New York, NY — Five Brooklyn restaurants received Grade B inspection scores on March 3, 2026, according to records from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. The establishments, spanning cuisines from coffee and baked goods to pizza and New American fare, posted scores ranging from 17 to 20 points, with an average of 18.8. Under the city's letter grading system, a Grade B indicates that violations were documented but none posed an immediate threat to public health.
The Inspections
Inspectors visited restaurants across several Brooklyn neighborhoods throughout the day, identifying a range of violations tied to food safety certification, personal hygiene, equipment sanitation, and plumbing compliance.
Caffe Corretto, a coffee and tea establishment located at 6502 20th Avenue in the Bensonhurst area, received a score of 20 points. Inspectors cited the café for a critical violation: no manager or supervisor on duty held a valid Food Protection Certificate, a credential required under NYC Health Code Article 81.15. The FPC ensures that at least one person in a supervisory role has completed an approved food safety course and can oversee proper handling practices during operations.
Across the borough in Williamsburg, Pie Corps at 77 Driggs Avenue also scored 20 points. The bakery and desserts shop was cited for multiple violations, including two classified as critical. Inspectors documented personal cleanliness issues, noting that an outer garment was soiled with a possible contaminant and that effective hair restraints were not being worn during food preparation. The establishment was also cited for lacking a valid Food Protection Certificate among its managerial staff. These overlapping violations suggest operational gaps in both hygiene protocols and supervisory oversight.
Wendy's, the fast-food chain location at 920 Flatbush Avenue in the Flatbush neighborhood, received a score of 20 points. The restaurant was cited for a critical violation involving food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use. Under FDA Food Code guidelines, surfaces that come into direct contact with food must be cleaned and sanitized between uses to prevent cross-contamination. This type of violation is among the most commonly documented at high-volume food service operations.
Just blocks away at 720 Flatbush Avenue, Family Pizza scored 17 points. Inspectors identified plumbing-related violations, including the absence of required anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices and improper drainage of equipment or floors. While not classified as critical, plumbing deficiencies can create conditions where wastewater may come into contact with clean water supplies or food preparation areas if left unaddressed.
The Rockwell Place at 31 Rockwell Place in the Fort Greene neighborhood also received a score of 17 points. The New American restaurant was cited for deficiencies in dishwashing and ware washing procedures, with inspectors noting that the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, dishes, utensils, and equipment did not meet required standards. Proper ware washing is a foundational element of restaurant sanitation, as inadequately cleaned dishes and utensils can serve as vectors for foodborne illness.
Common Patterns
Several patterns emerge from the day's inspections. The most prominent is the absence of a valid Food Protection Certificate, which was cited at both Caffe Corretto and Pie Corps. NYC Health Code requires that every food service establishment have at least one certified supervisor on duty during all hours of operation. This violation is classified as critical because the FPC holder is responsible for ensuring that staff follow safe food handling practices.
Sanitation and cleanliness violations were also a recurring theme. Three of the five restaurants — Pie Corps, Wendy's, and The Rockwell Place — were cited for issues related to either personal hygiene, food contact surface sanitation, or dishwashing procedures. These violations, while varying in severity, all point to gaps in day-to-day cleaning routines and staff practices.
The restaurants cited span a range of cuisines and price points, from a national fast-food chain to independent bakeries and neighborhood restaurants. Two of the five establishments are located on the same stretch of Flatbush Avenue, underscoring that inspection activity often clusters geographically as inspectors work through assigned routes.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B score indicates that a restaurant has accumulated between 14 and 27 violation points during its inspection. While the violations require correction, they do not represent conditions that the Health Department considers an imminent danger to public health. Restaurants receiving a Grade B have the option to post that grade or request a re-inspection to try to achieve a lower score.
Diners can look up the full inspection history of any restaurant in New York City through the NYC Department of Health's online restaurant inspection portal. Each establishment's page includes detailed violation descriptions, historical scores, and the current posted grade. Checking these records before dining out provides useful context, particularly since a single inspection represents a snapshot of conditions on one particular day.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, established in 2010, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during a Health Department inspection. The scoring works as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points, indicating strong compliance with health regulations
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points, indicating moderate violations that require correction
- Grade C: 28 or more points, indicating more serious or numerous violations
Inspections evaluate restaurants across categories including food handling and temperature control, personal hygiene, facility maintenance, pest activity, and plumbing. Critical violations carry higher point values than general violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection, during which only the re-inspection score and grade are posted.
For the most current inspection results and restaurant grades, diners can visit the NYC Department of Health's searchable database at the agency's website or check individual restaurant pages on NYCRestaurantInspections.com.