Brooklyn, NY — Black Forest Brooklyn, a German restaurant located at 181 Smith Street in Brooklyn, received a Grade B following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 21, 2026. The restaurant recorded a score of 22, placing it near the upper boundary of the B range and within six points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 23, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March inspection. The violation, cited under Code 06C, involved food, supplies, or equipment not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, inspectors noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to take measures preventing contamination at all stages of food handling. The condiment violation identified at this inspection falls within that framework — open or improperly handled condiments can be accessed by multiple customers, creating a pathway for cross-contamination.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

A score of 22 sits in the upper portion of the Grade B band, which runs from 14 to 27 points. While the restaurant retains a passing grade, the score reflects meaningful food safety concerns. The FDA Food Code, which New York City's health code standards draw from, classifies violations related to food protection as priority items given their direct connection to foodborne illness risk.

Critical violations — as opposed to general violations — are those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness if left uncorrected. The presence of even a single critical violation at a high score position within the B range is a factor the DOHMH and food safety guidelines treat with particular weight.

Inspection History

Black Forest Brooklyn's recent inspection record shows variability in performance:

  • August 30, 2023: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • October 31, 2022: Score 34 (Grade C range)

The restaurant's current score of 22 falls between those two prior results. The 2022 inspection produced a score that would have placed the establishment in Grade C territory, while the 2023 inspection reflected a significant improvement with a Grade A result. The March 2026 inspection represents a step back from that high-performing result, though the restaurant remains within Grade B standing.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following inspections based on the point total recorded:

  • A: 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Grades are required to be posted at the restaurant entrance so that diners can review them before entering. A Grade B indicates violations were found but does not mean the establishment has been ordered to close.

Diners can look up the full inspection history for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov. Additional guidance on food safety standards is available through the FDA Food Code and NYC Health Code Article 81.

More About This Restaurant

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