Brooklyn, NY — Grand Canyon Diner, located at 179 7th Avenue in Brooklyn, received a Grade B score of 21 following a health inspection conducted on March 10, 2026. The score places the American restaurant near the upper boundary of the Grade B range, just six points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 16, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified one critical violation during the inspection:

  • Food contact surfaces not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred (Code 06D).

This violation addresses the requirement that all surfaces that come into direct contact with food — including cutting boards, prep tables, utensils, and equipment — must be cleaned and sanitized between uses. When surfaces are not properly sanitized, there is an increased risk of cross-contamination between foods, which can lead to the transfer of harmful bacteria.

No non-critical violations were documented during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food establishments are required to maintain sanitary conditions that prevent the contamination of food. The FDA Food Code specifies that food contact surfaces must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized between uses, particularly when switching between different food types such as raw proteins and ready-to-eat items.

A score of 21 on a single critical violation indicates that inspectors assigned significant weight to the sanitization finding. In the DOHMH scoring system, critical violations related to food contact surface sanitation can carry point values that reflect the potential public health impact of the condition observed.

The result represents a notable shift from the restaurant's most recent prior inspection in November 2024, when Grand Canyon Diner earned a Grade A with a score of 11.

Inspection History

Grand Canyon Diner's inspection record over the past several years shows considerable variability:

  • Nov 15, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • Jun 16, 2024: Score 0
  • Feb 21, 2024: Score 28
  • Oct 27, 2023: Score 5 (Grade C)
  • Oct 23, 2023: Score 32
  • Oct 18, 2023: Score 43, closed by DOHMH
  • Jan 11, 2023: Score 37
  • Jun 17, 2022: Score 24 (Grade B)
  • Jun 9, 2022: Score 59

The restaurant was closed by DOHMH in October 2023 after receiving a score of 43, and subsequent re-inspections brought the score down before it achieved a Grade A in late 2024. The current Grade B result interrupts what had been an improving trend.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during inspections:

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

Grand Canyon Diner's score of 21 falls in the upper portion of the Grade B range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may request a re-inspection or an adjudicatory hearing through the DOHMH Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

Consumers can view the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. Inspection results reflect conditions documented at the time of the visit and may not represent current conditions at the establishment.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Grand Canyon Diner including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.