Queens, NY — The Baroness, an American restaurant located at 47-18 Vernon Boulevard in Long Island City, received a score of 39 during a health inspection conducted on March 2, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 4, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C range, the lowest passing grade in New York City's restaurant grading system.

The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations.

What Inspectors Found

The sole violation cited during the inspection was a critical finding: no manager or supervisor of food operations held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). This was documented under violation code 04A.

Under New York City Health Code Article 81, every food service establishment is required to have at least one supervisory employee present during operating hours who holds a valid Food Protection Certificate issued by the DOHMH. The certificate demonstrates that the individual has completed an approved food safety course and passed an examination covering topics such as proper food handling, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and allergen awareness.

The Food Protection Certificate requirement exists because trained supervisory staff serve as the primary safeguard against foodborne illness in restaurant operations. The FDA Food Code, on which much of New York City's food safety regulation is based, identifies the person in charge as a critical control point in any food service operation. Without a certified individual overseeing food preparation and service, there is no verified assurance that staff are following safe food handling protocols.

Food Safety Context

The absence of a certified food safety manager is classified as a critical violation because it represents a condition that could directly contribute to foodborne illness. The DOHMH assigns higher point values to critical violations, which is reflected in The Baroness's score of 39 on this single finding.

Food Protection Certificate courses approved by the DOHMH cover essential food safety topics including time and temperature control for potentially hazardous foods, proper handwashing procedures, prevention of cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods, pest management, and cleaning and sanitization protocols. The certification must be renewed every five years.

Restaurants that fail to maintain a certified supervisor on staff risk not only inspection point deductions but also potential fines. The DOHMH can issue violations carrying monetary penalties for non-compliance with the FPC requirement.

Inspection History

A review of publicly available DOHMH records shows the following inspection history for The Baroness:

  • October 2, 2025: Score not recorded in public data
  • November 22, 2024: Score 18 (Grade B)
  • November 30, 2023: Score 25

The restaurant's trajectory shows increasing scores over its recent inspection history. A score of 25 in November 2023, while not resulting in a letter grade assignment recorded in the data, was near the Grade C threshold. The November 2024 inspection yielded a score of 18, which fell within Grade B range. The current score of 39 represents the highest score recorded for the establishment in available inspection data.

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of all restaurants in New York City. When a restaurant receives a score of 28 or above during an initial inspection, it is typically scheduled for a re-inspection, during which the establishment has an opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:

  • 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 receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection opportunity. The grade posted in the restaurant's window reflects either the initial inspection grade or the re-inspection grade, whichever is more favorable to the establishment.

Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including specific violations cited, through the DOHMH's publicly accessible restaurant inspection database. The data used in this report was released by the DOHMH on March 4, 2026, reflecting an inspection conducted on March 2, 2026.

More About This Restaurant

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