Brooklyn, NY — Atomic Wings, located at 66 Willoughby Street in Brooklyn, received a score of 34 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 2, 2026, placing the restaurant in Grade C territory. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 6, 2026.

The location's single violation was classified as critical, related to food manager certification requirements.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited one critical violation under Code 04A: the establishment did not have a manager or supervisor holding a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC) present during the inspection.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and DOHMH regulations, food service establishments are required to have at least one certified food protection manager on duty during all hours of operation. The Food Protection Certificate is issued by DOHMH following completion of an approved food safety course and a passing exam score. Its purpose is to ensure that someone with documented food safety training is responsible for overseeing operations at all times.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The Food Protection Certificate requirement exists to reduce the risk of foodborne illness by ensuring that a trained individual is present to monitor food handling, storage temperatures, sanitation practices, and employee hygiene. The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's local regulations, identifies management oversight as a foundational element of a safe food service operation.

A critical violation, as defined by DOHMH, is one that poses a direct risk to public health if not corrected. Critical violations carry a higher point value in New York City's inspection scoring system, which is why a single Code 04A violation contributed significantly to the location's overall score of 34.

Restaurants are expected to correct critical violations immediately or as quickly as possible. DOHMH may conduct a follow-up inspection to verify compliance.

Inspection History

The Willoughby Street location has a limited but notable recent inspection record:

  • June 25, 2026: Score 31 (Grade Z)
  • April 2, 2026: Score 34 (Grade C)

A Grade Z designation is assigned when a restaurant has been inspected but is in the adjudication process — meaning the score has not yet been finalized through the city's administrative review system. Once adjudication is complete, a letter grade is assigned and posted.

The back-to-back scores above 28 points indicate that the location has received consecutive inspections resulting in Grade C-level scores.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the number of points assigned during an inspection. Each violation carries a set point value, and scores are cumulative:

  • A: 0 to 13 points (posted immediately)
  • B: 14 to 27 points (restaurant may request re-inspection)
  • C: 28 or more points (restaurant may request re-inspection)

When a restaurant scores in the B or C range on an initial inspection, it has the option to request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted. The grade that results from the re-inspection — or from the adjudication process — is the one that is displayed publicly at the restaurant entrance.

Inspection reports for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection results database at the NYC Open Data portal. Residents can search by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type to review full inspection histories, violation details, and current grade status.

More About This Restaurant

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