Brooklyn, NY — Casa Publica, a Mexican restaurant at 594 Union Avenue in Williamsburg, received a score of 34 during a health inspection conducted on March 11, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented one critical violation: the absence of a valid Food Protection Certificate held by a manager or supervisor of food operations.

The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 16, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The sole violation cited during the inspection was a critical one — Code 04A, which requires that at least one supervisory staff member hold a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC) at all times during food operations.

An FPC demonstrates that a food service manager has completed a DOHMH-approved course covering safe food handling, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, allergen awareness, and proper sanitation procedures. New York City mandates that every food service establishment have at least one certified supervisor present during all hours of operation.

Despite only one violation being recorded, the critical nature of this finding resulted in a score of 34, which exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. Under the DOHMH scoring system, critical violations carry significantly higher point values than general violations, reflecting their elevated potential risk to public health.

No additional non-critical violations were documented during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The Food Protection Certificate requirement is established under NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligns with the FDA Food Code, which emphasizes the role of a certified Person in Charge at food establishments. The regulation exists to ensure that at least one individual with formal training in food safety principles is overseeing daily operations.

The absence of a certified food safety manager means there may be no on-site personnel with verified training in identifying and correcting unsafe food handling practices. This includes monitoring cooking temperatures, ensuring proper cold storage, managing food allergen protocols, and overseeing employee hygiene practices.

DOHMH considers this a critical violation because trained supervision is a foundational layer of food safety. Without it, the risk of other food safety failures — even those not observed during a single inspection — may increase.

Restaurants cited for this violation are expected to ensure that a qualified manager obtains or renews their FPC and is present during all food service hours.

Inspection History

Casa Publica's inspection record shows variability in compliance over the past several years:

  • September 19, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • December 14, 2022: Score 62 (Grade C)
  • March 25, 2022: Score 17

The restaurant had achieved a Grade A in its most recent prior inspection in September 2024, with a score of 12 — well within the top tier. However, this is not the first time the establishment has received a Grade C. In December 2022, Casa Publica received a score of 62, indicating multiple violations at that time.

The current score of 34 represents a significant change from the Grade A earned 18 months ago, though it is considerably lower than the 62-point score recorded in 2022.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on violation points accumulated during inspections:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection and can also contest their results through an administrative tribunal process. The grade posted at the restaurant reflects the most recent adjudicated outcome.

Scores are determined by the number, type, and severity of violations observed. Critical violations — those with a direct potential impact on public health — carry higher point values than general violations.

Public Resources

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection results, including individual violation details and historical scores, are public record.

Casa Publica's current Grade C designation will remain posted at the establishment until a subsequent inspection or adjudication results in a different grade.

More About This Restaurant

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