Brooklyn, NY — Hunter's Spice Grill, a Caribbean restaurant located at 1274 Fulton Street in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 8, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 62, placing it in C-grade territory, after inspectors documented a critical violation involving improper cold food storage temperatures.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on July 10, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the July 8 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one critical violation under Code 02G: cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were held above the required 41°F threshold. This category of violation also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods not maintained at required temperatures, except during active and necessary preparation.

Temperature control is one of the most closely monitored areas in food safety inspections. Perishable foods kept above safe temperatures enter what regulators call the "danger zone" — a range in which bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Clostridene can multiply rapidly, increasing the risk of foodborne illness.

Inspectors noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed on-site. However, the cumulative severity of the cited violation was sufficient to warrant closure of the establishment by DOHMH.

Food Safety Context

New York City restaurants are subject to oversight under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments and sets standards for food handling, storage, preparation, and facility conditions. The city's inspection program, administered by DOHMH, conducts unannounced inspections at every permitted food service establishment at least once per year.

The federal FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for many municipal food safety regulations, identifies improper cold holding temperatures as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks. Cold TCS foods must be maintained at or below 41°F to prevent the growth of dangerous pathogens. Deviations from this requirement — even for relatively short periods — can compromise food safety.

When inspectors determine that a violation poses an imminent public health hazard, they are authorized under NYC Health Code to order an establishment closed until corrective action is taken and the facility passes a re-inspection. A closure does not necessarily indicate a pattern of ongoing neglect; in some cases, a single serious violation can trigger this action.

Inspection History

Hunter's Spice Grill has been inspected multiple times in recent years. The record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores:

  • February 27, 2025: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • January 21, 2025: Score 19 (no grade assigned — initial inspection cycle)
  • November 17, 2023: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • March 20, 2023: Score 35 (no grade assigned — initial inspection cycle)
  • April 28, 2022: Score 21

The restaurant's most recent scored result before this closure — a 10 in February 2025 — represented a strong Grade A performance. The jump to a score of 62 on July 8, 2026 is a notable departure from that result.

It is worth noting that DOHMH uses a two-visit inspection cycle for grading. An initial inspection that results in a score above 13 typically triggers a follow-up inspection, at which point a letter grade is assigned. The score of 62 recorded at this inspection reflects the violations cited at the time of the closure visit.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system translates inspection scores into a single grade that restaurants are required to post publicly. The grading scale is as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or more

A lower score indicates fewer or less severe violations. Scores accumulate based on the number and classification of violations found — critical violations, which carry a higher point value, are those most directly linked to foodborne illness risk.

A C grade, or a score in the range documented at Hunter's Spice Grill, reflects a significant number or severity of violations at the time of inspection. Establishments that are closed by DOHMH must undergo a re-inspection and demonstrate compliance before being permitted to reopen.

Additional Resources

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any permitted NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database. Records include violation details, scores, grades, and closure history for all inspected locations.

If you have a concern about food safety at a restaurant, the DOHMH accepts complaints through NYC 311, available by phone or online.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Hunter's Spice Grill including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.