Brooklyn, NY — Cafe Here, a coffee and tea shop at 499 Van Brunt Street in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a score of 117 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 3, 2026, placing it in the Grade C category. The inspection identified 13 critical violations and 8 non-critical violations. This data was released by DOHMH on April 30, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The most frequently cited violation during the inspection was Code 02B, which requires that hot temperature-controlled-for-safety (TCS) food items be held at or above 140°F. This violation was recorded three times, indicating that multiple hot food items were found below the required holding temperature.

Inspectors also cited Code 04J on three occasions, noting that properly scaled and calibrated thermometers or thermocouples were not provided or readily accessible in food preparation and hot and cold holding areas. Without functioning temperature measurement tools, staff cannot verify that foods are held within safe temperature ranges during cooking, cooling, reheating, or holding.

Code 05E was documented three times as well. This violation involves toilet facilities shared between employees and patrons that are accessed through the kitchen, food preparation, storage, or utensil washing areas. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, such configurations present a pathway for contamination between restroom areas and food handling zones.

Code 06C was cited twice. This violation covers food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. The specific condition noted was that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, creating an opportunity for cross-contamination.

Code 06D was identified once, noting that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity during which contamination may have occurred.

Code 05C was cited once for an improperly constructed, placed, or maintained food contact surface, with inspectors noting that a culinary sink or other acceptable food-washing method was not provided.

Among the non-critical violations, Code 10B was cited three times for drainage and back-flow prevention deficiencies. Code 16-02 was cited twice for missing original nutrition fact or ingredient labels for bulk cooking oils or food items. Code 20-04 was cited twice for the absence of required posted notices, including the choking first aid poster, the alcohol and pregnancy warning sign, and the resuscitation equipment sign. Code 28-06 was cited once, noting that no pest management contract was in place and no record of extermination activities was kept on the premises.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments operating in the five boroughs. The FDA Food Code, which informs these local standards, identifies improper holding temperatures as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness. Hot TCS foods held below 140°F enter a temperature range that allows bacterial growth. The repeated citation of Code 02B across a single inspection indicates a systemic issue with hot-holding practices rather than an isolated incident.

The absence of calibrated thermometers, cited under Code 04J, compounds this risk. Without reliable measurement tools on hand, employees lack the means to confirm food safety during critical stages of food handling.

The toilet access violation under Code 05E is addressed in both the NYC Health Code and the FDA Food Code, which require that restroom facilities not be accessible through food preparation or storage areas due to the potential for biological contamination.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history for Cafe Here at this location is available in the DOHMH public dataset.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the total score accumulated during an inspection:

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

A score of 117 places Cafe Here well above the minimum threshold for a C grade. Establishments receiving a grade below A may request an adjudication hearing and are subject to re-inspection.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's public search tool at nyc.gov/health. Inspection scores, violation descriptions, and grade history are available for all permitted food service establishments in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

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