Brooklyn, NY — Good Hope, a Caribbean restaurant at 711 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 25 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on April 1, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the Grade B range, though at the higher end — just three points from the Grade C threshold.

Inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the April visit:

  • Code 02B: Hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food not held at or above 140°F.

This was the sole violation cited, but its classification as critical reflects its direct connection to foodborne illness risk. Hot TCS foods — including cooked meats, poultry, and prepared dishes — must be maintained at 140°F or above to prevent bacterial growth. Temperatures below that threshold create conditions under which pathogens such as Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus can multiply rapidly.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, maintaining proper hot-holding temperatures is a foundational food safety requirement. Hot foods allowed to drop below 140°F enter what regulators call the "temperature danger zone" — a range between 41°F and 140°F where bacterial growth is most rapid.

A single critical violation of this type is weighted heavily in DOHMH scoring. While one critical violation alone does not result in closure, it contributes significantly to a restaurant's overall score and can trigger closer monitoring in subsequent inspections.

A score of 25 places Good Hope at the upper boundary of Grade B territory. Under the city's grading system, any score of 28 or higher results in a Grade C — meaning the restaurant's current margin is narrow.

Inspection History

Good Hope's prior inspection record shows variability in scores over recent years:

  • 2026-05-12: Score 18 (Grade Z)
  • 2024-09-26: Score 2 (Grade A)
  • 2023-08-07: Score 18 (Grade B)
  • 2023-05-25: Score 32

The May 2026 entry reflects a re-inspection or follow-up visit assigned a "Grade Z" designation, which DOHMH uses when a grade is pending. The restaurant's 2024 inspection resulted in a near-perfect score of 2, indicating strong compliance at that point. The most recent scored inspection, from April 2026, represents a significant increase from that baseline.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system is based on points accumulated during inspections, where more points indicate more or more severe violations:

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

Restaurants with scores of 14 or higher may post their letter grade or opt for re-inspection before a grade is assigned. Grades must be prominently displayed at the entrance.

Consumers can look up current inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. Records include violation descriptions, scores, and full inspection history.

More About This Restaurant

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