Brooklyn, NY — Gemini's Ii Restaurant, a Latin American establishment at 109 Graham Avenue in Williamsburg, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 81 points, well above the 28-point threshold that triggers a C grade — the lowest letter grade in the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors cited one critical violation related to food adulteration and contamination.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 2 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified a critical violation under code 04H, which pertains to food that is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not properly discarded in accordance with a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan.

This violation category covers a range of food safety concerns, including food that has been rendered unsafe for consumption due to improper handling, storage, or preparation practices. Under New York City's inspection framework, violations classified as critical are those that directly contribute to foodborne illness risk and require immediate corrective action.

The establishment was closed by DOHMH, with the agency noting that violations requiring immediate action were addressed. While only one critical violation and zero non-critical violations were formally recorded, the score of 81 points indicates that the severity of the documented condition was assessed as substantial under the city's weighted scoring system.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The program aligns with the FDA Food Code, which provides science-based guidance for reducing the risk of foodborne illness in retail and food service settings.

The HACCP-related violation cited at Gemini's Ii Restaurant falls under one of the most significant categories in food safety regulation. HACCP plans are systematic preventive approaches that address biological, chemical, and physical hazards in food production and preparation. When food is found to be adulterated or contaminated outside the parameters of these plans, it represents a fundamental breakdown in the controls designed to protect public health.

Under New York City's enforcement framework, DOHMH has the authority to close a food establishment when conditions present an imminent health hazard to the public. A closure order requires the restaurant to address all cited violations before it can apply to reopen and undergo a re-inspection.

Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must correct the conditions that led to the closure and pass a subsequent inspection before resuming operations. The timeline for reopening depends on the nature of the violations and the establishment's ability to demonstrate compliance.

Inspection History

A review of Gemini's Ii Restaurant's inspection record shows a pattern of scores near or above the threshold for the lowest passing grades:

  • March 2, 2026: Score of 81, closed by DOHMH
  • September 5, 2025: Score of 23 (Grade Z — grade pending adjudication)
  • March 6, 2025: Score of 24
  • July 27, 2023: Score of 27

The restaurant's prior inspections show scores that have consistently fallen in the upper range of the B-grade category (14–27 points), with the most recent inspection representing a significant departure from that pattern. The September 2025 Grade Z designation indicates the restaurant's grade was pending an administrative hearing at the time.

The March 2026 score of 81 represents the highest point total recorded in the restaurant's available inspection history, and a substantial increase from its previous scores.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection. The grading scale is as follows:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest risk; indicates strong food safety practices)
  • B: 14–27 points (moderate violations identified)
  • C: 28 or more points (significant violations documented)

A lower score indicates fewer and less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection have the option to request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and may be re-inspected before a final grade is posted.

Gemini's Ii Restaurant's score of 81 points placed it well into the C-grade range, approximately six times the maximum score allowed for an A grade.

Public Resources

New York City residents can look up restaurant inspection results through the DOHMH public database, which is available online and updated regularly. The database includes inspection dates, scores, letter grades, and specific violations cited for every inspected food establishment in the city.

Consumers with concerns about food safety conditions at any restaurant can contact DOHMH by calling 311 or filing a complaint through the city's online portal. All inspection records referenced in this report are drawn from publicly available DOHMH data.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Gemini's Ii Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.