Brooklyn, NY — 333 Lounge, a Caribbean restaurant at 333 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 1, 2026. The establishment received a score of 100, well above the 28-point threshold that corresponds to a Grade C under the city's restaurant grading system. The closure data was released by DOHMH on April 3, 2026.
The inspection resulted in the citing of two non-critical violations. According to the DOHMH action summary, the establishment was closed and violations requiring immediate action were addressed.
What Inspectors Found
The April 1, 2026 inspection documented two non-critical violations at the Flatbush Avenue location:
The first violation, cited under code 10B, involved issues with the establishment's plumbing and drainage infrastructure. Inspectors noted that anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required. Additionally, the inspection recorded that equipment or floors were not properly drained, the sewage disposal system was in disrepair or not functioning properly, and condensation or liquid waste was being improperly disposed of.
The second violation, cited under code 20-06, documented that the restaurant's current letter grade or Grade Pending card was not posted as required.
While no critical violations — those involving direct risks to public health such as improper food temperatures or evidence of pests — were cited during this inspection, the overall score of 100 points indicates that the severity and scope of the conditions documented were significant enough to warrant closure by DOHMH.
It is worth noting that a score of 100 with only two recorded violation codes is unusual. High scores with few violation line items can occur when individual violations carry substantial point values due to their severity or scope, or when conditions observed fall under broader categories that encompass multiple related issues within a single citation.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitation requirements for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The program is designed to ensure compliance with food safety standards informed by the FDA Food Code.
Proper plumbing and drainage are fundamental components of a sanitary food service environment. Back-flow prevention devices are required to prevent contaminated water from flowing backward into the clean water supply, which could introduce harmful bacteria or chemicals into water used for food preparation, handwashing, or dishwashing. The FDA Food Code addresses plumbing requirements extensively, recognizing that failures in these systems can create conditions conducive to contamination.
The requirement to post a current letter grade card ensures transparency for consumers. Under the NYC grading system, restaurants must display their most recent grade so that patrons can make informed decisions before dining. Failure to post a grade card is a violation of the administrative rules governing the inspection program.
When DOHMH closes a restaurant, the establishment must address all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before being permitted to reopen to the public.
Inspection History
A review of publicly available DOHMH records shows the following prior inspection history for 333 Lounge:
- February 16, 2024: Score of 39, Grade C
- March 3, 2023: Score of 35, no grade recorded
The restaurant's inspection history indicates a pattern of scores consistently above the Grade C threshold of 28 points. The April 2026 score of 100 represents a significant increase from its prior inspections, suggesting a substantial decline in conditions at the establishment since its last recorded inspection in early 2024.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection. The scoring system works inversely — a lower score indicates better compliance with health code requirements:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 100 falls deep within Grade C territory. Restaurants that receive a Grade C or that are closed during an inspection have the opportunity to request a re-inspection and can contest their scores through an administrative tribunal process overseen by the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including violation details and scores, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The data used in this report is sourced from those public records.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for 333 Lounge including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.