KARAMELO BAR & KITCHEN

GRADE Z

Saturday, March 7, 2026

Overview

KARAMELO BAR & KITCHEN in Washington Heights (North) underwent a NYC health inspection on March 7, 2026 and scored 46 points. The inspection found 3 violations, including 2 critical.

Read the full story: Karamelo Bar & Kitchen Gets Grade C, 4 Critical Violations - Manhattan →
Address
141 NAGLE AVENUE
Manhattan, NY 10040
Cuisine
Latin American
Inspection Type
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
Violations
3 total
⚠ 2 critical
Facility History
6 inspections
1 failures

Violations Cited

⚠ CRITICAL 06D

Food Contact Surfaces Not Properly Sanitized

Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

⚠️ Why This Matters

BACTERIAL BUILDUP: Unsanitized surfaces harbor millions of bacteria within hours. Cross-contamination affects all food prepared on surface. Major cause of multi-victim outbreaks. Cutting boards can contain 200x more bacteria than toilet seats.

📋 Code Requirements

Clean and sanitize ALL food contact surfaces: After each use, Between different food types, Every 4 hours in continuous use, When contaminated. Use proper concentration sanitizer (50-100ppm chlorine, 200-400ppm quat). Air dry. Test sanitizer every 2 hours.

CDC Risk Factor: Contaminated Equipment - CDC Risk Factor #5
NYC Health Code Article 81, Section 81.21
• MAJOR 15-42

NYC Health Code Violation 15-42

Failure to make a good faith effort to inform smokers or electronic cigarette users of Smoke-Free Air Act ("SFAA") prohibitions

⚠️ Why This Matters

CONTAMINATION RISK: This violation supports conditions allowing bacterial growth and pest activity. NYC Health Code Violation 15-42 violations associated with 25% increase in illness risk. Correction required within 24-48 hours.

📋 Code Requirements

Follow NYC Health Code Article 81 requirements. Implement corrective action immediately. Document all corrections. Train staff on proper procedures. Schedule follow-up inspection if critical.

⚠ CRITICAL 03A

Food from unapproved or unknown source

Food, prohibited, from unapproved or unknown source, home canned or home prepared. Animal slaughtered, butchered or dressed (eviscerated, skinned) in establishment. Reduced Oxygen Packaged (ROP) fish not frozen before processing. ROP food prepared on premises transported to another site.

⚠️ Why This Matters

Unapproved sources may contain parasites, chemicals, or pathogens not eliminated by cooking

📋 Code Requirements

Purchase from licensed, inspected suppliers; maintain invoices; no home-prepared foods

CDC Risk Factor: Food from Unsafe Sources
NYC Health Code Article 81, Section 81.11
Inspector's Action:

Violations were cited in the following area(s).

View Facility Profile →

KARAMELO BAR & KITCHEN — Inspection Questions

Did KARAMELO BAR & KITCHEN pass their NYC health inspection on March 7, 2026?
KARAMELO BAR & KITCHEN underwent inspection on March 7, 2026 with a score of 46 points. The inspection found 3 violation(s).
What critical violations did KARAMELO BAR & KITCHEN have?
KARAMELO BAR & KITCHEN had 2 critical violation(s) during their inspection. Critical violations directly contribute to foodborne illness and must be corrected immediately. These include issues with temperature control, hand washing, cross-contamination, and pest infestations.
What does violation code 06D mean in NYC restaurant inspections?
NYC violation 06D (Food Contact Surfaces Not Properly Sanitized) is a critical violation. Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following contamination. BACTERIAL BUILDUP: Unsanitized surfaces harbor millions of bacteria within hours. Cross-contamination affects all food prepared on surface. Major cause of multi-victim outbreaks. Cutting boards can contain 200x more bacteria than toilet seats.
What does violation code 15-42 mean in NYC restaurant inspections?
NYC violation 15-42 (NYC Health Code Violation 15-42) is a major violation. Violation of NYC Health Code requirements CONTAMINATION RISK: This violation supports conditions allowing bacterial growth and pest activity. NYC Health Code Violation 15-42 violations associated with 25% increase in illness risk. Correction required within 24-48 hours.
What does violation code 03A mean in NYC restaurant inspections?
NYC violation 03A (Food from unapproved or unknown source) is a critical violation. All food must come from approved, inspected sources to ensure safety Unapproved sources may contain parasites, chemicals, or pathogens not eliminated by cooking