Restaurant Report Card: October 2011

On the second Wednesday of each month, we post this report  of restaurants in the 10002 ZIP code that scored 28 points or more on their health department inspections, the equivalent of “C” grades under the city’s rating system. We also call out establishments that excelled, by earning 3 points or fewer.

For more details on how the city grades food establishments, see the guide (PDF). Because of the way the online search function operates, we cannot link directly to individual restaurant reports here, but you can visit the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s website, type in the name of any restaurant and view the details of inspectors’ findings for all recent visits. You can also read our monthly Restaurant Report Card archives here.

Please note that restaurateurs are permitted to post a “grade pending” certificate while they appeal an unsatisfactory score, so those listed here may not currently display a “C” grade in their storefronts. Also, some restaurants may have been reinspected since Oct. 31; there is a lag between the health department’s inspections and its online database updates.

Here’s the report for October.

First, the good news: Mary Queen of Scots at 115 Allen St. scored only 2 points on Oct. 18. The other excellent scores this month were Foundation, the nightclub at 137 Essex St., and Manna Two, at 87 E. Broadway, which both scored zero points on reinspections, allowing each of them to reopen after previously being shuttered for high numbers of violations.

And while it didn’t fall into the 3-points-or-less column, we’d like to note that Khushie Indian Kitchen, at 139 Essex St., earned a very good score of 5 points on a reinspection, which allowed it to reopen after being closed on Oct. 5 following a score of 52 points.

On the other hand, a report from DNA Info today suggests that fans of Clinton Street’s Nonna’s Pizzeria, which topped our monthly report card in August, are undeterred by its low rating.

Here’s the full October list, from most points to least: