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LA CUEVA

961 LEGGETT AVENUE, Bronx, NY 10455 · Restaurant (Mexican)

Inspection summary

LA CUEVA has been inspected 4 times by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) since May 15, 2024. The most recent inspection, on July 20, 2026, recorded 6 infractions.

None of the 4 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Protecting food from contamination and Handwashing and staff hygiene.

The number of infractions per inspection has stayed roughly the same over time.

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 6 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 20, 2026. For example: Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

  • Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk

    This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.

    Recorded 3 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on July 20, 2026. For example: Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.

  • 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 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 8, 2025. For example: Tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area.

  • 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 January 14, 2025. For example: Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.

  • 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 May 15, 2024. For example: Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.

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.

4 inspections

  1. Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

    6 infractions

    • 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
    • 04H: Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
      • Critical
    • 08A: Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
      • Not 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.
      • Critical
    • 04N: Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (FRSA) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies and fruit flies.
      • Critical
  2. Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection

    5 infractions

    • 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
      • Critical
    • 06B: Tobacco or electronic cigarette use, eating, or drinking from open container in food preparation, food storage or dishwashing area.
      • 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
    • 04L: Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
      • Critical
    • 08A: Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
      • Not Critical
  3. Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

    6 infractions

    • 08A: Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
      • Not Critical
    • 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.
      • Not Critical
    • 04L: Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
      • Critical
    • 02B: Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.
      • 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
    • 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
  4. Pre-permit (Operational) / Initial Inspection

    4 infractions

    • 06E: Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
      • Critical
    • 04H: Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
      • 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
    • 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

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