Staten Island, NY — Gutierrez Bakery, located at 157 Port Richmond Avenue in the Port Richmond neighborhood of Staten Island, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on March 19, 2026. The establishment received a score of 43 points, placing it in the C grade range under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors cited one critical violation at the time of closure.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 24, 2026, five days after the inspection took place.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 19 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation under Code 06D: food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity during which contamination may have occurred.

Food contact surfaces — including cutting boards, prep tables, slicers, and utensils — are required to be cleaned and sanitized at regular intervals to prevent cross-contamination and the transfer of pathogens to food. When these surfaces are not adequately sanitized between uses, bacteria and other harmful microorganisms can accumulate and come into direct contact with food being prepared for customers.

The DOHMH classified this as a critical violation, meaning it represents a condition with a direct or significant relationship to foodborne illness. Under the city's scoring system, critical violations carry higher point values than non-critical violations, which is reflected in the establishment's score of 43.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The requirements cited in this inspection are grounded in both local and federal food safety standards. NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the food safety rules that all permitted food service establishments in New York City must follow. Section 81.23 specifically addresses the cleaning and sanitization of equipment and utensils, requiring that food contact surfaces be washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use, after any interruption during which contamination may have occurred, and at specified time intervals during continuous use.

These requirements align with the FDA Food Code, the model code upon which many state and local regulations — including New York City's — are based. The FDA Food Code identifies improper cleaning and sanitization of food contact surfaces as a contributing factor to foodborne illness outbreaks.

When a DOHMH inspector identifies violations that pose an immediate public health hazard and those violations cannot be corrected on-site during the inspection, the agency has the authority to order the establishment closed until conditions are brought into compliance.

Inspection History

The March 19 closure was not the first time Gutierrez Bakery had received a failing score or been ordered closed. A review of the establishment's recent inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores:

  • March 23, 2026: Score 0 (Grade Z) — establishment reopened
  • March 19, 2026: Score 43 (Grade C) — closed by DOHMH
  • March 3, 2026: Score 122 (Grade N) — closed by DOHMH
  • January 20, 2026: Score 69 (Grade N)

The March 3 inspection resulted in a score of 122, one of the highest point totals possible and also accompanied by a closure order. The January 20 inspection produced a score of 69, also in the Grade N range, which is assigned when an establishment is not yet graded — typically during an initial inspection cycle or when an establishment is working through the adjudication process.

Following the most recent closure on March 19, the establishment was recorded as having reopened on March 23, 2026, with a score of 0, indicating that the conditions prompting the closure had been addressed to the satisfaction of DOHMH inspectors. A score of 0 at a reinspection is typical when an establishment has corrected the violations that led to a closure order.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system was introduced in 2010 and requires restaurants to post their most recent letter grade in a visible location near the entrance. Grades are determined by the score an establishment receives during a sanitary inspection:

  • A: 0 to 13 points — meets food safety standards
  • B: 14 to 27 points — some violations identified
  • C: 28 or more points — significant violations identified
  • Grade Pending: Posted when an establishment scores B or C and has requested an administrative hearing to contest the grade

A "Grade N" designation is not a letter grade. It is assigned during an initial inspection, when an establishment is closed, or when the inspection cycle is in a preliminary stage. Scores in this range indicate that a letter grade has not yet been issued for that inspection cycle.

Restaurants that receive a score of B or higher during an initial inspection are re-inspected. The grade posted is based on the score from the most recent completed inspection cycle.

More About This Restaurant

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