Manhattan, NY — Soothr, a Thai restaurant located at 204 East 13th Street in Manhattan, received a Grade C health inspection score of 31 during an inspection conducted March 18, 2026, according to records released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 23, 2026. Inspectors documented one critical violation and two non-critical violations during the visit.

What Inspectors Found

The most serious finding during the March inspection was a critical violation under Code 02B: hot temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food was not held at or above 140°F. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, hot TCS foods — including cooked proteins, rice, soups, and sauces — must be maintained at 140°F or higher to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Clostridium perfringens. Failure to maintain proper holding temperatures is among the most commonly cited pathways to foodborne illness.

Inspectors also cited two non-critical violations:

  • Code 08C: An unprotected, unlocked bait station was identified on the premises. NYC Health Code and EPA regulations require that pesticide bait stations used in food service environments be tamper-resistant and secured to prevent contact with food, food contact surfaces, or customers.
  • Code 10H: Single-service articles — specifically drinking straws — were found not completely enclosed in wrappers or dispensed from a sanitary device. This type of violation relates to the risk of contamination of items that come into direct contact with customers' mouths.

Together, these three violations produced a score of 31, placing the restaurant in Grade C territory under New York City's restaurant grading system.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program, administered by DOHMH under NYC Health Code Article 81, requires unannounced inspections of all permitted food service establishments at least once per year. Violations are assigned point values based on their public health risk. Critical violations — those most directly linked to foodborne illness — carry higher point values than non-critical violations.

The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for many of New York City's food safety standards, identifies improper temperature control as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks in food service settings. Hot TCS foods held below 140°F enter what food safety professionals refer to as the "temperature danger zone" — the range between 41°F and 140°F where bacterial growth accelerates most rapidly.

Inspection History

Soothr's recent inspection record shows variability in performance. Prior DOHMH inspection data on file includes:

  • July 15, 2025: Score 35 (Grade C)
  • June 7, 2025: Score 0
  • May 17, 2025: Score 0
  • July 26, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)

The June and May 2025 scores of 0 likely reflect re-inspection visits following a previous cycle, during which no violations were recorded — a common outcome when a restaurant successfully corrects conditions identified in an initial inspection. The July 2025 score of 35 and the current March 2026 score of 31 represent back-to-back Grade C outcomes across two separate annual inspection cycles, which may indicate recurring compliance challenges in areas such as food temperature management.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City posts letter grades at restaurant entrances based on the score received during the most recent inspection cycle. The grading scale is as follows:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points

Restaurants that receive a score above 13 on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within one to two months. The grade posted at the establishment reflects the score from the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Consumers can review the full inspection history for any permitted New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's online inspection database at the NYC Open Data portal or through the city's restaurant lookup tool. Inspection data for Soothr reflects conditions documented on March 18, 2026; conditions at the restaurant may have changed since that date.

More About This Restaurant

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