Manhattan, NY — Vanderbilt Bar & Grill, located at 230 Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted on March 11, 2026. The restaurant scored 27 points, placing it at the very top of the Grade B range and just one point below the 28-point threshold that would trigger a Grade C designation.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 13, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one non-critical violation at the establishment. The violation, recorded under code 10F, identified that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, were not kept clean, or were not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit.
No critical violations were documented during the inspection. While the single non-critical violation may appear minor in isolation, the resulting 27-point score reflects the severity with which inspectors assessed the condition. A score at the upper boundary of Grade B indicates that the issues observed, though categorized as non-critical, were significant enough to warrant substantial point deductions under the DOHMH scoring system.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in New York City must meet. Equipment and surface maintenance requirements are designed to prevent conditions that could harbor bacteria or compromise food safety over time. The FDA Food Code similarly emphasizes that all surfaces and equipment in food establishments must be maintained in good repair and kept clean to minimize contamination risks.
Non-food contact surfaces — such as floors, walls, shelving, and the exteriors of equipment — must be constructed of appropriate materials and maintained in a condition that allows for thorough cleaning. When these surfaces deteriorate or are not properly accessible for sanitation, they can accumulate debris and create environments where pests or bacteria may develop.
Inspection History
The March 2026 result represents a notable shift from the restaurant's prior inspection performance:
- 2024-03-11: Score 10 (Grade A)
The previous inspection two years earlier had resulted in a strong Grade A score of 10 points, well within the top tier of restaurant health ratings. The increase of 17 points between inspections marks a significant change in the establishment's compliance standing.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection. The grading scale is 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. Vanderbilt Bar & Grill's score of 27 places it at the maximum end of the Grade B range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection to attempt to improve their score.
All restaurant inspection results are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Diners can view current grades, violation details, and inspection histories for any inspected food service establishment in New York City at [NYC Open Data](https://data.cityofnewyork.us/) or through the DOHMH restaurant grading search portal.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Vanderbilt Bar & Grill including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.