Brooklyn, NY — Curry Heights, an Indian restaurant at 151 Remsen Street in Brooklyn Heights, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 17, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 68 points, well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation, and significantly below its previously consistent record of Grade A scores.

The closure was triggered after inspectors documented a critical violation related to personal cleanliness and hygiene practices at the establishment. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 19, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 17 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Curry Heights for one critical violation under Code 06A, which addresses personal cleanliness standards for food service workers.

The violation documented that personal cleanliness was inadequate at the establishment. Specific findings included outer garments soiled with a possible contaminant, failure to wear effective hair restraints in areas where they are required, jewelry worn on hands or arms, and fingernail polish worn or fingernails not kept clean and trimmed.

No non-critical violations were recorded during the inspection.

While the inspection identified only a single violation, the critical nature of the finding — combined with the overall score of 68 points — resulted in the establishment being closed by DOHMH. According to the inspection record, violations were cited and those requiring immediate action were addressed.

Food Safety Context

Personal hygiene violations in food service settings are taken seriously by regulatory authorities because of the direct risk they pose to food safety. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain strict hygiene standards for all employees involved in food preparation and handling.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, establishes clear requirements for food workers regarding clean outer garments, proper hair restraints, removal of jewelry during food preparation, and maintenance of clean, trimmed fingernails without polish. These requirements exist because contaminated clothing, loose hair, jewelry, and improperly maintained fingernails can all serve as vectors for introducing harmful bacteria or foreign matter into food.

Soiled garments with possible contaminants are of particular concern because they may harbor pathogens that can be transferred to food during preparation or service. Hair restraints prevent loose hair from falling into food, while restrictions on jewelry and fingernail polish reduce the risk of physical contamination and bacterial harboring.

The score of 68 points for a single critical violation indicates that the severity of the conditions observed was substantial enough to warrant a high point assessment under the DOHMH scoring system.

Inspection History

Prior to the March 2026 closure, Curry Heights had maintained a strong inspection record over several years. The restaurant's inspection history shows:

  • August 11, 2025: Score of 13, Grade A
  • December 2, 2024: Score of 21, no grade listed
  • September 15, 2023: Score of 12, Grade A
  • November 25, 2022: Score of 10, Grade A

The restaurant had earned Grade A scores on three of its four most recent inspections prior to the March 2026 visit, with scores consistently in the low-to-mid range. The December 2024 score of 21 represented the highest previous score on record, though it still fell within Grade B range. The jump from a score of 13 in August 2025 to 68 in March 2026 represents a significant departure from the establishment's historical performance.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:

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

Curry Heights' score of 68 points places it well into Grade C territory. Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must address all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before they are permitted to reopen to the public.

The NYC restaurant inspection grading system has been in effect since 2010 and covers approximately 27,000 restaurants across the five boroughs. All inspection results, including scores, grades, and specific violations, are public record and available through the DOHMH website and NYC Open Data portal.

Residents and diners seeking additional information about restaurant inspection results in New York City can access the DOHMH restaurant inspection database online or contact 311 for assistance. Inspection records for Curry Heights and all other NYC restaurants are updated regularly as new data becomes available.

More About This Restaurant

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