Bronx, NY — Alcantara 05 Restaurant, located at 1738 Zerega Avenue in the Bronx, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 21, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 66 points, placing the establishment in the C grade range under the city's restaurant grading system. The data was released publicly by DOHMH on April 24, 2026.
The closure came after inspectors identified one critical violation involving improper cold food storage temperatures. Establishments that receive an immediate closure order are required to address the conditions cited before they may resume operations.
What Inspectors Found
During the April 21 inspection, inspectors cited one critical violation under Code 02G: cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F. This category of violation also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above their required storage temperatures, except during active and necessary preparation.
The citation indicates that perishable foods requiring refrigeration were not being maintained at temperatures sufficient to limit bacterial growth. No non-critical violations were recorded during the same inspection.
Cold holding violations are among the most frequently cited critical findings in New York City restaurant inspections. Foods in the TCS category — including dairy, cooked proteins, cut produce, and certain fish products — must be kept at or below specific temperatures to prevent the proliferation of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Closteridum perfringens.
Food Safety Context
Cold temperature control is a foundational requirement under both the NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many state and local food safety regulations. Article 81 of the New York City Health Code establishes the standards that all food service establishments in the city must meet, including specific requirements for the storage, handling, and preparation of potentially hazardous foods.
When cold TCS foods are held above required temperatures — even for a limited period — bacterial populations can increase to levels that pose a risk of foodborne illness. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration identifies the temperature range between 41°F and 135°F as the "temperature danger zone," within which pathogens can multiply rapidly.
Under DOHMH protocol, when inspectors identify conditions that pose an immediate public health risk, they are authorized to order a full or partial closure of the establishment. Operators must demonstrate that the conditions have been corrected before the establishment is permitted to reopen. In this case, the DOHMH noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the inspection, though the closure order remained in effect pending a follow-up review.
Inspection History
This was the first inspection on record for Alcantara 05 Restaurant in the DOHMH public dataset. No prior inspection history was available at the time this report was compiled.
- April 21, 2026: Score 66 (Grade C), closed by DOHMH; one critical cold holding violation cited
Because this is the establishment's first recorded inspection, there is no historical baseline against which to assess whether conditions have improved or worsened over time. Restaurants new to the inspection record are subject to the same grading and enforcement standards as those with longer histories.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grading system is based on the numeric score an establishment receives during a DOHMH inspection. Scores reflect the number and severity of violations identified, with higher scores indicating more serious or numerous problems. Grades are calculated as follows:
- A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
- B: Score of 14–27 points
- C: Score of 28 or more points (most violations)
A score of 66 points, as recorded at Alcantara 05 Restaurant, falls well within the C range. Establishments that are graded or closed during an initial inspection may request an Administrative Tribunal hearing to contest violations or scores.
When a restaurant is closed, it is not eligible to post a letter grade until it passes a re-inspection. Upon reopening, the establishment will undergo a subsequent inspection to verify that cited conditions have been corrected. If the follow-up inspection results in a passing score, a grade card will be issued and must be posted in a location visible to the public.
Consumers can look up current grades and full inspection histories for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database, available through the NYC Open Data portal at data.cityofnewyork.us. Inspection records are updated regularly as new data is released by the agency.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Alcantara 05 Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.