RAICES BORICUA RESTAURANT LOUNGE

Inspection summary

RAICES BORICUA RESTAURANT LOUNGE has been inspected 4 times by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) since November 6, 2024. The most recent inspection, on March 30, 2026, recorded 3 infractions.

1 of 4 inspections on record found no infractions at all. In the past 12 months there was 1 inspection with 3 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Pests, Protecting food from contamination and Chemicals and toxic substances.

Recent inspections have recorded more infractions than earlier ones, so it is worth reading the latest reports closely.

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 4 times across 3 separate inspections, most recently on March 30, 2026. For example: Adequate, leakproof, non-absorbent, vermin-proof, covered containers not provided where needed

• 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 once on September 29, 2025. For example: Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)

• Chemicals and toxic substancesHigher risk

  Cleaning products, sanitizers and pesticides must be labelled and stored away from food and food-contact surfaces. Inspectors flag chemicals that could end up in food, as well as pest treatments applied without proper supervision.

  Recorded once on September 29, 2025. For example: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.

• 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 November 6, 2024. For example: Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing

• Equipment and utensilsLower risk

  Equipment has to be built from cleanable materials, kept in good repair and stored properly. These findings are mostly about upkeep, like a cracked shelf, a worn gasket or utensils stored the wrong way. They are generally lower risk but show how well the kitchen is maintained.

  Recorded 4 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on March 30, 2026. For example: Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained

About this data

These results come from New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH), 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.

• View the official New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) disclosure site
• See all inspected facilities in New York State
• How to read an inspection report