Brooklyn, NY — Brooklyn Bread, a neighborhood American eatery at 347 7th Avenue in the Park Slope section of Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on May 28, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 54 points, placing the establishment in Grade C range under the city's restaurant grading system.

What Inspectors Found

During the May 28 inspection, inspectors documented one critical violation under Code 02G, which addresses improper temperature control of time/temperature control for safety (TCS) foods. Specifically, inspectors found cold TCS food items held above 41°F — the maximum safe threshold established for most refrigerated foods under New York City Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code.

Proper cold holding temperatures are a foundational requirement in food safety. Cold TCS foods must remain at or below 41°F to inhibit the growth of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli. When temperatures rise above that threshold, bacterial populations can multiply at rates that pose a health risk to consumers, particularly those who are immunocompromised, elderly, or pregnant.

Inspectors noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the inspection. However, the severity of the documented violation resulted in the establishment being closed by DOHMH. The restaurant must pass a reinspection before it can reopen to the public.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control is one of the most frequently cited categories of violations in New York City restaurant inspections and one of the most consequential from a public health standpoint. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that food service establishments maintain cold foods at or below 41°F at all times, except during active preparation.

The FDA Food Code, which New York City's regulations closely align with, designates the temperature range between 41°F and 135°F as the "temperature danger zone" — the range in which bacteria that cause foodborne illness grow most rapidly. Cold foods sitting above 41°F, even for a few hours, can reach unsafe bacterial levels.

When DOHMH inspectors identify a violation of this nature and it cannot be immediately and fully corrected to their satisfaction, the agency has authority under Article 81 to close the establishment until compliance is achieved and verified through a follow-up inspection.

DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of all roughly 27,000 food service establishments in New York City at least once per year. Inspection results are public record and posted to the city's restaurant inspection database.

Inspection History

Brooklyn Bread's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores:

  • May 28, 2026: Score 54 (Grade C), closed by DOHMH — 1 critical violation cited
  • 2026-02-20: Score 36 (Grade Z)
  • 2025-12-20: Score 36 (Grade N)

The February and December 2025 scores both registered at 36 points. A "Grade Z" designation is issued when an establishment scores in the C range (28 or more points) on a reinspection following a prior unsatisfactory score and has requested an Administrative Tribunal hearing. A "Grade N" indicates that no letter grade has yet been assigned, typically because the inspection cycle requires a follow-up before a final grade is posted.

The May 28 inspection represents the highest score recorded in this inspection cycle, resulting in closure action.

Note: Inspection data in this article is drawn from records released by DOHMH on June 1, 2026. The underlying inspection was conducted on May 28, 2026.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. Grades are required to be posted in a visible location near the entrance of each establishment:

  • A grade is awarded for scores of 0 to 13 points — indicating a high standard of compliance
  • B grade is awarded for scores of 14 to 27 points — indicating some violations but generally acceptable conditions
  • C grade is awarded for scores of 28 or more points — indicating significant violations requiring correction

Lower scores reflect fewer or less severe violations. A score of 54, as recorded in Brooklyn Bread's most recent inspection, is more than four times the threshold for an A grade.

Consumers can look up any New York City restaurant's full inspection history, including violation details and current grade status, through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results portal at nyc.gov. The database is updated regularly as new inspection data is processed and released.

More About This Restaurant

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