or the DOHMH website.
The inspection data referenced in this article reflects conditions observed on the date of inspection and may not represent current conditions at the establishment.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for San Antonios including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.