Queens, NY — Sands Of Persia, a Middle Eastern restaurant at 25-01 Steinway Street in Astoria, received a score of 27 following a health inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the very top of the Grade B range, just one point below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection identified a single critical violation, but the severity of that finding accounted for the entirety of the restaurant's penalty points.

What Inspectors Found

Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection:

Evidence of rats or live rats was found in the establishment's food or non-food areas (violation code 04K). This violation alone resulted in the full 27-point score.

No non-critical violations were cited during the inspection. The fact that a single violation produced a score at the upper boundary of the Grade B range reflects the weight that DOHMH assigns to rodent activity, which is classified among the most serious public health concerns in food service establishments.

Food Safety Context

Rodent activity in food establishments poses significant health risks. Rats can carry pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Leptospira, and can contaminate food preparation surfaces and stored ingredients through contact and droppings.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain facilities free of vermin, including rodents. The FDA Food Code further requires that food establishments implement effective pest management practices and maintain structural integrity to prevent pest entry.

Evidence of rodent activity is treated as a critical violation under the DOHMH inspection framework because of the direct risk it poses to food safety and public health.

Inspection History

Sands Of Persia has experienced significant fluctuations in its inspection results over the past two years:

  • Mar 3, 2026: Score 27 (Grade B) — current inspection
  • Nov 6, 2025: Score 5 (Grade Z — pending adjudication)
  • Nov 3, 2025: Score 16
  • Oct 31, 2025: Score 36
  • Oct 28, 2025: Score 59 — closed by DOHMH
  • Feb 29, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • Mar 30, 2023: Score 18

The restaurant was closed by DOHMH in October 2025 after receiving a score of 59. A series of subsequent inspections in late October and early November 2025 showed progressive improvement, with scores dropping from 36 to 16 to 5. The current March 2026 inspection represents a reversal of that improving trend.

Prior to the October 2025 closure, the restaurant had maintained a Grade A with a score of 12 at its February 2024 inspection.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City restaurants are assigned letter grades based on the total penalty points recorded during a health inspection:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Sands Of Persia's current score of 27 places it at the maximum end of the Grade B range — one additional point would result in a Grade C designation.

This inspection was conducted on March 3, 2026, with data released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026. Inspection results are public record and reflect conditions observed at the time of the inspection. Residents can look up restaurant inspection results through the DOHMH restaurant grades search portal or the NYC Open Data platform.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Sands Of Persia including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.