ALI BABA MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE
224 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022 · Restaurant (Mediterranean)
Inspection summary
ALI BABA MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE has been inspected 3 times by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) since August 8, 2023. The most recent inspection, on March 12, 2026, recorded 2 infractions.
None of the 3 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 2 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Food temperature control and Handwashing and staff hygiene.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
PestsHigher risk
Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.
Recorded 2 times on August 12, 2025. For example:
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded once on August 12, 2025. For example:
Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
Handwashing and staff hygieneHigher risk
Hands are the main way germs like norovirus move from people to food. Inspectors look for stocked, accessible handwashing sinks, staff washing hands when required, hair restraints, and sick employees being kept away from food. Gaps here can spread illness quickly.
Recorded once on August 8, 2023. For example:
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.
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded once on August 8, 2023. For example:
Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 12, 2026. For example:
Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
About this data
These results come from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
3 inspections
- Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
2 infractions
- 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
- Critical
- 10B: Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
- Not Critical
- 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
- Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
5 infractions
- 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
- Critical
- 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.
- Not Critical
- 08A: Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- Not Critical
- 04M: Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
- Critical
- 02G: Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.
- Critical
- 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
- Pre-permit (Operational) / Initial Inspection
2 infractions
- 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.
- Critical
- 10G: Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- Not Critical
- 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.
Nearby inspected facilities
- LA GIOCONDA
226 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
2 inspections
- CELLO WINE & COCKTAIL BISTRO
226 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
3 inspections
- OBAO
222 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
9 inspections
- HIMALAYAN CURRY HOUSE
220 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
5 inspections
- THE KATI ROLL COMPANY
229 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
3 inspections
- STRANGE LOVE
229 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
3 inspections
- HUDSON MALONE
218 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
4 inspections
- SOUVLAKI GR KOUZINA
231 EAST 53 STREET, Manhattan, NY 10022
4 inspections