Brooklyn, NY — Chocolate Connects, a bakery and dessert establishment located at 994 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 28, 2026. The closure came just five days after a prior inspection that also resulted in the establishment being closed. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 30, 2026.

The most recent inspection resulted in a score of 12, which falls within the A range under the city's grading system (0–13 points). Despite the low numerical score, inspectors determined that conditions warranting immediate corrective action were present, and the establishment was ordered closed. According to DOHMH, violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection.

What Inspectors Found

The April 28 inspection identified one non-critical violation:

  • Code 08A: The establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests.

Code 08A addresses the physical condition of a facility — including gaps, clutter, or structural features that could shelter or attract pests. This category does not necessarily indicate the presence of live pests; it encompasses conditions that could enable pest activity, such as unsealed openings, accumulated debris, or improper storage practices.

Although this was the only violation cited and it is classified as non-critical, DOHMH has authority under the NYC Health Code to close an establishment when inspectors determine that conditions pose a sufficient risk to public health, regardless of the overall point score. According to DOHMH, violations requiring immediate action were addressed before the establishment could reopen.

Food Safety Context

The violation cited falls under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishment operations within the five boroughs. Article 81 requires that all food service establishments maintain premises free from conditions that attract or harbor pests, as part of broader requirements for sanitation and facility maintenance.

The FDA Food Code, which New York City's health code is modeled upon, similarly requires that food establishments be constructed and maintained to prevent pest entry, harborage, or breeding. Pest-related conditions are treated seriously in food safety regulation because rodents and insects can contaminate food contact surfaces, packaging, and food itself, creating pathways for foodborne illness.

DOHMH inspectors are trained to evaluate not only active pest presence but also structural and environmental conditions that could enable pest activity. A finding under Code 08A reflects that such conditions were documented at the time of inspection.

Inspection History

Chocolate Connects has the following recorded inspection history:

  • April 28, 2026: Score 12 (Grade A range, 0–13 points), closed by DOHMH — one non-critical violation cited (Code 08A)
  • April 23, 2026: Score 84 (Grade N), closed by DOHMH

The April 23 inspection, conducted five days prior, resulted in a score of 84 — well above the threshold for a C grade — and also resulted in a closure. A score designated "Grade N" is assigned when an establishment is inspected for the first time, is undergoing re-inspection following a closure, or when a grade is otherwise not yet finalized. The improvement from 84 points to 12 points between the two inspections reflects that significant corrective action was taken in the intervening days.

The sequence of two closures within a short period is consistent with DOHMH's reinspection process, in which a closed establishment must pass a follow-up inspection before it is permitted to resume operations.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the number of points assessed during an inspection. More points indicate more or more serious violations.

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

Establishments that do not receive a grade at the time of inspection — including those undergoing reinspection after a closure — are designated with a "Grade Pending" or "N" notation. A Grade A does not guarantee the absence of all violations; it indicates that the total point value of violations cited falls within the lowest tier of the scoring range.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC food service establishment, including violation details and scores, through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are public and updated regularly as new inspections are completed and processed.

More About This Restaurant

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