Brooklyn, NY — Golden Bun Bakery, located at 2180 86th Street in the Bath Beach neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a score of 32 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 17, 2026. That score places the establishment in the Grade C range, which applies to any restaurant scoring 28 points or higher. Inspection data was publicly released by DOHMH on March 24, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors recorded one critical violation during the March visit. The violation, classified under Code 04M, documents the presence of live roaches in the facility's food or non-food area.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and FDA Food Code guidelines, a live roach presence in a food service environment is considered a critical violation because cockroaches can serve as vectors for foodborne pathogens including Salmonella and E. coli. These organisms may transfer to food contact surfaces, equipment, or food products directly.
A critical violation is defined by DOHMH as a condition that poses a direct risk to public health. Critical violations are weighted more heavily in scoring than non-critical violations, which address structural or procedural concerns that do not carry an immediate health risk. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments to maintain their premises free of pests, including rodents and insects. Section 81.22 specifically prohibits the presence of insects, rodents, or other vermin in any area of a food establishment. Pest activity must be addressed through licensed pest management and structural remediation to eliminate entry points and harborage conditions.
The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's local health regulations, classifies active pest infestations as priority violations — the highest tier of concern — due to their direct link to contamination risk. Inspectors are required to document the location and extent of any observed pest activity as part of the inspection record.
Establishments that receive a Grade C may post that grade or request a re-inspection for a new grade card, according to DOHMH grading procedures.
Inspection History
Golden Bun Bakery has received multiple inspections over the past several years. The facility's recorded scores are as follows:
- January 19, 2023: Score 48
- January 31, 2023: Score 9 (Grade A)
- February 28, 2024: Score 21
- May 13, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
- October 14, 2025: Score 17
- March 17, 2026: Score 32 (Grade C)
The facility earned Grade A scores in January 2023 and May 2024, demonstrating the ability to meet compliance standards. The score of 48 recorded in January 2023 — the same month the bakery subsequently scored a 9 — reflects the re-inspection cycle DOHMH uses when initial scores fall outside the Grade A range. The most recent score of 32 represents a decline from the October 2025 score of 17, which would have placed the establishment in Grade B territory.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores under the following scale:
- Grade A: Score of 0–13 points (lowest violation severity)
- Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 or more points (highest violation severity)
Scores are calculated by assigning point values to each violation based on its risk level. Critical violations carry higher point weights than non-critical violations. A single critical violation, depending on its classification, can push a score into Grade B or Grade C territory on its own.
Restaurants that do not receive a Grade A on their initial inspection are subject to a re-inspection, at which point a new grade is assigned. During the period between inspections, establishments are required to post a "Grade Pending" card.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Golden Bun Bakery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.