The Lunch Box

Name: The Lunch Box
Address: 3 East 53 Street, NYC, NY, 10022, US
Telephone: (973) 861-3202

3 East 53 Street, Manhattan, NY 10022

Coffee/Tea Midtown-Midtown South (973) 861-3202

Grade A · as of Jul 10, 2025

The Lunch Box was last inspected on July 10, 2025 and scored 8 points (A range). Inspectors found 1 violation, 1 of them critical.

Latest inspection

July 10, 2025 · Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

Score: 8 points (A range)

1 critical

CriticalHygiene & sanitation

Clean utensils or equipment were stored or handled in a way that could contaminate them.

Official wording (code 06E)
Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

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

Inspection history

5 inspections on record

Mar 14, 2024 A 12 points (A range)

Cycle Inspection · Re-inspection
1 critical1 general Show violations
- CriticalHygiene & sanitation
  
  Food or supplies weren’t protected from contamination during storage, prep, or service.
  
  Official wording (code 06C)
  Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
- 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.
Mar 14, 2024 –

Administrative Miscellaneous · Re-inspection · Violations were cited in the following area(s)
3 paperwork Show violations
- PaperworkSigns & paperwork
  
  Required choking first-aid or alcohol-and-pregnancy signs (or resuscitation masks) were missing.
  
  Official wording (code 20-04)
  “Choking first aid” poster not posted. “Alcohol and Pregnancy” warning sign not posted. Resuscitation equipment: exhaled air resuscitation masks (adult & pediatric), latex gloves, sign not posted.
- 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
  
  Food allergy poster not posted where staff prepare food.
  
  Official wording (code 20-01)
  Allergen or intolerance notice not translated into common language when required
Apr 13, 2023 33 33 points (C range)

Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

Scored in the C range on an initial inspection, so no grade is given yet. A re-inspection follows.
4 critical1 general Show violations
- CriticalHygiene & sanitation
  
  Food or supplies weren’t protected from contamination during storage, prep, or service.
  
  Official wording (code 06C)
  Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
- 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.
- CriticalHygiene & sanitation
  
  Workers’ personal hygiene was inadequate (dirty clothing, no hair restraint, jewelry).
  
  Official wording (code 06A)
  Personal cleanliness is inadequate. Outer garment soiled with possible contaminant. Effective hair restraint not worn where required. Jewelry worn on hands or arms. Fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.
- CriticalFacility
  
  A hand-washing sink was missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.
  
  Official wording (code 05D)
  No hand washing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Hand washing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-hand washing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device.
- 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.
Apr 13, 2023 –

Administrative Miscellaneous · Initial Inspection · Violations were cited in the following area(s)
1 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)

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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.

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 Midtown-Midtown South

Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 16 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.