Brooklyn, NY — El Rincon De Macon, a Spanish restaurant located at 522 Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 13, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 76, placing the establishment well into C-grade territory under the city's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 15, 2026.

According to the inspection record, violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the closure.

What Inspectors Found

The April 13 inspection identified one non-critical violation under Code 10F: a non-food contact surface or equipment found to be 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 the inspection recorded zero critical violations, the score of 76 reflects the cumulative point weight assigned to the documented condition under DOHMH's scoring methodology. Under that system, individual violations are assigned point values based on their public health risk, and scores are totaled to produce a final grade. A score of 76 is significantly above the thresholds for both B and C grades.

No critical violations — such as those involving food temperature, pest activity, or food worker hygiene — were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary requirements for food service establishments. Inspections are conducted unannounced, and restaurants are scored based on violations observed at the time of the visit.

The FDA Food Code, which informs many of New York's standards, distinguishes between critical violations — those with a direct link to foodborne illness risk — and non-critical violations, which relate to conditions that, while not immediately dangerous, can contribute to unsanitary conditions over time. Non-food contact surface cleanliness, as cited under Code 10F, falls into the non-critical category but remains a required standard for maintaining a sanitary environment.

When DOHMH closes an establishment, it typically means inspectors found conditions requiring immediate corrective action. The record notes that violations requiring immediate action were addressed during the April 13 visit, a standard notation that indicates the restaurant took corrective steps at the time of inspection before or during the closure process.

Inspection History

El Rincon De Macon has a notable pattern of elevated inspection scores over the past several years. The restaurant's inspection record includes the following results:

  • April 13, 2026: Score 76, Closed by DOHMH
  • March 3, 2026: Score 21
  • December 30, 2025: Score 33 (Grade Z)
  • October 28, 2025: Score 48
  • August 15, 2025: Score 2 (Grade Z)
  • August 14, 2025: Score 13
  • July 21, 2025: Score 76, Closed by DOHMH
  • May 12, 2025: Score 43
  • January 12, 2024: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • April 26, 2023: Score 33

The April 2026 closure marks the second time the restaurant has been closed with a score of 76 — the same score recorded during the July 2025 closure. The history also shows significant variability, including a score of 2 in August 2025 and a Grade A score of 9 in January 2024, suggesting the restaurant has at times met a high standard of compliance. However, more recent results have trended upward, with scores of 33, 48, 33, and 21 recorded between May 2025 and March 2026 before the current closure.

The Grade Z designation that appears in the December 2025 and August 2025 records is assigned when a restaurant is inspected but a letter grade is not yet posted — typically during an initial or re-inspection cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City requires restaurants to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location. Grades are assigned based on inspection scores as follows:

  • A: Score of 0–13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: Score of 14–27 points
  • C: Score of 28 or more points (most violations)

A score of 76 falls deep into C-grade range. Restaurants that receive a score above a certain threshold during an inspection may be subject to closure if inspectors determine that public health conditions require immediate action.

Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before reopening. The public record does not yet reflect a reopening date for El Rincon De Macon following the April 13, 2026 closure.

More About This Restaurant

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