Brooklyn, NY — L'argentino, a frozen desserts establishment located at 5100 Kings Plaza in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on May 30, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 94, placing the establishment well within C-grade range. The closure was ordered after two critical violations were cited, with those requiring immediate action addressed on site. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on June 1, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two critical violations during the May 30 visit.

The first, Code 05D, cited the absence of an accessible handwashing facility in or adjacent to areas used for food preparation, food service, or warewashing. According to inspection records, the handwashing station was either not present, obstructed, or was being used for purposes other than handwashing. The violation also noted inadequate access to hot and cold running water at sufficient pressure, and the absence of soap or an acceptable hand-drying device.

Proper handwashing infrastructure is a foundational requirement in any food service environment. Without it, staff cannot follow standard hand hygiene protocols between tasks, creating conditions that can allow pathogens to transfer to food or food-contact surfaces.

The second critical violation, Code 04A, noted that no manager or supervisor of food operations at the establishment held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). New York City requires that at least one certified food protection manager be on-site and responsible for food handling operations during all hours of service. The FPC is earned by passing a food safety examination and demonstrates that management understands safe food handling practices, temperature controls, and sanitation requirements.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The violations identified at L'argentino fall under the requirements of NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food preparation and food protection standards for all food service establishments operating in the five boroughs. Article 81 mandates accessible handwashing facilities in or near food preparation and service areas, adequate plumbing, and the presence of a certified food protection manager during operating hours.

These requirements are also reflected in the FDA Food Code, a model code that informs food safety regulations across the country. The FDA Food Code designates handwashing facility access as a critical item because of its direct relationship to preventing foodborne illness. Similarly, certified food manager requirements exist to ensure that at least one person in a supervisory role has demonstrated competency in food safety practices.

A closure order from DOHMH indicates that inspectors identified conditions serious enough to require the establishment to stop operations until corrective actions are taken. Under DOHMH procedures, violations requiring immediate action must be addressed before the establishment can reopen.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available for L'argentino in DOHMH records. This appears to be the establishment's first inspection on record with the department.

  • May 30, 2026: Score 94, Closed by DOHMH. Two critical violations cited (Codes 05D and 04A).

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total number of points accumulated during a DOHMH inspection. Points are added for each violation found, with more severe violations carrying higher point values. Lower scores indicate fewer or less serious violations.

  • A: 0 to 13 points — meets acceptable food safety standards
  • B: 14 to 27 points — some violations present; re-inspection required
  • C: 28 or more points — significant violations documented; re-inspection required

A score of 94 falls far above the C-grade threshold of 28 points. After a C-grade inspection, establishments are typically re-inspected within 30 to 45 days. The grade posted in the window reflects the better of the initial and re-inspection scores, or the grade issued after an adjudication hearing.

Establishments that receive a closure order from DOHMH must correct the cited violations before reopening. A re-inspection is then conducted to confirm that conditions have been brought into compliance.

Consumers can look up current inspection records and posted grades for any NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH restaurant inspection search tool at nyc.gov. Inspection records are updated regularly as new data is released by the department.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for L'argentino including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.