Brooklyn, NY — La Cocinita Mia, a Latin American restaurant located at 442 Lorimer Street in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a score of 34 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 20, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 20 inspection, health inspectors cited La Cocinita Mia for a single critical violation under code 06F: wiping cloths were not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
This violation relates to the handling of wiping cloths used to clean food preparation surfaces, equipment, and other areas within the kitchen. When wiping cloths are not properly stored in an approved sanitizing solution or kept clean and dry between uses, they can become a vehicle for spreading bacteria and other contaminants across surfaces that come into contact with food.
Under NYC health inspection protocols, this violation is classified as critical because of its direct potential to contribute to foodborne illness. Wiping cloths that are left damp and unsanitized in warm kitchen environments can harbor harmful pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria, which may then be transferred to food contact surfaces during cleaning.
Food Safety Context
The NYC restaurant inspection program, governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, requires that all food service establishments maintain sanitary conditions that prevent contamination and the spread of foodborne illness. The regulation of wiping cloth storage is specifically addressed because cross-contamination through improperly maintained cleaning materials is a well-documented pathway for foodborne illness transmission.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, stipulates that wiping cloths used for cleaning food contact surfaces must be stored in a sanitizing solution of appropriate concentration between uses. Cloths that are not actively in use must either be laundered, stored dry, or kept submerged in a properly prepared chemical sanitizing solution.
A score of 34 points reflects the cumulative severity of violations identified during an inspection. Each violation is assigned a point value based on its potential risk to public health, with critical violations carrying higher point values than general or non-critical violations.
Inspection History
La Cocinita Mia's recent inspection record shows a pattern of scores that have fluctuated across multiple inspections:
- February 20, 2026: Score 34
- February 5, 2026: Score 22
- October 15, 2024: Score 20
- May 14, 2024: Score 30 (Grade C)
- May 3, 2024: Score 64
The restaurant's most recent prior inspection on February 5, 2026, resulted in a score of 22, which falls within the Grade B range. Prior to that, the establishment received a score of 20 in October 2024, also in Grade B territory. However, the restaurant has previously scored in Grade C range, receiving a 30 in May 2024, and recorded a significantly elevated score of 64 earlier that same month.
The current score of 34 represents a notable increase from the February 5 inspection conducted just two weeks earlier, and marks the second time in the past two years that the restaurant has scored in the Grade C range.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The grade posted at the establishment reflects the better of the two scores. Restaurants also have the right to contest their inspection results through an administrative tribunal process.
All NYC restaurant inspection results, including scores, grades, and specific violations, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can review any restaurant's complete inspection history through the city's open data portal or by searching the DOHMH website.
For questions about NYC restaurant inspections or to file a complaint, residents can contact 311 or visit the DOHMH website at nyc.gov/health.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for La Cocinita Mia including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.