Manhattan, NY — Stage Star Deli, a Midtown American deli located at 105 West 55th Street, received a score of 33 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 17, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest publicly posted letter grade in New York City's restaurant inspection program. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 19, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two critical violations during the March visit, both related to food safety and contamination risk.

The first violation, cited under Code 04H, found that raw, cooked, or prepared food was adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with the establishment's Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. HACCP plans are required protocols that identify and control potential food safety hazards at key stages of food handling and preparation.

The second critical violation, cited under Code 06C, identified that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The violation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, as required.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Critical violations are defined by DOHMH as conditions that pose a direct risk to public health. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to implement procedures that prevent contamination at every stage of food handling, from receiving and storage through preparation and service.

The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for many local food safety regulations, identifies improper food protection and cross-contamination as leading contributors to foodborne illness outbreaks. Code 04H violations in particular address the integrity of food throughout the preparation process, while Code 06C focuses on environmental and procedural safeguards that prevent indirect contamination.

Together, the two critical violations contributed to a combined score of 33 — five points above the Grade C threshold of 28.

Inspection History

Stage Star Deli's recent inspection record shows a notable departure from prior performance:

  • March 17, 2026: Score 33 (Grade C), 2 critical violations cited
  • December 3, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • April 28, 2023: Score 5 (Grade A)

The establishment had maintained strong compliance scores over the previous two inspection cycles. The April 2023 score of 5 placed it among the better-performing restaurants in the city's inspection database. The December 2024 Grade A reflected continued compliance at that time. The March 2026 inspection represents a significant increase in violation points compared to both prior visits.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires most food service establishments to post their most recent inspection grade in a window visible to the public. Grades are assigned based on the total point score accumulated during an inspection:

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

Higher point totals reflect a greater number or severity of violations identified during the inspection. Critical violations carry more weight in the scoring system due to their direct association with foodborne illness risk.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within 30 to 45 days. At that follow-up inspection, the establishment may post whichever grade is more favorable — the initial grade or the re-inspection grade. If a restaurant scores in Grade B or C range on the re-inspection, it may request an administrative hearing before a final grade is posted.

More About This Restaurant

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