Grade ACoffee/Tea

Vanilla Gorilla Cafe

525 8 AVENUE, Manhattan, 10018

Should you eat here?

Caution — a pest-related violation was found at the latest inspection (4 months ago).

Last inspected Mar 31, 2026 · New York City health department

What the inspector found on Mar 31, 2026

  • Signs of pests (like mice, rats, roaches, or flies) or conditions that could attract them.

    Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

  • Signs of pests (like mice, rats, roaches, or flies) or conditions that could attract them.

    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
  • Raw and ready-to-eat foods were not kept separate, risking contamination.

    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
  • A cleanliness or sanitizing issue with surfaces, dishware, or the general premises.

    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.

  • A cleanliness or sanitizing issue with surfaces, dishware, or the general premises.

    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.

Inspection history

DateResultTypeViolations
Mar 31, 2026Grade PendingCycle Inspection / Re-inspection5 (2 critical)
Feb 10, 2026Grade PendingCycle Inspection / Initial Inspection5 (2 critical)
Nov 25, 2024Grade ACycle Inspection / Re-inspection3 (2 critical)
Nov 7, 2024Grade PendingCycle Inspection / Initial Inspection5 (4 critical)
Aug 29, 2023Grade APre-permit (Operational) / Initial Inspection3 (1 critical)

Problems that keep coming back

Issues cited at more than one inspection — a better signal than any single visit.

  • 5×Raw and ready-to-eat foods were not kept separate, risking contamination.
  • 5×A cleanliness or sanitizing issue with surfaces, dishware, or the general premises.
  • 3×A cleanliness or sanitizing issue with surfaces, dishware, or the general premises.
  • 3×Raw and ready-to-eat foods were not kept separate, risking contamination.

Around this address

City records for the building itself, not this restaurant’s inspection.

  • 24 rodent inspections on record, 6 finding rat activity.

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