Manhattan, NY — Sweetea, a coffee and tea establishment at 167 Madison Avenue in Manhattan, received a score of 72 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on January 28, 2026. The score places the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented two critical violations and two non-critical violations during the visit.
The inspection results represent a significant departure from the establishment's most recent prior inspection in July 2024, when Sweetea earned a score of 12 and received a Grade A.
What Inspectors Found
The DOHMH inspection identified four violations at the Madison Avenue location, two of which were classified as critical.
The first critical violation, cited under code 04L, documented evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. The presence of mice in a food service establishment poses direct risks to food safety, as rodents can contaminate food products, preparation surfaces, and storage areas.
The second critical violation, cited under code 06F, noted that wiping cloths were not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses. Improperly stored wiping cloths can become a vehicle for bacterial cross-contamination between surfaces.
Inspectors also documented two non-critical violations. Under code 28-06, the establishment did not have a contract with a pest management professional in place, and records of extermination activities were not kept on premises. This violation is particularly notable given the concurrent finding of mouse activity, as regular professional pest management is a standard component of integrated pest control in food service establishments.
The second non-critical violation, cited under code 20-04, noted that required public safety postings were absent, including a "Choking first aid" poster, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and signage related to resuscitation equipment including exhaled air resuscitation masks and latex gloves.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program, governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, requires all food service establishments to maintain sanitary conditions that protect public health. The NYC inspection scoring system assigns point values to each violation based on severity, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.
Under the FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, food establishments are required to maintain effective pest control measures and ensure that food contact surfaces and utensils — including wiping cloths — are properly cleaned and sanitized. Evidence of rodent activity is considered a critical food safety concern because of the potential for contamination of food and food preparation areas with pathogens.
The absence of a pest management contract, combined with documented evidence of mouse activity, indicates a gap in the establishment's preventive pest control measures. The FDA Food Code and NYC Health Code both emphasize the importance of ongoing, professional pest management as part of routine food safety operations.
Inspection History
Sweetea's inspection record shows variation in compliance over time:
- January 28, 2026: Score 72 (Grade C range), two critical and two non-critical violations documented
- July 30, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- May 14, 2024: Score 23
- December 21, 2022: Score 5
- December 13, 2022: Score 35
The establishment had demonstrated strong compliance during its two most recent prior inspections, scoring 12 in July 2024 and 5 in December 2022. The January 2026 score of 72 represents the highest point total in the available inspection history for this location.
It should be noted that this inspection was conducted on January 28, 2026, and the data was released by DOHMH on February 13, 2026. Conditions at the establishment may have changed between the inspection date and the publication of this report.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores:
- A: 0–13 points — the establishment is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
- B: 14–27 points — some violations were identified that require correction
- C: 28 or more points — significant violations were documented
A score of 72 falls well within the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, at which point the final grade is determined. Establishments may also request a hearing before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings to contest their scores.
Consumers can look up current inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. The database is updated regularly and provides detailed violation information for each inspection cycle.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Sweetea including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.