DOHMH Health Inspection Grade
The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) conducts unannounced inspections of all food service establishments, scoring violations on a point system. An 'A' grade requires 0-13 points, 'B' is 14-27 points, and 'C' is 28+ points. Grades must be posted in the front window. Restaurants receiving a B or C can request a re-inspection. Critical violations include evidence of mice/rats, improper food temperatures, and cross-contamination.
Why It Matters for Operators
A visible 'B' or 'C' grade in your window can reduce customer traffic by 20-30%. Beyond the letter grade, repeated poor inspections can lead to closure orders. When taking over an existing restaurant, the previous operator's health history doesn't transfer to you, but the physical conditions that caused violations (inadequate refrigeration, poor ventilation, structural pest entry points) do.
FWDRE Insight
Before taking over a second-gen restaurant space, request the DOHMH inspection history—it's public record. If the previous tenant had recurring violations for the same issues (mice, temperature control), those are likely structural problems with the space itself, not just operational failures. Budget accordingly for remediation: sealing pest entry points, upgrading refrigeration, or improving ventilation.
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