3 Brooklyn Restaurants Receive Grade B Scores: March 25, 2026

New York, NY — Three Brooklyn restaurants received Grade B inspection scores from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on March 25, 2026, each recording point totals between 15 and 19. The inspected establishments span three distinct cuisines and neighborhoods, with violations concentrated in pest harborage conditions and food contact surface maintenance.

The Inspections

Lella Alimentari, a coffee and tea shop located at 325 Manhattan Avenue in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, received a score of 19 points, the highest among the three inspections conducted that day. Inspectors documented two violations: conditions conducive to rodent, insect, or pest harborage, and improper design, construction, or maintenance of food contact surfaces. The second violation noted that surfaces were not easily cleanable or sanitizable, a standard addressed under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code's requirements for food contact surfaces. The restaurant is currently operating under a Grade Z pending status while a grade is finalized.

At Widdi Hall, a Middle Eastern restaurant at 5602 6th Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood, inspectors recorded a score of 18 points. A single violation was cited: conditions conducive to harborage by rodents, insects, or other pests. This type of violation typically encompasses structural gaps, improper storage, or accumulation of debris that could attract or shelter pests. The restaurant received a Grade N, which is assigned when a restaurant is undergoing its initial inspection or has not yet been graded under the current inspection cycle.

Hotel Delmano, an American restaurant and bar at 82 Berry Street in Williamsburg, received the lowest score of the three at 15 points, placing it at the lower end of the Grade B range. Despite the relatively low point total, inspectors recorded a critical violation: no hand washing facility present in or adjacent to the toilet room, or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service, or ware-washing area. This violation is classified as critical because hand washing access is a foundational requirement under the FDA Food Code for preventing cross-contamination. The restaurant's grade is currently listed as Pending, reflecting that the final grade had not yet been posted at the time of inspection.

Common Patterns

The most notable pattern across these three inspections is the recurrence of pest harborage conditions. Two of the three restaurants — Lella Alimentari and Widdi Hall — were cited for conditions conducive to pest presence. This category of violation is among the most commonly documented in NYC restaurant inspections and can include issues such as gaps in walls or floors, improper food storage, standing water, or accumulated grease or debris that may attract insects or rodents.

All three restaurants are located in Brooklyn, with two — Lella Alimentari and Hotel Delmano — situated in the Williamsburg neighborhood. The third, Widdi Hall, is located in Sunset Park. The cuisines represented span coffee and tea, Middle Eastern, and American, suggesting the violations documented are not specific to any one type of food service operation.

What This Means for Diners

A Grade B in New York City's restaurant inspection system does not indicate an imminent public health emergency. Rather, it reflects that violations were identified that require correction before the next inspection. Restaurants receiving a Grade B are required to correct cited violations and may request a re-inspection, at which point a new grade is assigned. During the period between inspection and re-inspection, a Grade B card must be displayed prominently at the restaurant entrance.

Diners can look up any restaurant's current inspection history and grade through the NYC Health Department's online restaurant inspection database. Each facility's violation details, inspection dates, and grade history are publicly accessible. The grade card displayed at the door reflects the most recent graded inspection, and a Pending or Grade Z card indicates the restaurant has had a recent inspection whose final grade is still being processed.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City uses a point-based system to assign letter grades to food service establishments following each inspection. Points are assigned for each violation documented, with higher-severity violations carrying more points. The grading thresholds are as follows:

• Grade A: 0–13 points — the restaurant met acceptable standards with few or minor violations
• Grade B: 14–27 points — violations were found that need correction but do not pose an immediate health risk in most cases
• Grade C: 28 or more points — more serious or numerous violations were documented

Critical violations, such as the hand washing facility issue cited at Hotel Delmano, carry higher point values and can push a score into a higher grade tier even when the total number of violations is low. General violations, such as pest harborage conditions, are weighted differently depending on severity and context.

Inspection scores and grades can change significantly from one inspection to the next. A Grade B at one inspection does not mean a restaurant will receive the same grade at its next visit. Conversely, restaurants with a history of Grade A scores can receive a lower grade if conditions have changed.

Diners seeking to check current grades or inspection histories for any New York City restaurant can do so at the NYC Department of Health's online portal. The NYC Health Code governing restaurant operations is codified under Article 81 of the New York City Health Code.