Brooklyn, NY — East Coast, a Caribbean restaurant located at 658 Rogers Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene following an inspection on June 24, 2026, that resulted in a score of 57 points and the citation of two critical violations. The closure was recorded in public DOHMH data released on June 26, 2026.

A score of 57 places the establishment well within the C-grade range under NYC's restaurant grading system, which assigns letter grades based on points accumulated during inspections. The closure order indicated that violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site, though the establishment was nonetheless directed to cease operations pending reinspection.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented three violations during the June 24 visit, two of which were classified as critical.

The first critical violation, cited under Code 04N, identified the presence of filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies in the establishment's food and/or non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies. The presence of these pests in areas where food is prepared or stored represents a direct contamination risk and is among the violations that can trigger immediate closure action under DOHMH enforcement protocols.

The second critical violation, cited under Code 04A, found that no manager or supervisor of food operations on the premises held a valid Food Protection Certificate. The Food Protection Certificate is a credential issued by the DOHMH following completion of an approved food safety course, and its absence in a supervisory role is considered a critical gap in a facility's food safety management structure.

A non-critical violation was also recorded under Code 28-06, noting that the establishment did not have a contract in place with a licensed pest management professional and did not maintain records of extermination activities on the premises. This finding is directly related to the fly activity cited under the critical violation — the absence of documented pest control measures is considered a contributing factor to pest presence.

Food Safety Context

The violations cited at East Coast correspond to provisions under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments operating within the five boroughs. Article 81 sets requirements for pest prevention, food handler certification, and the documentation of operational practices including pest management contracts.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the foundational framework adopted in various forms by state and local jurisdictions including New York City, classifies pest activity in food areas as a priority item — the highest tier of food safety concern — due to the potential for pests to transfer pathogens to food contact surfaces and food itself. The requirement for a certified food protection manager similarly reflects FDA Food Code guidance prioritizing active managerial control of food safety hazards.

DOHMH closure authority under these circumstances is consistent with the agency's enforcement posture for violations that present an immediate risk to public health. When closures occur, establishments are typically permitted to reopen following a reinspection confirming that the conditions that prompted closure have been corrected.

Inspection History

East Coast's recent inspection record reflects an ongoing pattern of elevated scores:

  • May 28, 2026: Score 35 (Grade N — score under initial review)
  • June 24, 2026: Score 57 (C), closed by DOHMH

A Grade N designation, as assigned following the May inspection, indicates a score that falls outside the A range on an initial inspection. Under DOHMH procedure, establishments that do not receive an A grade on their initial cycle inspection are subject to a reinspection, at which point a letter grade is assigned based on the reinspection score. The June 24 inspection appears to represent that reinspection cycle, resulting in a C-grade score and the closure action.

The progression from a score of 35 in late May to 57 in late June, combined with the persistent presence of pest-related findings and the absence of a pest management contract, suggests that the conditions identified in the earlier inspection were not fully remediated prior to the follow-up visit.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system is designed to give the public a quick, visible indicator of a restaurant's compliance with food safety standards at the time of its most recent scored inspection. Grades are based on the total number of points accumulated during an inspection, with each violation carrying a set point value depending on its classification and severity.

The grade thresholds are:

  • A: 0 to 13 points — indicates a high level of compliance
  • B: 14 to 27 points — indicates compliance with conditions requiring correction
  • C: 28 or more points — indicates conditions requiring significant corrective action

Grades are required to be posted in a location visible from the street. During a closure, no grade card is displayed until the establishment has passed reinspection and been authorized to reopen.

Consumers can look up current inspection records and scores for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection results database at nyc.gov/health. Inspection records are public and updated regularly as new data is released. The data referenced in this article reflects inspection activity conducted on June 24, 2026, as released by DOHMH on June 26, 2026.

More About This Restaurant

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