Bronx, NY — El Crucero Restaurant & Grill, a Spanish restaurant located at 339 East 138th Street in the Mott Haven neighborhood, received a score of 43 points during a health inspection conducted on February 17, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented a critical violation related to adulterated or contaminated food, along with one non-critical violation concerning equipment cleanliness.
El Crucero Restaurant & Grill restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 19, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The most significant finding was a critical violation cited under Code 04H: raw, cooked, or prepared food was found to be adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with the establishment's HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan. This type of violation addresses fundamental food safety protocols designed to prevent foodborne illness.
HACCP plans are systematic approaches to food safety that identify specific hazards and establish critical control points in food preparation. When food is not handled in accordance with these plans, it raises concerns about whether proper temperature controls, separation of raw and cooked items, and timely disposal of compromised food products are being maintained.
Inspectors also cited one non-critical violation under Code 10F, noting that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above, and underneath the unit. While classified as non-critical, equipment cleanliness issues can contribute to unsanitary conditions if not addressed.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments in New York City. Under these regulations, restaurants are required to maintain HACCP-compliant food handling procedures that prevent adulteration and cross-contamination at every stage of food preparation and storage.
The FDA Food Code provides additional federal guidance on safe food handling practices, including requirements for proper temperature maintenance of potentially hazardous foods, adequate separation between raw and ready-to-eat items, and timely disposal of food that does not meet safety standards.
A score of 43 points reflects multiple areas where the establishment did not meet regulatory standards during this inspection cycle. Each violation carries a specific point value based on its severity and potential public health impact, with critical violations generally carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.
Inspection History
El Crucero Restaurant & Grill's inspection record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores over the past several years:
- November 12, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- April 15, 2024: Score 39
- May 9, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)
- January 25, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)
- October 31, 2022: Score 39
The restaurant has alternated between strong Grade A performances and higher scores in the upper 30s range. The current score of 43 represents the highest point total recorded in the available inspection history. The establishment had most recently earned a Grade A with a score of 12 in November 2024, indicating it had demonstrated the ability to meet health code standards.
The pattern of scoring 39 points in both April 2024 and October 2022, followed by improved scores, suggests the restaurant has historically addressed violations and returned to compliance, though the current score indicates a more significant departure from standards than in previous cycles.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The grading system is designed to provide transparency for consumers and to incentivize restaurants to maintain food safety standards.
All NYC restaurant inspection results, including violation details and inspection histories, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can verify current grades and review inspection histories for any licensed food service establishment in New York City by visiting the city's official restaurant grades website or the NYC Open Data portal.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for El Crucero Restaurant & Grill including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.