Queens, NY — Union Bistro Steakhouse And Sushi, located at 190-11 Union Turnpike in the Fresh Meadows neighborhood of Queens, received a Grade C score of 37 following a health inspection conducted on December 30, 2025. The inspection, carried out by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), documented evidence of rats at the establishment.
The inspection results were released by DOHMH on March 3, 2026, as part of the city's routine publication of restaurant inspection data. A score of 28 or higher results in a Grade C, the lowest letter grade issued under New York City's restaurant grading system.
What Inspectors Found
During the December 2025 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at Union Bistro Steakhouse And Sushi:
- Evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas (Violation Code 04K)
This violation is classified as critical under the NYC restaurant inspection scoring system, meaning it poses a direct risk to public health and can contribute significantly to foodborne illness or other health hazards. Evidence of rodent activity can include droppings, gnaw marks, burrows, grease marks along walls, or the presence of live or dead rodents within the premises.
No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection. The total score of 37 points was driven entirely by the severity of the rodent-related finding, which carries a substantial point value under DOHMH's scoring methodology.
The action recorded for this inspection noted that violations were cited in the identified area. The restaurant was not ordered closed at the time of this inspection cycle.
Food Safety Context
Rodent activity in food service establishments is addressed under multiple regulatory frameworks. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that food service establishments maintain their premises free of vermin, including rats and mice. Specifically, establishments must implement effective pest management programs and eliminate conditions that attract or harbor rodents.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, similarly classifies the presence of rodents in food establishments as a critical public health concern. Rodents can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas through direct contact, droppings, urine, and hair. They are known carriers of pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Leptospira, which can cause serious illness in humans.
Under DOHMH protocol, establishments cited for rodent activity are typically required to engage licensed pest control operators and may be subject to follow-up inspections to verify that corrective measures have been implemented.
Inspection History
Union Bistro Steakhouse And Sushi does not have prior inspection history available in the DOHMH public dataset. The December 30, 2025 inspection represents the first recorded inspection for this establishment in the current database. This may indicate the restaurant is a relatively new establishment, or that earlier records predate the current data system.
Without prior inspection data, it is not possible to identify trends in the restaurant's compliance history. Future inspections will establish whether the issues identified in December 2025 have been addressed.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. The scoring thresholds are as follows:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Critical violations, such as evidence of rodent activity, carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations, reflecting their greater potential impact on public health.
Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C have the option to request a re-inspection through an adjudicatory process. The grade posted at the restaurant reflects the most recent grading outcome.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online through the NYC Open Data portal. The data used in this report was released on March 3, 2026, and reflects inspection activity through the end of December 2025. Readers should check the DOHMH database for the most current information regarding this or any establishment.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Union Bistro Steakhouse And Sushi including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.