New York, NY — Two Brooklyn restaurants received Grade B-level inspection scores on March 17, 2026, according to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene records. Both establishments — one Chinese restaurant and one American cafe — scored 18 points each, placing them in the Grade B range of 14 to 27 points. The violations documented at both locations shared a common thread: deficiencies in the cleaning and sanitizing of food contact surfaces.
The Inspections
Inspectors visited Shun Li Chinese Restaurant, located at 1468 Pitkin Avenue in Brooklyn's East New York neighborhood, and recorded a score of 18 points. The restaurant, which serves Chinese cuisine, was cited for deficient dishwashing and ware washing practices. Specifically, inspectors noted that the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware — including dishes, utensils, and equipment — did not meet required standards. The restaurant's grade is currently listed as pending, meaning the establishment may choose to contest the score through the city's administrative tribunal process before a final grade is posted.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned FDA Food Code guidelines, all food service establishments are required to properly wash, rinse, and sanitize utensils and food contact surfaces between uses. Dishwashing violations can involve issues such as incorrect water temperatures, improper sanitizer concentrations, or failure to follow the required three-step wash-rinse-sanitize process. While the specific details beyond the cited violation category are not publicly itemized in the inspection record, this type of finding is among the more commonly documented violations across the city's restaurant inspection program.
At Space Club Cafe, located at 143 Waverly Avenue near the Fort Greene and Clinton Hill border, inspectors documented multiple violations that resulted in a matching score of 18 points. The cafe, which serves American cuisine, received two critical violations. The first critical finding cited food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred. The second critical violation noted the absence of required posted signage, including the mandatory "Choking first aid" poster and the "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, along with a finding related to resuscitation equipment.
A third, non-critical violation at Space Club Cafe also addressed food contact surface sanitation, reinforcing the pattern inspectors identified at the location. The restaurant's grade is listed as "N," which in the city's system indicates a new establishment that has not yet received a letter grade through the standard grading cycle.
Common Patterns
The most notable pattern across both inspections is the shared focus on sanitation of food contact surfaces. Both Shun Li Chinese Restaurant and Space Club Cafe were cited for failures in properly cleaning, rinsing, and sanitizing surfaces and items that come into direct contact with food. This category of violation addresses one of the foundational principles of food safety — preventing cross-contamination and bacterial growth on the surfaces where food is prepared and served.
Despite serving different cuisines and operating in different Brooklyn neighborhoods separated by several miles, both establishments received identical scores of 18 points. This score sits in the lower portion of the Grade B range, closer to the Grade A threshold of 13 points than to the Grade C threshold of 28 points.
The critical violations documented at Space Club Cafe carry particular weight in the scoring system. Critical violations are those that the Health Department considers more likely to contribute to foodborne illness if left uncorrected. The posting violations cited at Space Club Cafe, while categorized as critical under the city's inspection framework, relate to public safety signage requirements rather than direct food handling practices.
What This Means for Diners
A Grade B score indicates that a restaurant had violations identified during inspection that require correction but do not constitute an immediate threat to public health warranting closure. Restaurants receiving initial scores in the B range have the option to appear before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings to contest their results. The grade posted on a restaurant's window reflects the outcome of this full process.
Diners looking to review inspection histories for any New York City restaurant can access detailed records through the city's publicly available restaurant inspection database. Each establishment's inspection history, including specific violations cited, scores received, and grade outcomes, is available for review. The facility pages for both Shun Li Chinese Restaurant and Space Club Cafe provide complete inspection histories and violation details.
It is worth noting that inspection scores represent a snapshot of conditions observed on the specific date of the inspection. Restaurants frequently correct cited violations promptly, and many establishments improve their scores on subsequent re-inspection visits.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, assigns letter grades based on a point system where lower scores indicate fewer violations. A Grade A corresponds to a score of 0 to 13 points, a Grade B to 14 to 27 points, and a Grade C to 28 or more points. Points are assigned based on the nature and severity of each violation documented during the inspection, with critical violations generally carrying higher point values than general violations.
The grading program, which has been in effect since 2010, covers more than 27,000 restaurants across the five boroughs. According to city data, the majority of restaurants earn Grade A scores. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection have the opportunity for a re-inspection and can contest scores through the administrative hearing process.
For the most current inspection results and restaurant grades, diners can visit the NYC Department of Health's online restaurant inspection portal or check individual facility pages on NYCRestaurantInspections.com.