Manhattan, NY — Sedutto, a frozen desserts shop located at 1498 1st Avenue on Manhattan's Upper East Side, received a score of 38 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 23, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 25, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit. The violation, recorded under Code 05H, cited the absence of an approved written standard operating procedure for preventing contamination through refillable or returnable containers.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food service establishments are required to maintain documented procedures for handling equipment that comes into repeated contact with food. Refillable and returnable containers present a contamination risk if not properly cleaned, sanitized, and handled according to a written protocol reviewed and approved by the health authority. The absence of such documentation is classified as a critical violation because it represents a gap in a required food safety control.

No non-critical violations were cited during the same inspection.

Food Safety Context

Critical violations are defined by DOHMH as conditions that pose a direct threat to public health — including improper food handling, contamination risks, and inadequate temperature controls. Under the city's scoring system, each critical violation carries a higher point value than non-critical violations, which cover issues such as facility maintenance or recordkeeping.

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishments operating within the five boroughs and sets requirements for food storage, preparation, equipment sanitation, and employee hygiene practices. The FDA Food Code, which the city's rules incorporate by reference in several areas, similarly requires that food contact surfaces and returnable containers be managed under documented, verifiable procedures.

A written standard operating procedure for returnable containers would typically specify cleaning frequency, sanitization methods, inspection criteria, and documentation requirements — allowing inspectors to verify that contamination controls are consistently applied.

Inspection History

The March 2026 inspection is the fourth on record for Sedutto in recent years. The establishment has scored in Grade C range in three of those inspections:

  • March 23, 2026: Score 38 (Grade C)
  • October 8, 2025: Score 34 (Grade Z — grade pending)
  • October 17, 2024: Score 28
  • April 5, 2023: Score 29 (Grade C)

The October 2025 inspection carried a Grade Z designation, which DOHMH assigns when a grade is being contested or when a re-inspection is pending, rather than reflecting a final letter grade. The two most recent finalized inspections have both resulted in Grade C scores.

No closure orders were issued in connection with any of these inspections.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires food service establishments to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location near the entrance. Grades are assigned based on inspection scores:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points (lowest violation severity)
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points

Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. A Grade C does not automatically trigger closure; DOHMH may issue a closure order when specific imminent health hazards are identified, such as pest activity, sewage conditions, or lack of running water. No such order was issued at Sedutto during this inspection cycle.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may request an Administrative Tribunal hearing to contest violations before a grade is posted publicly.

Additional Resources

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH restaurant inspection search tool at the city's official open data portal. Records include scores, violation descriptions, and grade history for all inspected establishments. Inspection data for Sedutto reflects findings as of the March 23, 2026 visit; any subsequent inspections or grade changes would be reflected in updated records as they become available.

More About This Restaurant

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