Manhattan, NY — The Smith, located at 55 Third Avenue in the East Village, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) health inspection conducted March 18, 2026. The restaurant scored 27 points — the upper boundary of the Grade B range and a single point below the Grade C threshold. DOHMH released the inspection data March 23, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March inspection:

Code 02B: Hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food was not held at or above 140°F as required.

This violation is classified as critical because temperature abuse of hot food creates conditions under which harmful bacteria can multiply to unsafe levels. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

A score of 27 places The Smith at the far upper edge of the Grade B band. While the restaurant retains its B grade, the score reflects a meaningful accumulation of points and sits one point above the Grade C threshold of 28.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code establish minimum temperature requirements for hot holding to limit the growth of pathogens such as Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus. Foods held in the temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 140°F — are considered at risk for rapid bacterial growth.

Critical violations, as defined by DOHMH, are those most directly linked to foodborne illness. A single critical violation of this type contributed substantially to the restaurant's overall score in this cycle.

Inspection History

The Smith's recent inspection record shows score variability over the past several years:

  • March 18, 2026: Score 27 (Grade B)
  • March 3, 2026: Score 43 (Grade C range)
  • November 13, 2024: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • March 26, 2024: Score 27
  • March 17, 2022: Score 8 (Grade A)

The restaurant earned a Grade A in 2022 with a score of 8. Subsequent inspections show a pattern of higher scores, including a score of 43 recorded in an earlier March 2026 visit — which falls in the Grade C range — before the March 18 inspection resulted in a score of 27. The back-to-back inspections in March 2026 may reflect a reinspection cycle, which DOHMH uses when an initial inspection score falls in the Grade C range or higher.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores under NYC Health Code Article 81:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant entrance.

Consumers can look up current and historical inspection records for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are public information updated regularly as new inspections are completed.

More About This Restaurant

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