Queens, NY — Smashburger, located at 59-11 Maurice Avenue in Maspeth, received a score of 42 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 6, 2026, resulting in a Grade C designation. The score represents a significant decline for the location, which had earned Grade A scores on its two prior inspections.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 6 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the Maurice Avenue location:

  • Non-food contact surfaces or equipment were cited for being 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 (violation code 10F).

While this was the only violation category recorded in the inspection data, the total score of 42 points indicates that inspectors identified conditions across multiple areas during the evaluation. Each violation in the NYC inspection system carries a point value based on its severity, and the cumulative score determines the letter grade.

It should be noted that the inspection record shows zero critical violations cited during this visit. The total score of 42, despite only one non-critical violation category appearing in the publicly released data, suggests that additional condition-based points may have been assessed during the inspection. DOHMH inspection scoring accounts for the severity and extent of each condition observed.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments operating in the city. Under these regulations, all restaurants are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH, during which inspectors evaluate food handling practices, facility cleanliness, pest activity, temperature control, and equipment maintenance.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model for many local food safety regulations, emphasizes that properly maintained equipment and food contact surfaces are essential to preventing contamination and ensuring safe food handling environments.

Non-food contact surfaces — such as shelving, floors, walls, and the exteriors of equipment — must be maintained in clean condition and constructed of materials that are smooth, durable, and easy to clean. When equipment cannot be accessed for proper cleaning on all sides, it can harbor debris, grease buildup, and attract pests over time.

The action recorded for this inspection was "Violations were cited in the following area(s)," indicating the restaurant was permitted to continue operating while addressing the documented conditions.

Inspection History

The Grade C result marks a notable departure from Smashburger's prior inspection record at this location:

  • Oct. 9, 2024: Score 12, Grade A
  • March 8, 2023: Score 13, Grade A

Both previous inspections fell within the Grade A range, with scores of 12 and 13 respectively. The jump to a score of 42 represents an increase of 30 points from the most recent prior inspection.

Under NYC inspection procedures, restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection to attempt to improve their score. The restaurant's grade card posted at the establishment will reflect the outcome of the most recent adjudicated inspection cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an 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. A Grade C designation means the establishment accumulated 28 or more points during the inspection, reflecting conditions that DOHMH determined warranted the lowest passing grade category.

Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C have the option to post a "Grade Pending" card while they go through the adjudication process or await a re-inspection.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly with new inspection results. The database is publicly accessible and provides detailed violation descriptions, scores, and grade outcomes for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

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