Queens, NY — Caribbean Crave Restaurant, located at 110-16 Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on January 28, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 131, which falls well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. Inspectors documented three critical violations and one non-critical violation during the visit.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 6, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 28 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified several violations at the Caribbean cuisine establishment, three of which were classified as critical.
Inspectors cited the restaurant for not having a Food Protection Certificate (FPC) held by a manager or supervisor of food operations (Code 04A). New York City requires that at least one supervisor with a valid FPC be present at all times during food preparation and service. The absence of a certified food safety manager is considered a critical violation because it indicates a gap in oversight of safe food handling practices.
A second critical violation involved food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred (Code 06D). Proper cleaning and sanitization of surfaces that come into direct contact with food is a fundamental requirement in preventing cross-contamination and the spread of foodborne illness.
The third critical violation documented that food, supplies, or equipment were not protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service (Code 06C). This violation also noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
Additionally, inspectors recorded one non-critical violation related to plumbing and drainage issues (Code 10B). Specifically, anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required, and issues were noted with drainage and waste disposal systems.
Following the inspection, the establishment was closed by DOHMH. According to the agency's action report, violations were cited and those requiring immediate action were addressed.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the sanitary requirements for food service establishments. The inspection scoring system assigns point values to each violation based on its severity, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model framework for state and local food safety regulations, emphasizes the importance of having trained food safety personnel on-site during operations. The requirement for a Food Protection Certificate reflects this principle, as certified managers are trained to identify and correct unsafe food handling practices before they result in foodborne illness.
A score of 131 indicates that inspectors documented a substantial number of conditions that deviate from established food safety standards. For context, a restaurant scoring 13 points or fewer receives an A grade, while scores of 14 to 27 correspond to a Grade B. A score of 28 or above results in a Grade C.
When DOHMH closes a restaurant, the establishment must correct all conditions cited as violations and pass a re-inspection before it may reopen to the public.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available in the DOHMH public database for this establishment. The January 28, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection in the current dataset.
It is worth noting that the absence of prior records may indicate that the restaurant is a newer establishment, or that previous inspection records predate the current public dataset.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. The grading scale is as follows:
- A Grade: Score of 0 to 13 points — indicates the fewest violations
- B Grade: Score of 14 to 27 points — indicates moderate violations
- C Grade: Score of 28 or more points — indicates the most violations
Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within 30 days. The restaurant's final grade is based on the better of the two scores. During the re-inspection period, restaurants display a "Grade Pending" card.
Residents and diners can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database, which is updated regularly as new inspections are conducted and processed. The database is accessible through the NYC Open Data portal and the DOHMH restaurant inspection search page.
For food safety concerns or to file a complaint about a restaurant, residents can contact 311 or visit the NYC 311 website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Caribbean Crave Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.