Manhattan, NY — Tapas On Lex, a Latin American restaurant located at 1643 Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on April 1, 2026. The restaurant was assigned a score of 214, placing it in the Grade C category under the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection data was released by the DOHMH on April 3, 2026. Inspectors documented two non-critical violations during the visit. No critical violations were recorded.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors identified two violations during the April 1 inspection:
The first violation, Code 09E, documented the absence of a required handwashing sign near or above the hand washing sink. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and FDA Food Code standards, food service establishments are required to post visible handwashing reminders at all designated hand washing stations. These signs serve as a routine reminder for food handlers to maintain proper hygiene practices that reduce the risk of foodborne illness transmission.
The second violation, Code 28-06, noted that the restaurant did not have a contract in place with a licensed pest management professional, and that records of extermination activities were not maintained on the premises. New York City regulations require food service establishments to maintain documented pest management programs and keep those records available for inspection. Active pest management contracts and activity logs are considered baseline requirements for food safety compliance.
Both violations were classified as non-critical, meaning they do not represent an immediate public health hazard in the way that critical violations — such as improper food temperatures or evidence of pests — would. Non-critical violations typically relate to administrative, procedural, or structural issues that, if left unaddressed, can contribute to conditions that increase food safety risk over time.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food handling and safety standards for all permitted food service establishments in the five boroughs. The FDA Food Code, which New York City's regulations are largely modeled on, provides the underlying scientific framework for these requirements.
The handwashing signage requirement under Code 09E is a straightforward compliance issue. Posted reminders have been shown to improve hand hygiene compliance among food service workers, which is a primary defense against the spread of pathogens such as norovirus and Salmonella in restaurant environments.
The pest management documentation requirement under Code 28-06 reflects the city's expectation that restaurants take a proactive, ongoing approach to pest prevention rather than responding only when an infestation is detected. A formal contract with a licensed pest control operator provides accountability and ensures that inspections and treatments are conducted on a regular schedule.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Tapas On Lex in the DOHMH public dataset. This appears to be the establishment's first recorded inspection under the current grading system.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City grades restaurants based on the total number of points accumulated during a sanitary inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 points or more
A score of 214 places Tapas On Lex well within the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are typically offered a re-inspection before a final grade is assigned and posted.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Tapas On Lex including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.