Brooklyn, NY — Bread & Spread, a sandwich shop at 485 Lorimer Street in Williamsburg, received a score of 38 during a health inspection conducted on February 25, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented two critical violations and one non-critical violation, including a citation for obstructing the duties of a health department officer.
Bread & Spread restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 3, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The most notable citation involved a finding that the duties of a DOHMH officer were interfered with or obstructed during the inspection. Under NYC Health Code, health inspectors have the legal authority to conduct unannounced inspections of food service establishments, and any interference with that process constitutes a critical violation. This violation is coded as 07A under the city's inspection framework.
Inspectors also cited the restaurant for a second critical violation related to food protection. Specifically, food, supplies, or equipment were found not to be adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The citation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, which creates opportunities for cross-contamination between customers.
A non-critical violation was also recorded related to plumbing infrastructure. Inspectors identified issues with anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices not being provided where required, along with findings that equipment or flooring was not properly drained. Condensation or liquid waste was documented as being improperly disposed of.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the legal framework governing food service establishments in New York City. Under these regulations, all restaurants are subject to unannounced inspections, and operators are required to cooperate fully with DOHMH personnel during the inspection process. Obstruction of inspectors is treated as a critical violation because it can prevent health officials from identifying conditions that may pose a risk to public health.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, emphasizes that proper food protection during all stages — from storage through service — is essential to preventing foodborne illness. Contamination risks increase when food and supplies are not shielded from environmental hazards or when condiment dispensing does not follow single-service protocols.
Plumbing deficiencies, while cited as non-critical in this case, can contribute to unsanitary conditions if drainage issues lead to standing water or improper waste disposal in food preparation areas.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Bread & Spread in the DOHMH database. This appears to be the first recorded inspection for this establishment at this location. Without previous inspection data, there is no baseline for comparison regarding the restaurant's food safety track record.
The restaurant will have the opportunity to request a re-inspection. If the score improves to 27 points or below on a subsequent inspection, the grade posted at the establishment would be updated accordingly.
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: 0–13 points, indicating the fewest violations
- Grade B: 14–27 points, indicating moderate violations
- Grade C: 28 or more points, indicating the most significant violations documented
Bread & Spread's score of 38 places it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may choose to post the grade or request an adjudicatory hearing before the city's administrative tribunal. A re-inspection is typically scheduled, and the restaurant has the opportunity to address cited violations before that visit.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The data used in this report reflects the most recent information released by the department as of March 3, 2026.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Bread & Spread including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.