Queens, NY — Farmers Kitchen, a Tex-Mex restaurant at 111-32 Farmers Boulevard in Queens, was re-closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on April 28, 2026, after inspectors documented evidence of rats during a follow-up visit. The closure came five days after the establishment had first been closed following an inspection on April 23, and was recorded by DOHMH with data released publicly on May 1, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The April 28 inspection identified one critical violation and zero non-critical violations, resulting in a score of 11. The single violation cited was Code 04K: evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas.

Under New York City Health Code Article 81, the presence of rodent evidence is classified as a public health hazard. Certain conditions — including live or evident rodent activity — can trigger immediate closure of an establishment regardless of the overall inspection score. In this case, the documented rat evidence was sufficient grounds for the Department of Health to re-close Farmers Kitchen even though the numerical score of 11 falls within the Grade A range.

Inspectors found no additional non-critical violations during the April 28 visit, suggesting some corrective steps had been taken between the two inspections. However, the continued presence of rat evidence prevented the restaurant from receiving clearance to reopen.

Food Safety Context

Rodent activity in food service establishments is regulated under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the federal FDA Food Code. These frameworks classify active pest evidence — including rat droppings, gnaw marks, burrow activity, or the presence of live animals — as conditions that pose a direct risk to food safety and public health.

Code 04K specifically addresses rats, distinguishing the violation from those involving mice or other pests. Rats can contaminate food contact surfaces, stored ingredients, and equipment through direct contact or through their droppings and urine, which may carry pathogens including Salmonella and Leptospira. Because contamination can be difficult to fully contain or trace once rodent activity is established, DOHMH protocol authorizes immediate closure when inspectors find supporting evidence.

To reopen following a closure tied to a public health hazard, an establishment must pass a re-inspection that confirms the hazard condition has been corrected. The number of re-inspections required and the timeline depend on whether the hazard is resolved to the inspector's satisfaction.

Inspection History

Farmers Kitchen has a mixed inspection record over the past two years. The most recent inspections are as follows:

  • April 28, 2026: Score 11, re-closed by DOHMH
  • April 23, 2026: Score 57, closed by DOHMH
  • September 23, 2024: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • August 13, 2024: Score 55

The pattern shows the restaurant achieved a Grade A result in September 2024, following a high-scoring inspection in August of that year. The April 2026 inspections represent a significant change from that baseline. The April 23 score of 57 is well above the threshold at which grades are issued, and the follow-up closure five days later indicates the public health hazard condition had not been resolved between visits.

This inspection data was collected on April 28, 2026, and made available through DOHMH public records on May 1, 2026. The current operational status of Farmers Kitchen may have changed since the inspection was conducted. Diners seeking the most current status can check directly through the DOHMH restaurant lookup tool.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the number of points accumulated during a sanitary inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer violations:

  • Grade A: 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Restaurants that receive a score too high to post a grade, or that are closed during an inspection, are subject to re-inspection before a grade is issued. Critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — carry higher point values than non-critical violations and can independently trigger closure when they meet the definition of a public health hazard.

Members of the public can look up current inspection records for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at the NYC Open Data portal. Complaints about restaurant conditions can be submitted to 311.

More About This Restaurant

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