Brooklyn, NY — Mi Bella Dama, a Caribbean restaurant at 296 Knickerbocker Avenue in the Bushwick neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a score of 31 during a health inspection conducted on February 25, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade in the New York City restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to food temperature control.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 25 inspection, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspectors identified a critical violation: hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were not being held at or above 140 °F, as required under NYC Health Code Article 81.
TCS foods — which include cooked meats, rice, beans, soups, and other items commonly found in Caribbean cuisine — are classified as high-risk because they support the rapid growth of harmful bacteria when held in the temperature danger zone between 41 °F and 140 °F. The FDA Food Code identifies this range as the environment in which pathogens such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens can multiply to dangerous levels in as little as two hours.
The violation was cited under code 02B, which specifically addresses the failure to maintain hot TCS food items at safe holding temperatures. No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.
Food Safety Context
Proper temperature control is one of the most fundamental requirements in commercial food service operations. NYC Health Code Article 81 mandates that all hot TCS foods must be maintained at 140 °F or above during holding, consistent with the FDA Food Code's guidelines for preventing foodborne illness.
When hot food falls below this threshold, it enters what food safety professionals refer to as the "danger zone." According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, foodborne illness affects an estimated 48 million Americans each year, with improper food temperature control being one of the leading contributing factors in outbreaks traced to restaurants.
DOHMH inspectors assess restaurants using a point-based system, where higher scores indicate more violations. Critical violations carry more points than general (non-critical) violations due to their direct connection to foodborne illness risk. A single critical temperature violation, combined with the overall inspection findings, contributed to Mi Bella Dama's score of 31.
Inspection History
Mi Bella Dama's recent inspection record shows fluctuation in compliance:
- November 27, 2024: Score of 13 (Grade A)
- August 9, 2024: Score of 28
- February 25, 2026: Score of 31 (Grade C)
The restaurant had achieved a Grade A score of 13 during its November 2024 inspection, indicating strong compliance at that time. The earlier August 2024 inspection resulted in a score of 28, which sits at the threshold for Grade C. The most recent February 2026 inspection represents an increase from both prior scores.
It should be noted that the inspection data referenced in this article was released by DOHMH on March 3, 2026, approximately one week after the inspection was conducted. Conditions at the establishment may have changed since the inspection date.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores:
- A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violation points)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they may improve their score and receive a higher grade. The letter grade posted at a restaurant reflects its most recent graded inspection.
Residents can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. The database includes current grades, violation details, and inspection history for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.
For food safety concerns or to file a complaint about a restaurant, residents may contact 311 or visit the NYC 311 website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Mi Bella Dama including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.