Empire Soul Food Restaurant
547 Lenox Avenue, Manhattan, NY 10037
How the BiteKarma score works
Each routine inspection starts at 100 and loses 7 points for every critical violation and 2 for every other one, half again as much when the same problem was cited at one of the two inspections before. A failed inspection counts as 69 at most. The score averages the five newest routine inspections, with the most recent counting most, and stays below 70 for 90 days after a fail unless the restaurant passes again. 90 and up is excellent, 80s good, 70s fair, and below 70 poor.
At a glance
- Keeps coming up: Harmful noxious gas or vapor detected. Carbon monoxide (CO) level exceeds nine (9) ppm, cited 2 times, plus 2 other repeat issues.
- Passed 0 of 2 graded inspections since 2025.
- Last inspected Mar 31, 2025: failed with 4 violations, 3 critical. That was over a year ago, so things may have changed.
- 8 critical violations in the last two years.
Inspection history 3 visits
- 2025
- Visit Apr 10
Pre-permit (Non-operational)
2 violations
- Minor 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
- Minor Nonfood-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
- Failed Mar 31
Pre-permit (Non-operational)
4 violations, 3 critical
- Critical Harmful noxious gas or vapor detected. Carbon monoxide (CO) level exceeds nine (9) ppm
- Critical No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers
- Critical 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
- Minor Mechanical or natural ventilation not provided, inadequate, improperly installed, in disrepair or fails to prevent and control excessive build-up of grease, heat, steam condensation, vapors, odors, smoke or fumes
- Failed Mar 18
Pre-permit (Non-operational)
5 violations, 5 critical
- Critical No handwashing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or warewashing area. Handwashing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-handwashing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device
- Critical 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
- Critical Insufficient or no hot holding, cold storage or cold holding equipment provided to maintain time/temperature control for safety foods (TCS) at required temperatures
- Critical No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers
- Critical Harmful noxious gas or vapor detected. Carbon monoxide (CO) level exceeds nine (9) ppm
Nearby
BiteKarma scores around Empire Soul Food Restaurant, which is the dark pin. Zoom in to see the dots' scores, and tap a pin marked + to see everything at that address.