Brooklyn, NY — Etna Espresso Bar, a coffee and tea establishment located at 211 Avenue U in the Gravesend neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a score of 60 on its most recent health inspection, conducted on March 2, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, a significant decline from its prior Grade A rating.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 4, 2026. Two non-critical violations were documented during the visit.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors identified two non-critical violations at the Avenue U location:
The first violation, cited under code 08C, involved pesticide-related issues. Inspectors noted that a pesticide was not properly labeled or was being used by an unlicensed individual. The citation also referenced improper use or storage of pesticide or other toxic chemicals, as well as the use of an unprotected or unlocked bait station. Proper pest management in food service establishments requires that all pesticides be clearly labeled, applied only by licensed pest control operators, and that bait stations remain secured and tamper-resistant.
The second violation, cited under code 19-10, documented a failure to display required signage about plastic straw availability. New York City regulations require food service establishments to post notices informing customers that plastic straws are available upon request, in accordance with local environmental ordinances.
While neither violation was classified as critical, the cumulative point total of 60 represents a substantial score. It is worth noting that the score of 60 derived from only two non-critical violations is unusually high, as individual violation codes can carry varying point values depending on the specific conditions observed and the inspector's assessment of severity.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework governing food service establishments in New York City. Under these regulations, DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of all restaurants to evaluate compliance with food safety standards. The inspection process assesses conditions across multiple categories including food handling, temperature control, personal hygiene, facility maintenance, and pest management.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, emphasizes that pest control measures in food establishments must be conducted by licensed professionals using properly labeled products. Improper pesticide storage or application in proximity to food preparation areas can pose contamination risks.
DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating better compliance. Establishments that receive scores in the Grade C range may request an adjudicatory hearing or a re-inspection to improve their grade before it must be posted.
Inspection History
Etna Espresso Bar's recent inspection record shows a notable shift in compliance:
- September 25, 2024: Score of 2, Grade A
- August 13, 2024: Score of 25
The September 2024 inspection resulted in a near-perfect score of 2, earning the establishment a Grade A. The August 2024 inspection had resulted in a score of 25, which falls just below the Grade B threshold. The current score of 60 represents a significant departure from the establishment's most recent Grade A performance.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations and reflect stronger compliance with health codes. A Grade C designation indicates that an establishment accumulated 28 or more violation points during the inspection.
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within a month. The establishment may post the grade from either the initial inspection or the re-inspection, whichever is more favorable. Grade cards must be displayed prominently near the entrance of the establishment.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly available online. Inspection results for Etna Espresso Bar and all other NYC food service establishments are part of the public record and are updated as new data becomes available.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Etna Espresso Bar including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.