Queens, NY — A Subway restaurant at 87-04 Astoria Boulevard in East Elmhurst received a score of 29 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 19, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 23, 2026. Inspectors cited one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the visit.

What Inspectors Found

The single critical violation recorded during the inspection — Code 04A — documents that no manager or supervisor on the food service staff held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to have at least one certified food protection manager present during all hours of operation. The FPC is issued by the DOHMH after completion of an approved food safety training course and examination.

The second violation cited — Code 09E, a non-critical finding — noted the absence of a required handwashing sign posted near or above the hand washing sink. The FDA Food Code and NYC Health Code Article 81 both require that handwashing reminder signage be posted at all designated handwashing stations to reinforce proper hygiene practices among food handlers.

Neither violation indicated the presence of contaminated food, pest activity, or improper temperature control. The action noted by DOHMH indicates violations were cited but the location was not ordered closed.

Food Safety Context

The Food Protection Certificate requirement exists to ensure that at least one person in a supervisory role at each food service operation has demonstrated knowledge of safe food handling, cross-contamination prevention, temperature control, and sanitation standards. Under NYC Health Code Article 81.05, this certification is a baseline compliance requirement for all permitted food service establishments.

The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's local health regulations, similarly emphasizes the role of a certified Person in Charge (PIC) as a cornerstone of food safety management. The absence of a certified manager does not by itself indicate unsafe food conditions were present, but it does represent a gap in the regulatory framework designed to prevent foodborne illness.

The handwashing signage requirement, while classified as non-critical, supports a fundamental food safety behavior. Research cited by the CDC identifies handwashing as one of the most effective measures in preventing the spread of foodborne pathogens in food service environments.

Inspection History

This location's inspection record shows variability over the past several years:

  • January 17, 2025: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • January 24, 2024: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • January 16, 2024: Score 22
  • November 30, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • March 14, 2022: Score 15

The most recent prior inspection, conducted in January 2025, resulted in a score of 12 — well within Grade A range. The jump to a score of 29 in the March 2026 inspection represents a meaningful change from that baseline. The 2024 inspections also placed the location in Grade B territory, suggesting the current result is not without precedent.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the total number of points assessed during a sanitary inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance with health code requirements:

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

A Grade C does not automatically result in closure. DOHMH may issue a Grade Pending card while a restaurant requests an administrative hearing or re-inspection. Restaurants scoring in Grade C range are typically reinspected within a shorter window than those maintaining Grade A status.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection results database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can look up any permitted food service establishment by name, address, or cuisine type.

More About This Restaurant

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