Queens, NY — Urban Vegan Roots, a vegan restaurant located at 34-47 31st Street in Astoria, received a score of 33 on its most recent health inspection, placing it in Grade C territory. The inspection, conducted on February 27, 2026, identified two critical violations — a notable decline for an establishment that had maintained Grade A scores in its two prior inspections.

The inspection results were released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two critical violations during the February 27 visit, with no non-critical violations recorded.

The first critical violation, cited under Code 06D, identified that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. Food contact surfaces include cutting boards, prep tables, utensils, and any equipment that comes into direct contact with food during preparation or service. When these surfaces are not adequately sanitized between uses, they can become vectors for cross-contamination and bacterial growth.

The second critical violation, cited under Code 04A, noted that no Food Protection Certificate (FPC) was held by a manager or supervisor of food operations at the time of inspection. New York City requires that every food service establishment have at least one supervisory staff member on duty who holds a valid Food Protection Certificate. This certification ensures that someone with formal food safety training is overseeing daily operations, including proper food handling, temperature control, and sanitation procedures.

Food Safety Context

Both violations carry significant weight under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments across the five boroughs. The food contact surface sanitation requirement aligns with FDA Food Code standards that mandate cleaning and sanitizing of all food contact surfaces at specific intervals — after each use, between handling different raw foods, and any time contamination may have occurred.

The Food Protection Certificate requirement is one of New York City's foundational food safety regulations. The certificate is obtained by completing an approved food safety course and passing an examination administered by an accredited provider. The requirement exists to ensure that at least one person in a supervisory role at every food establishment has demonstrated knowledge of safe food handling practices, allergen awareness, and proper sanitation protocols.

A score of 33 places Urban Vegan Roots in the Grade C range, which applies to any restaurant scoring 28 or more points during a cycle inspection. According to DOHMH records, the action taken was that violations were cited in the specified areas, and no immediate closure was ordered.

Inspection History

The Grade C result represents a significant shift from the restaurant's prior inspection record:

  • November 18, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 26, 2023: Score 10 (Grade A)

Urban Vegan Roots had previously maintained consistent Grade A scores, with both prior inspections falling well within the 0-13 point range. The jump from a score of 12 to a score of 33 marks the first time the restaurant has fallen below Grade A status in its available inspection history.

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 accumulated during an inspection:

  • Grade A: 0-13 points
  • Grade B: 14-27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and the condition observed. Critical violations, which represent conditions most likely to contribute to foodborne illness, generally carry higher point values than non-critical violations.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a better score. Grade cards must be posted at the restaurant's entrance where they are visible to the public.

Residents can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. The inspection data referenced in this article is public record maintained by DOHMH and made available through the NYC Open Data portal.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Urban Vegan Roots including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.