Brooklyn, NY — Glatt Family Express, a kosher restaurant located at 4305 18th Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on January 7, 2026, after inspectors documented evidence of rats on the premises. The establishment received a score of 50 points, well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

The restaurant reopened two days later on January 9, 2026, after a follow-up inspection resulted in a score of 2, indicating the conditions that prompted the closure had been addressed.

What Inspectors Found

During the January 7 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Glatt Family Express for one critical violation under code 04K: evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas.

Rat activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation because rodents can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas with pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Leptospira. The presence of rats — whether through droppings, gnaw marks, burrows, or live sightings — represents a direct risk to public health and typically results in immediate enforcement action.

The single critical violation was sufficient to generate a score of 50, reflecting the severity assigned to pest-related conditions under the DOHMH scoring system. No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Following the closure, inspectors returned on January 9, 2026, and found conditions had improved to a score of 2, allowing the establishment to resume operations.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments in New York City. Under these regulations, DOHMH inspectors have the authority to order an immediate closure when conditions pose an imminent health hazard to the public.

Evidence of rodent activity falls under the category of conditions that warrant immediate corrective action. The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local health regulations nationwide, identifies pest infestations as a critical control point in food safety management. Establishments are required to maintain effective pest control measures and to ensure that food storage, preparation, and service areas are free from contamination.

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of approximately 27,000 restaurants across New York City. When critical violations are identified that pose an immediate risk, inspectors can order a closure on-site. Restaurants must then correct the cited conditions and pass a re-inspection before reopening to the public.

Inspection History

Glatt Family Express has been inspected multiple times in recent years. The following is a summary of the restaurant's inspection record:

  • January 9, 2026: Score 2 (Reopened after closure)
  • January 7, 2026: Score 50, Closed by DOHMH
  • September 3, 2025: Score 29 (Grade Z — pending adjudication)
  • April 28, 2025: Score 33
  • December 16, 2024: Score 24 (Grade B)
  • May 24, 2024: Score 21
  • January 26, 2023: Score 16 (Grade B)

The record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores. The restaurant earned Grade B designations in January 2023 (score of 16) and December 2024 (score of 24). However, scores rose in 2025, with inspections in April and September of that year producing scores of 33 and 29 respectively. The January 2026 closure marked the highest score recorded for the establishment in the available inspection history.

The rapid turnaround between the January 7 closure and the January 9 reopening with a score of 2 indicates that the establishment took immediate corrective action to address the cited conditions.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance with health codes:

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

Glatt Family Express's January 7 score of 50 placed it in the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request an adjudication hearing and receive a "Grade Pending" card while the matter is resolved. A Grade Z designation in inspection records indicates a score that is pending adjudication or re-inspection.

Data Freshness Note

The inspection that resulted in the closure was conducted on January 7, 2026. This data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 10, 2026. The subsequent reopening inspection on January 9, 2026 confirmed that the restaurant had addressed the conditions cited during the closure.

Resources

Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly as new inspection data becomes available. The database provides detailed violation descriptions, scores, and grade histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Glatt Family Express including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.