Manhattan, NY — The Consulate, a French restaurant located at 519 Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side, received a score of 31 following a health inspection conducted March 30, 2026, resulting in a Grade C designation. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released the inspection data on April 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March 30 inspection under violation code 04N, which covers the presence of filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated flies — collectively referred to as FRSA flies — or other nuisance pests in a food establishment's food and non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies.

The violation was the sole citation recorded during this inspection cycle. No non-critical violations were noted. The single critical violation, however, carried sufficient point weight to push the establishment's score to 31, placing it in Grade C territory under New York City's restaurant grading system.

Food Safety Context

Pest activity in food-service environments is treated as a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81 and is consistent with guidance in the FDA Food Code, which identifies pests as a significant vector for foodborne illness. Flies in particular are capable of transferring pathogens from contaminated surfaces to food contact areas, equipment, and food itself.

Under New York City's inspection protocol, critical violations are those most directly linked to conditions that can lead to foodborne illness. They carry higher point values than general violations, which is why a single critical citation can produce a score placing a restaurant outside the Grade A range.

DOHMH requires that establishments address cited violations before a re-inspection is conducted. Restaurants scoring in the Grade B or Grade C range are given the opportunity to request a re-inspection, at which point a grade card is issued based on the most recent score.

Inspection History

The March 2026 inspection represents a decline from the establishment's recent performance record. Prior inspections on file show:

  • September 10, 2024: Score 19 (Grade B range)
  • February 7, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • August 3, 2022: Score 27 (Grade B range)

The 2023 Grade A score represents the establishment's strongest recent result. The trajectory from that inspection through the current cycle shows scores moving from the Grade A range into the Grade B range and now into the Grade C range. The restaurant has not previously been recorded as closed by DOHMH based on available inspection data.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter-grade system is based on the numeric score assigned during a DOHMH inspection. Scores reflect the number and severity of violations found:

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

Grade cards must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant's entrance. A Grade C posting does not necessarily mean a restaurant has been ordered closed — it reflects the score at the time of inspection. Establishments may request a re-inspection, and their grade can improve if violations are corrected.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review current and historical inspection data.

More About This Restaurant

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