Manhattan, NY — Sweetea, a coffee and tea establishment located at 28 East 33rd Street in Manhattan, received a score of 32 during a health inspection conducted on February 12, 2026, placing the business in Grade C territory under the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) restaurant grading system.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 18, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 12 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Sweetea for one non-critical violation related to the condition and maintenance of non-food contact surfaces and equipment.
Specifically, the violation documented under code 10F noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit.
While no critical violations — those that directly contribute to foodborne illness risk — were identified during this inspection cycle, the cumulative point total of 32 placed the establishment above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.
It is worth noting that under the DOHMH scoring system, point totals reflect the inspector's assessment of severity and scope across all observed conditions. A score of 32 with a single documented violation indicates that the condition was assessed as significant in scope or severity by the inspecting officer.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The program aligns with federal guidance outlined in the FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for food safety regulations nationwide.
Non-food contact surface violations, while classified as non-critical, address conditions that can indirectly affect food safety. Equipment and surfaces that cannot be adequately cleaned may harbor bacteria, pests, or other contaminants that could eventually compromise food preparation areas. The FDA Food Code specifies that all equipment and surfaces in food establishments must be designed, constructed, and maintained to be cleanable and in good repair.
Under the DOHMH grading system, restaurants that receive a Grade C are entitled to a re-inspection. Establishments may also request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) to contest inspection findings.
Inspection History
Sweetea's available inspection history with DOHMH includes the following:
- February 13, 2026: Score 0
The record shows a subsequent inspection conducted just one day after the February 12 visit, on February 13, 2026, where Sweetea received a score of 0 — a perfect score indicating no violations were observed. This suggests the establishment may have addressed the cited conditions promptly and passed a re-inspection.
This pattern is not uncommon in the DOHMH inspection cycle. Restaurants that receive initial scores in Grade B or Grade C range frequently undergo rapid re-inspection, and many achieve significantly improved scores on follow-up visits.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
The DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants are required to post their current grade card in a location visible to the public near the entrance. Grade cards help consumers make informed dining decisions based on a standardized evaluation of sanitation conditions.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection opportunity. The better of the two scores determines the final posted grade. Based on the available inspection history, Sweetea's follow-up score of 0 on February 13 would place the establishment in Grade A standing if confirmed as the final grading inspection.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database or by visiting NYCRestaurantInspections.com. All inspection data referenced in this article is sourced from publicly available DOHMH records.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Sweetea including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.