Manhattan, NY — The Rag Trader, Bopeep Bar, a restaurant and bar located at 70 West 36th Street in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 50 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 7, 2026, placing the establishment in Grade C territory. Inspection data was publicly released by the DOHMH on April 9, 2026.

The score represents a significant decline from the restaurant's Grade A performance documented in its most recent prior inspection in June 2024.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the April 7 visit.

The critical violation — Code 02B — recorded that a hot temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food item was not held at or above 140°F as required. Hot TCS foods are those capable of supporting the growth of harmful bacteria when held outside of safe temperature ranges, and maintaining proper heat levels is a fundamental requirement under both New York City and federal food safety standards.

The non-critical violation — Code 10E — noted that an accurate thermometer was not provided or was not properly located in refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment. The absence of a properly placed thermometer makes it difficult for food service workers to verify that equipment is maintaining food at safe temperatures, which directly relates to the critical violation cited in the same inspection.

Together, the two violations resulted in a combined score of 50, which falls within the Grade C range under the city's restaurant grading system.

Food Safety Context

Hot holding temperature requirements are established under NYC Health Code Article 81 and are consistent with standards outlined in the FDA Food Code, which identifies 140°F as the minimum safe temperature for holding hot TCS foods. Foods held below this threshold — particularly proteins, cooked starches, and prepared dishes — can enter what regulators describe as the "temperature danger zone," where bacterial growth accelerates.

The FDA Food Code also requires that food facilities maintain calibrated, accurately placed thermometers in all cold and hot holding equipment. Without reliable temperature monitoring, a food service operator cannot confirm that equipment is functioning correctly or that food is being maintained within required safety ranges.

These are not minor procedural requirements. They represent foundational practices that the city and federal regulators have identified as critical to preventing foodborne illness.

Inspection History

Records show that The Rag Trader, Bopeep Bar has generally maintained strong inspection scores in recent years, making the April 2026 result a notable departure from its recent track record:

  • April 7, 2026: Score 50 (Grade C) — one critical violation, one non-critical violation
  • June 26, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • December 1, 2022: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • April 7, 2022: Score 14

The establishment's prior three inspections all resulted in scores at or below 14, placing them within Grade A or borderline Grade A/B range. The jump to a score of 50 in the most recent cycle is a significant deviation from that pattern.

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 identified, with higher scores indicating more or more serious violations:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points

Critical violations, such as the hot holding failure documented at this location, carry heavier point values than non-critical violations, which can accelerate a score into higher grade ranges even when fewer total violations are cited.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within a defined window, during which they have the opportunity to correct identified violations and potentially improve their grade.

Current inspection records, grades, and violation details for any permitted food service establishment in New York City are available through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, accessible via the NYC Open Data portal at data.cityofnewyork.us.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for The Rag Trader, Bopeep Bar including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.