Staten Island, NY — The Sculpt Cafe, a coffee and tea establishment at 1584 Richmond Road, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on February 20, 2026. The inspection resulted in a score of 43, well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating, with inspectors documenting a critical food safety violation.
The closure was lifted five days later after the establishment addressed the cited violations and passed a subsequent inspection. The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 24, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 20 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at The Sculpt Cafe:
- Violation Code 04J: The establishment did not have a properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple provided or readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas. This equipment is required to measure the temperatures of Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
While the violation count was limited to a single item, the nature of the finding — classified as critical — contributed to the score of 43 and prompted DOHMH to close the establishment. The "Establishment Closed by DOHMH" action indicates that the violations cited required immediate corrective action before the business could resume operations.
The absence of functional, calibrated thermometers means staff cannot verify that potentially hazardous foods are being held, cooked, or cooled at safe temperatures. For a coffee and tea establishment, this could apply to dairy products, prepared foods, or any perishable items maintained on-site that require temperature monitoring.
Food Safety Context
Temperature control is one of the most fundamental components of food safety. The FDA Food Code identifies improper holding temperatures as a leading contributing factor to foodborne illness outbreaks. TCS foods — which include dairy products, cooked foods, and certain beverages — must be maintained at or below 41°F for cold holding or at or above 140°F for hot holding to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
NYC Health Code Article 81 requires food service establishments to maintain accurate, calibrated thermometers readily accessible in all areas where TCS foods are stored, prepared, or held. This regulation ensures that food handlers can routinely verify temperatures and take corrective action when foods fall into the "danger zone" between 41°F and 140°F, where bacterial growth accelerates rapidly.
The requirement is not simply to own a thermometer — the device must be properly scaled, calibrated for accuracy, and readily accessible to staff during normal operations. Inspectors evaluate whether the equipment is present, functional, and positioned where it can be used effectively during food handling activities.
DOHMH classifies the absence of proper temperature monitoring equipment as a critical violation because it removes a key safeguard against temperature abuse, which can lead to bacterial contamination and potential foodborne illness.
Inspection History
The Sculpt Cafe's recent inspection record shows the following:
- February 20, 2026: Score 43, Grade C range (28+ points), closed by DOHMH — critical violation for lack of calibrated thermometers
- February 25, 2026: Score 0, reopened — the establishment resolved the cited violations and passed a follow-up inspection with no violations recorded
The rapid turnaround — five days from closure to reopening with a perfect score of zero — indicates that The Sculpt Cafe addressed the cited violation promptly. A score of 0 on the reopening inspection means no violations of any kind were documented at that time.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points — the establishment is in substantial compliance with food safety regulations
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points — moderate violations were identified
- Grade C: 28 or more points — significant violations were documented
The Sculpt Cafe's score of 43 on February 20 placed it in Grade C territory. However, because the establishment was closed and subsequently reopened with a score of 0, the most recent inspection reflects full compliance.
Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. Inspection scores and grades are also required to be posted at the entrance of each food service establishment.
The inspection data referenced in this article is derived from public records maintained by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Inspection results represent conditions observed at a specific point in time and may not reflect the current state of an establishment.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for The Sculpt Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.