Manhattan, NY — Tavola, an Italian restaurant located at 488 9th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 33 during a health inspection conducted on February 11, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to food contamination protection, marking a significant departure from the restaurant's previously consistent record of Grade A scores.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 13, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 11 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Tavola for one critical violation under code 06C. Specifically, inspectors found that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The citation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
This type of violation addresses a fundamental principle of food safety: maintaining barriers between food products and potential contaminants. When food items, preparation surfaces, or serving equipment are left exposed, the risk of cross-contamination from airborne particles, pests, or other environmental sources increases.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
The violation cited falls under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishment sanitation and safety standards across the five boroughs. Article 81 requires that all food items be stored, prepared, and served in a manner that prevents contamination from external sources.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, similarly requires that food be protected from environmental contamination at all stages of handling. Section 3-302.11 of the FDA Food Code specifies that food must be protected from cross-contamination by separating it from potential contaminant sources and by storing it in clean, covered containers.
The condiment-related portion of the citation reflects requirements that self-service condiments either be individually packaged or dispensed through mechanisms that prevent customer contact with the bulk supply. This provision is designed to reduce the risk of contamination that can occur when multiple patrons access shared condiment containers.
A score of 33 places Tavola in the Grade C range, which represents the lowest passing grade tier in the NYC restaurant grading system.
Inspection History
Tavola's February 2026 score represents a notable change from the restaurant's prior inspection record, which had consistently fallen within Grade A range:
- June 4, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
- February 22, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
- February 14, 2023: Score 5
- July 5, 2022: Score 0 (Grade A)
- June 21, 2022: Score 0
The restaurant had maintained scores of 13 or below across all five previous inspections on record, with two perfect scores of zero recorded in 2022. The jump from a score of 13 in June 2024 to 33 in February 2026 represents the first time Tavola has scored outside the Grade A range in its documented inspection history.
Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection have the option to request a re-inspection. The grade posted at the establishment reflects the better outcome between the initial inspection and any subsequent re-inspection within the same cycle.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Critical violations, such as the one documented at Tavola, carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations due to their greater potential impact on public health.
Residents can review the full inspection history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Consumers are encouraged to check current grades and inspection details when making dining decisions.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Tavola including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.