Queens, NY — The City Diner, located at 65-35 Grand Avenue in Queens, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 28, 2026. Inspectors cited five violations, including one critical violation, and recorded a score of 84, placing the restaurant in the C grade range under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on July 31, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented five violations across food safety, sanitation, and facility standards during the July 28 visit.

The sole critical violation — Code 02G — identified that cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above the required 41°F threshold. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, cold TCS foods must be maintained at or below 41°F to inhibit the growth of harmful pathogens. Failure to meet this standard is classified as a critical violation because it represents a direct risk to public health.

Four non-critical violations were also cited:

  • Code 09E: No handwashing sign posted at or above the hand washing sink, as required.
  • Code 20-06: The current letter grade card or Grade Pending card was not posted in a location visible to customers entering the establishment.
  • Code 28-06: No active contract with a licensed pest management professional was on file, and no records of extermination activities were maintained on the premises.
  • Code 10F: Non-food contact surfaces or equipment were identified as being made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly spaced or sealed to allow accessibility for cleaning.

While non-critical violations do not carry an immediate risk of foodborne illness, they reflect deficiencies in sanitation and facility maintenance practices that must be corrected to maintain compliance with city health standards.

Food Safety Context

The critical cold temperature violation cited under Code 02G is among the most commonly documented — and most consequential — food safety failures inspectors identify. The FDA Food Code establishes 41°F as the upper limit for cold TCS food storage because bacterial growth accelerates significantly above that threshold. Foods commonly affected include dairy products, cooked meats, cut fruits and vegetables, and, as specifically referenced in the code, smoked or processed fish and reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) foods, which carry additional risk if temperature controls are not maintained.

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments operating in New York City to comply with these temperature control standards. Establishments found to be in violation during an inspection receive a score reflecting the severity and number of violations, and those with scores in the C range or above may face additional administrative action, including closure orders.

The posting violations cited — failure to display a current grade card and handwashing signage — are regulatory requirements designed to inform both customers and staff. The absence of a pest management contract indicates that the establishment had not documented compliance with the city's ongoing integrated pest management standards.

Inspection History

The July 28, 2026 inspection is not the first time The City Diner has received a low score. Prior inspection records show a pattern of elevated scores in recent years:

  • July 28, 2026: Score 84 — closed by DOHMH; 1 critical, 4 non-critical violations cited
  • October 16, 2025: Score 24 (Grade Z)
  • August 28, 2025: Score 43

The August 2025 and July 2026 scores both fall well above the C grade threshold of 28 points, indicating recurring difficulty achieving compliance. The current score of 84 represents a substantial increase from the October 2025 inspection.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system, administered by DOHMH, assigns grades to food service establishments based on their inspection score. Grades are posted publicly and are required to be displayed at each establishment. The scoring system works as follows:

  • A grade (0–13 points): The establishment met acceptable standards with minimal or no violations.
  • B grade (14–27 points): The establishment had some violations but fell below the threshold for a C grade; the establishment may request a re-inspection.
  • C grade (28 or more points): The establishment had significant violations requiring corrective action.

A score of 84 is well beyond the C threshold. Establishments that receive a score indicating imminent public health risk may be closed immediately pending correction of identified conditions.

Resources

Members of the public can look up current inspection records, scores, and grade status for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH online restaurant inspection database. Concerns about food safety conditions at a specific establishment can be reported through the city's 311 system.

Inspection data for The City Diner was recorded on July 28, 2026, and made available in the public DOHMH dataset on July 31, 2026.

More About This Restaurant

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