Brooklyn, NY — Amorina, an Italian restaurant at 624 Vanderbilt Avenue in the Prospect Heights neighborhood, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted March 28, 2026. The establishment recorded a score of 34, placing it firmly in the Grade C range. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 1, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection documented one critical violation under Code 06C of the NYC Health Code: food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, inspectors noted that condiments were not presented in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, as required.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and standards consistent with the FDA Food Code, condiment handling requirements exist to prevent cross-contamination between customers. Reusable or refillable condiment containers — such as shared bottles of hot sauce, olive oil, or table salt — can serve as transmission vectors for foodborne pathogens if not properly managed. Single-service containers and vendor-direct dispensing eliminate that risk by ensuring each customer interacts only with a sealed or controlled portion.

The single critical violation accounted for the restaurant's full point total of 34. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

Food Safety Context

New York City restaurants are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH under the ABC grading system, established in 2010. Critical violations are defined as those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness, including issues with food temperature, contamination protection, and personal hygiene. Non-critical violations typically relate to facility maintenance and record-keeping.

Code 06C falls within the contamination protection category. Per NYC Health Code Article 81.09, food and food-contact surfaces must be protected from potential contamination at all points in the service process. The FDA Food Code, which informs many local health codes nationally, similarly identifies improper condiment service as a correctable practice risk. Violations in this category are considered correctable through changes in procedure or equipment without facility closure.

A score of 34 does not trigger automatic closure. DOHMH closure orders are reserved for conditions presenting an imminent public health hazard, such as evidence of pests, sewage backup, or loss of utilities. Amorina was not closed as a result of this inspection.

Inspection History

Amorina's recent inspection record shows meaningful variation in scores over the past several years:

  • March 28, 2026: Score 34 (Grade C), one critical violation cited
  • September 22, 2023: Score 5 (Grade A), no critical violations
  • November 18, 2022: Score 32, one prior cycle with a comparable point total

The 2023 inspection result represented a strong performance, with a score of 5 placing the restaurant well within the top tier of the grading scale. The current result marks a return to the score range last seen in late 2022. There is no record of a DOHMH-ordered closure in the available inspection data for this location.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system translates inspection scores directly into posted grades, which restaurants are required to display prominently near their entrance:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points — fewest violations recorded
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points — moderate violations present
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points — the most violations recorded in that cycle

Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted. If the re-inspection score qualifies for a higher grade, that grade is posted instead. Restaurants may also post a "Grade Pending" sign while awaiting re-inspection results.

Members of the public can look up current and historical inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. The database is updated regularly as new inspection cycles are completed and data is processed for public release.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Amorina including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.