Brooklyn, NY — El Rey De Quisqueya, a Spanish restaurant at 1310 Broadway in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 14, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 145, placing the establishment well into C-grade territory and triggering immediate closure. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on July 16, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The July 14 inspection cited four violations — three classified as critical and one non-critical.

Inspectors documented live roaches in the facility under violation Code 04M, one of the most serious findings a food service establishment can receive. The presence of live pests indicates an active infestation and poses a direct risk of food contamination.

A second critical violation, Code 05D, was cited for conditions related to handwashing facilities. Under this code, inspectors found that a handwashing station was either absent, inaccessible, obstructed, or being used for purposes other than handwashing. The violation also covers the absence of hot and cold running water at adequate pressure, as well as missing soap or an acceptable hand-drying device. Functional, accessible handwashing stations are a foundational requirement of safe food service operations.

The third critical violation, Code 06A, addressed personal cleanliness standards. Inspectors identified issues including soiled outer garments, the absence of required hair restraints, jewelry worn on hands or arms, or fingernails that were not kept clean and trimmed. This category of violation relates directly to the potential transfer of contaminants from food handlers to food products.

The single non-critical violation, Code 20-06, noted that the establishment was not displaying its current letter grade card or a Grade Pending card in a location visible to the public, as required by law.

Violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection, per DOHMH protocol. The establishment remained closed pending a reinspection.

Food Safety Context

The violations cited during this inspection fall under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments operating in the five boroughs. Parallel standards are outlined in the FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for state and local food safety regulations nationwide.

The presence of live roaches is categorized as a critical violation because insects can carry pathogens on their bodies and contaminate food contact surfaces, food storage areas, and preparation equipment. Under Article 81 and FDA Food Code guidance, pest control is treated as a non-negotiable baseline requirement.

Handwashing is similarly treated as a critical control point. The FDA Food Code identifies inadequate handwashing as a leading contributor to foodborne illness outbreaks. Regulations require that handwashing sinks be dedicated solely to that purpose, stocked with soap and drying materials, and accessible at all times during food service operations.

Personal cleanliness requirements exist to limit the potential for physical and microbial contamination from food handlers. Hair restraints, clean outer garments, and trimmed fingernails reduce the risk of foreign matter and bacteria entering the food supply at the point of preparation.

When a restaurant receives a score high enough to trigger closure — or when critical violations cannot be corrected on-site — DOHMH is authorized to order the establishment closed until conditions are brought into compliance and a satisfactory reinspection is completed.

Inspection History

El Rey De Quisqueya has been inspected several times in recent years. The record shows a pattern of elevated scores:

  • April 28, 2025: Score 24, Grade B
  • March 20, 2025: Score 34 (no grade issued at that stage of the inspection cycle)
  • April 3, 2024: Score 23, Grade B

The July 2026 inspection represents a significant departure from the restaurant's recent scores. A score of 145 is substantially higher than the 28-point threshold that defines a C grade, and reflects a large number of penalty points assessed across the violations documented during the visit.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system translates inspection scores into letter grades posted at the entrance of every food service establishment. The system is designed to give consumers at-a-glance information about a restaurant's compliance with health code requirements:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — the establishment meets or exceeds food safety standards
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — some violations were found; corrective action is expected
  • C: Score of 28 points or more — significant violations were documented during the inspection
  • Grade Pending: Displayed when an establishment has received a B or C score and is awaiting a re-grade inspection

When a restaurant is closed by DOHMH, it must pass a reinspection before it can reopen to the public. The reinspection evaluates whether the conditions that led to closure have been corrected.

Members of the public can look up the inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database at the NYC Open Data portal or through the city's restaurant grade lookup tool. Inspection records are updated on a rolling basis as new data is released.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for El Rey De Quisqueya including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.