Manhattan, NY — The Muffin Cafe, a bakery and dessert shop located at 222 Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side, received a score of 40 following a health inspection conducted on March 25, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released the inspection data on March 27, 2026. Inspectors documented three critical violations and six non-critical violations during the visit.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant violation cited during the inspection was Code 03A, a critical finding indicating that food was present from an unapproved or unknown source. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, all food served to the public must originate from approved, regulated sources. This requirement exists to ensure that food has been handled, processed, and transported under conditions that meet food safety standards. The presence of food from an unknown origin represents a direct risk to consumer safety and is among the more serious violations inspectors can cite.

A second critical violation, Code 06F, recorded that wiping cloths were not properly stored — either clean and dry or in an active sanitizing solution — between uses. Improperly stored wiping cloths can serve as a vehicle for cross-contamination, spreading pathogens across food contact surfaces.

The third critical violation, Code 02G, noted that cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F. Maintaining proper cold-holding temperatures is a cornerstone requirement of the FDA Food Code, as bacterial growth accelerates rapidly in foods held in the range between 41°F and 135°F. This violation is commonly associated with elevated risk for foodborne illness.

Among the six non-critical violations, inspectors noted:

  • Code 09C: Improper design, construction, or maintenance of a food contact surface, rendering it not easily cleanable or sanitized
  • Code 16-02: Failure to maintain original nutrition fact labels or ingredient labels for cooking oils, shortenings, or bulk food items on site
  • Code 20-05: Current letter grade or "Grade Pending" card not conspicuously posted or visible to passersby
  • Code 20-08: Failure to post healthy eating information as required
  • Code 15-27 (cited twice): No sign prohibiting smoking or the use of electronic cigarettes conspicuously posted

While non-critical violations do not carry the same immediate public health weight as critical findings, they contribute to the overall inspection score and reflect areas where operational compliance has not been maintained.

Food Safety Context

New York City requires all food service establishments to comply with NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food safety practices including sourcing, storage, temperature control, and sanitation. The FDA Food Code, which Article 81 draws from, establishes science-based standards for safe food handling at the retail level.

Critical violations are defined as those most likely to directly contribute to foodborne illness if not corrected. The DOHMH requires that critical violations be addressed immediately or that corrective action begin during the inspection itself. Establishments that accumulate a high score may be subject to re-inspection and, in some cases, closure orders.

Inspection History

The March 2026 inspection continues a pattern of elevated scores at this location over the past year:

  • 2026-05-08: Score 39 (Grade Z)
  • 2026-03-25: Score 40 (Grade C) — inspection covered in this article
  • 2025-12-05: Score 36 (Grade Z)
  • 2025-10-06: Score 30
  • 2024-05-29: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • 2023-02-28: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • 2022-11-10: Score 17

The establishment earned Grade A scores in 2023 and 2024, but has received elevated scores in each of its four most recent inspections. The DOHMH may schedule a re-inspection to verify whether violations identified in March have been corrected.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system is based on the total number of points assessed during a DOHMH inspection:

  • A: Score of 0–13 points (lowest risk)
  • B: Score of 14–27 points
  • C: Score of 28 or more points (highest risk category)

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH's Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov. Consumers can search any establishment by name or address to review current and historical inspection data.

More About This Restaurant

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