Brooklyn, NY — Berikoni / Georgian House, an Eastern European restaurant at 125 Brighton Beach Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 38 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 5, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, indicating 28 or more violation points were documented during the evaluation.

Inspectors identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the visit. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant finding involved the absence of properly scaled and calibrated thermometers in the restaurant's food preparation and temperature-controlled holding areas. Under violation code 04J, inspectors documented that thermometers or thermocouples were not provided or not readily accessible to measure temperatures of time and temperature control for safety (TCS) foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.

This violation is classified as critical because accurate temperature monitoring is a fundamental component of food safety. Without properly calibrated thermometers, kitchen staff cannot verify that foods are being cooked to safe internal temperatures, held at appropriate temperatures to prevent bacterial growth, or cooled within required timeframes. TCS foods — which include items such as meat, poultry, dairy, cooked vegetables, and prepared dishes — are particularly susceptible to pathogen growth when held in the temperature danger zone between 41°F and 140°F.

Inspectors also cited a non-critical violation under code 10F, noting that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were 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. While classified as non-critical, this type of violation can contribute to conditions that harbor pests or accumulate food debris if not addressed.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments operating in New York City. The code requires that food establishments maintain accurate measuring devices to monitor food temperatures throughout all stages of preparation, cooking, and storage.

The FDA Food Code similarly emphasizes temperature control as one of the most important factors in preventing foodborne illness. According to the FDA, improper holding temperatures and inadequate cooking are among the top contributing factors to foodborne disease outbreaks in restaurant settings. The requirement for accessible, calibrated thermometers ensures that kitchen staff can verify compliance with safe temperature thresholds at all times during food handling operations.

The DOHMH inspection noted that violations were cited but did not indicate that the restaurant was closed as a result of the inspection.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for Berikoni / Georgian House in the DOHMH public database. This may indicate that the March 5, 2026 inspection represents the establishment's first recorded evaluation, or that previous records are not currently reflected in the publicly available dataset.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection. The grading scale is as follows:

  • Grade A: 0 to 13 points — indicates the fewest violations
  • Grade B: 14 to 27 points — indicates a moderate number of violations
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — indicates a higher number of violations

With a score of 38, Berikoni / Georgian House falls within the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the option to request a re-inspection and may also contest their grade through an administrative tribunal hearing at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Restaurant grades and detailed inspection results are public record and can be accessed through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search for any restaurant's inspection history, violation details, and current grade status through the NYC Open Data portal or the DOHMH website.

For questions about restaurant inspections or to file a complaint about a food establishment, residents can contact 311 or visit the NYC DOHMH website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Berikoni / Georgian House including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.