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A

5c Cafe & Cultural Center

68 Avenue C, Manhattan, NY 10009

Coffee/Tea Lower East Side (212) 477-5993

Grade A · as of Nov 5, 2025

5c Cafe & Cultural Center was last inspected on November 5, 2025 and scored 9 points (A range). Inspectors found 3 violations, 1 of them critical.

Latest inspection

November 5, 2025 · Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

A

Score: 9 points (A range)

1 critical2 general

CriticalFood handling

No working thermometer was available to check food temperatures.

Official wording (code 04J)
Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.
GeneralFacility upkeep

Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.

Official wording (code 10F)
Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
GeneralFacility upkeep

Single-use items (cups, utensils, containers) were missing, reused, or left unprotected.

Official wording (code 10H)
Single service article not provided. Single service article reused or not protected from contamination when transported, stored, dispensed. Drinking straws not completely enclosed in wrapper or dispensed from a sanitary device.

Inspection scores over time. Lower is better: 0–13 is an A, 14–27 a B, 28 or more a C.

Inspection history

3 inspections on record

Nov 5, 2025 –

Administrative Miscellaneous · Initial Inspection · Violations were cited in the following area(s)
3 paperwork Show violations
- PaperworkSigns & paperwork
  
  Providing single-use, non-compostable plastic straws to customers without customer request (including providing such straws at a self-serve station)
- PaperworkSigns & paperwork
  
  Required healthy-eating information wasn’t posted.
  
  Official wording (code 20-08)
  Failure to post or conspicuously post healthy eating information
- PaperworkSigns & paperwork
  
  Failure to display required signage about plastic straw availability
May 19, 2023 A 5 points (A range)

Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection
1 general Show violations
- GeneralFacility upkeep
  
  Non-food surfaces or equipment were poorly built or maintained.
  
  Official wording (code 10G)
  Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.

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How NYC grades restaurants

Inspectors add points for each violation. Lower is better.
0–13 points earns an A. 14–27 is a B. 28 or more is a C.
A restaurant that scores 14 or more on its first inspection gets no grade yet. It is re-inspected about a month later and can display “Grade Pending” in the meantime.

More on reading these results

Severity levels

Critical Can directly make someone sick: food temperatures, contamination, pests, hand-washing.
General Cleanliness, maintenance and facility problems.
Paperwork Missing signs, permits or paperwork.

More in Lower East Side

Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 12 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.