Manhattan, NY — Semicolon Cafe, a coffee and tea shop located at 516A 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, received a score of 41 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 2, 2026. A score in that range places the establishment in the Grade C category, which applies to restaurants scoring 28 points or higher. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 7, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the April inspection, inspectors documented one non-critical violation related to pest management practices.

The cited violation — Code 28-06 — noted that the establishment did not have a contract with a pest management professional in place, and that records of extermination activities were not being maintained on the premises. While no active pest activity was recorded during this visit, the absence of a formal pest control contract and documentation log is considered a compliance failure under city health standards.

The distinction between the absence of a pest management program and the presence of pests is notable. Inspectors found no evidence of live or dead pests at the time of the visit. However, maintaining an ongoing relationship with a licensed pest management professional — and keeping records of that work on-site — is a requirement intended to prevent infestations before they occur.

Food Safety Context

New York City restaurants are required to comply with NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishment standards, including requirements for pest prevention and control programs. The FDA Food Code, which informs many of these local standards, identifies integrated pest management as a core component of safe food service operations.

Under Article 81, operators are expected to take proactive steps to prevent pest entry and harborage, which includes working with licensed exterminators and maintaining documentation of that work on the premises. Inspectors may request these records at any time during a visit.

The violation cited at Semicolon Cafe falls into the non-critical category, meaning it does not represent an immediate risk of foodborne illness. Critical violations — such as improper food temperature control or evidence of contamination — carry higher point values and pose more direct public health concerns. The single violation documented here contributed the full 41 points to the score, which reflects the weighted point system DOHMH uses when calculating grades.

Inspection History

Semicolon Cafe's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores:

  • June 17, 2025: Score 44 (Grade Z)
  • April 2, 2026: Score 41 (Grade C)

A Grade Z designation indicates that the restaurant was inspected but that the score was still being adjudicated or that a grade card had not yet been issued at the time of that visit. The April 2026 inspection resulted in a formal Grade C designation. The slight improvement from 44 to 41 points between cycles indicates a modest reduction in violations, though the establishment remains in Grade C territory.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following each inspection cycle based on the total points accumulated:

  • Grade A: 0 to 13 points — indicates a high standard of compliance
  • Grade B: 14 to 27 points — indicates some violations were found
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — indicates multiple or weighted violations were cited

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on their initial inspection are typically offered a re-inspection before a final grade is issued and posted. The grade card displayed at the entrance reflects the score from the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH website and can be searched by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type. Consumers can review full violation histories, scores, and grade histories for any permitted food service establishment in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

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