Brooklyn, NY — D'amico Coffee, a coffee and tea establishment at 309 Court Street in the Carroll Gardens neighborhood of Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted June 1, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 68, placing the establishment in C grade territory. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on June 3, 2026.
The closure followed the identification of two critical violations and one non-critical violation. Per DOHMH policy, violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection before a reopening could be considered.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented three violations during the June 1 visit.
The first critical violation, cited under Code 02G, noted that cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above 41°F. Maintaining proper cold-holding temperatures is a fundamental food safety requirement, as bacterial growth accelerates rapidly in the 41°F–135°F danger zone. Failure to hold perishable items at or below 41°F can increase the risk of foodborne illness.
The second critical violation, cited under Code 05D, found that handwashing facilities were not accessible, obstructed, or being used for non-handwashing purposes. The violation also noted the absence of soap or an acceptable hand-drying device. Accessible, properly equipped handwashing stations are a core requirement for preventing cross-contamination in food service environments.
The single non-critical violation, cited under Code 28-06, recorded that the establishment did not have a contract with a pest management professional in place and that records of extermination activities were not kept on the premises. While non-critical, this violation indicates a gap in the facility's integrated pest management documentation, which is required under city health regulations.
Food Safety Context
The violations documented at D'amico Coffee are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes food safety standards for all food service establishments operating in New York City. The cold-holding requirement cited in the temperature violation aligns with standards set out in the FDA Food Code, which serves as the scientific basis for many state and local food safety regulations across the country.
Cold-holding violations are among the most commonly cited critical violations in New York City restaurant inspections. The FDA Food Code identifies improper temperature control as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks in food service settings. Similarly, adequate handwashing infrastructure is identified as a primary control measure for preventing the spread of pathogens in food preparation environments.
The absence of pest management documentation, while non-critical in scoring terms, reflects a regulatory requirement that establishments maintain ongoing professional pest control relationships and retain records on site for inspector review.
Inspection History
D'amico Coffee has been inspected multiple times over the past several years. The record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores:
- April 24, 2026: Score 29 (C grade range)
- December 9, 2024: Score 24 (Grade B)
- July 15, 2024: Score 20
- April 7, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
- August 1, 2022: Score 38 (Grade C)
- April 11, 2022: Score 42
The April 2026 inspection, just over five weeks before the closure, also recorded a score in C grade range at 29 points. The establishment had achieved a Grade A score of 12 in April 2023, indicating that its compliance record has varied considerably over the past three years. The scores from 2022 reflect a period of lower performance, followed by improvement in 2023 and 2024, before recent scores trended upward again.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the numeric score an establishment receives during a DOHMH inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance with health code standards. Grade postings are required to be displayed where they are visible to the public.
The grading scale is as follows:
- A: Score of 0 to 13 points
- B: Score of 14 to 27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or more
A score of 68, as recorded in the June 1 inspection, falls well within C grade range. Establishments that receive a score indicating a grade lower than A are generally subject to a re-inspection within a defined period. Closures occur when inspectors identify violations that pose an imminent public health hazard and require immediate corrective action.
Members of the public can look up current inspection results for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database. Inspection records include scores, violation details, and grade history for all inspected establishments.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for D'amico Coffee including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.