Manhattan, NY — Teapulse, a coffee and tea shop located at 18 Doyers Street in Manhattan's Chinatown neighborhood, received a Grade C score during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 31, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 33, placing the establishment in the Grade C range and citing one critical violation related to food contact surfaces.

What Inspectors Found

During the March inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation under Code 05C, which covers food contact surfaces, refillable and reusable containers, and equipment construction and placement. Specifically, inspectors noted that an unacceptable material was used and that a culinary sink or other approved washing method was not provided for washing food.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food contact surfaces must be constructed of safe, durable, nonabsorbent materials and must be maintained in a condition that prevents contamination. Adequate facilities for washing food are required to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. A violation in this category is classified as critical because it represents a condition with a direct potential to contribute to food contamination or illness.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Food contact surface violations are among the categories flagged as critical by DOHMH because they involve direct points of contact between equipment or materials and the food being prepared or served. The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's regulatory framework, requires that food contact surfaces be smooth, easily cleanable, and resistant to corrosion. The absence of an appropriate food-washing sink further compounds the risk, as it limits a kitchen's ability to properly clean produce or other raw ingredients before preparation.

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishment operations across the five boroughs. Under this framework, inspectors assign point values to each violation, with critical violations carrying higher point weights than non-critical ones. A final score of 28 or above results in a Grade C, which must be posted publicly at the establishment.

Data from the March 31 inspection was released by DOHMH on April 7, 2026, approximately one week after the inspection took place.

Inspection History

Teapulse's inspection record shows improvement following the March citation:

  • 2026-03-31: Score 33 (Grade C) — one critical violation cited
  • 2026-05-18: Score 7 (Grade A) — no critical violations recorded

The May reinspection, conducted approximately seven weeks after the initial Grade C, resulted in a substantially lower score of 7, placing the establishment firmly in the Grade A range. Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that receive a score of 14 or above on an initial inspection are typically offered a reinspection, at which point the resulting grade is posted.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system translates inspection scores into letter grades displayed in establishment windows. The scale is as follows:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or above

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. A Grade A reflects that an establishment met food safety standards with minimal or no violations at the time of inspection. Grades are based on a snapshot of conditions observed on the inspection date and may not reflect current conditions.

Consumers can review the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's online inspection database at nyc.gov/health. The database is updated regularly as new inspection data is processed and released.

More About This Restaurant

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