Manhattan, NY — Sutton Cafe, located at 1026 First Avenue in Manhattan, was re-closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 22, 2026, after inspectors documented evidence of mice during a follow-up inspection. The establishment received a score of 15, which falls within the B range under the city's grading system. The closure marks the second time in under a week that the restaurant has been ordered closed by health authorities.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 24, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the April 22 inspection, inspectors cited one critical violation:

  • Code 04L: Evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas.

This violation is classified as critical under the NYC Health Code because the presence of mice poses a direct risk of food contamination. Rodents can carry pathogens capable of causing foodborne illness and can contaminate food contact surfaces, equipment, and stored ingredients. The establishment was re-closed as a result of this finding.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The violation cited falls under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs the safe storage, handling, and preparation of food in licensed food service establishments. Under Article 81, operators are required to maintain their premises free of pests and to take active measures to prevent rodent and insect entry and harborage.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local health regulations nationwide, similarly identifies the presence of rodents as a priority violation requiring immediate corrective action. In New York City, critical violations of this nature can result in immediate closure when inspectors determine that conditions represent an imminent public health hazard.

A score of 15 would ordinarily correspond to a B grade under normal circumstances. However, because the establishment was re-closed during this visit, it is not eligible to post a letter grade until it passes a reinspection and the closure is lifted.

Inspection History

Sutton Cafe has a documented inspection history reflecting ongoing compliance challenges over the past several years:

  • April 22, 2026: Score 15, re-closed by DOHMH
  • April 17, 2026: Score 40, closed by DOHMH
  • August 27, 2025: Score 25 (Grade B)
  • April 16, 2025: Score 29
  • February 6, 2024: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • January 23, 2024: Score 55
  • September 26, 2022: Score 19 (Grade B)

The April 17 inspection resulted in an initial closure with a score of 40, placing it well within the C range. The follow-up visit five days later on April 22 found the rodent evidence that triggered the re-closure, despite a lower overall score of 15. The January 2024 score of 55 and the April 2025 score of 29 indicate the establishment has experienced significant variability in compliance over recent years, though it has also received B grades during intervening inspections.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the number of points accumulated during an inspection. Points are assessed for each violation found, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones. The grade scale is as follows:

  • A: 0–13 points (satisfactory)
  • B: 14–27 points (generally compliant, some violations noted)
  • C: 28 or more points (significant violations present)

When an establishment is closed by the DOHMH, it must pass a reinspection before it can reopen and resume normal operations. The restaurant does not receive a letter grade to post publicly until that reinspection is completed and the closure order is lifted.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH's NYC Health Inspection Results database, accessible at the NYC Open Data portal. Diners can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including violation details, scores, and grade history, before making dining decisions.

More About This Restaurant

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