Brooklyn, NY — Nathan's Famous, the hot dog restaurant located at 569 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 37 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, a significant departure from its prior inspection record of consistent Grade A ratings.

The inspection identified one critical violation related to pest activity. No non-critical violations were recorded. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 3 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas, a critical violation cited under code 04K.

Rodent activity in a food service establishment poses direct risks to food safety. Rats can contaminate food products, preparation surfaces, and storage areas through contact, droppings, and urine. The presence of rodent evidence in any area of a restaurant — whether in food handling zones or elsewhere — is classified as a critical violation because of the potential for contamination of items that may come into contact with food served to customers.

The violation carried a substantial point penalty, contributing to the establishment's score of 37 — well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain their premises free of vermin, including rats and mice. The regulation mandates that operators take active measures to prevent pest entry and harborage, including sealing gaps in walls and floors, maintaining proper waste disposal, and eliminating conditions that attract rodents.

The FDA Food Code similarly classifies the presence of rodents in food establishments as a critical risk factor. Rodents are recognized vectors for several foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella and E. coli, and their presence in a food service environment represents a direct threat to public health.

DOHMH inspectors assess rodent evidence through multiple indicators, including droppings, gnaw marks, grease marks along walls and baseboards, burrow holes, and live or dead rodents. Any confirmed evidence results in a critical violation citation regardless of whether live animals are directly observed during the inspection.

The action recorded for this inspection noted that violations were cited in the identified area. The establishment was not closed as a result of this inspection.

Inspection History

The March 2026 results represent a notable shift for this Nathan's Famous location, which had maintained Grade A scores across its three most recent prior inspections:

  • October 29, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • June 5, 2023: Score 7 (Grade A)
  • April 1, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)

The jump from a score of 12 to 37 reflects the weight assigned to critical pest-related violations under the DOHMH scoring system. Prior to this inspection, the Myrtle Avenue location had not received any critical violations related to pest activity in its recent inspection history on record.

Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are typically scheduled for a re-inspection by DOHMH. The grade posted at the restaurant may reflect either the initial or re-inspection score, depending on which is more favorable to the establishment. Restaurants also have the option to contest their inspection results through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on violation points accumulated during inspections. Fewer points indicate fewer or less severe violations:

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

A Grade C score indicates that significant violations were identified during the inspection. Restaurants receiving initial scores in the B or C range are scheduled for re-inspection, typically within 30 days.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. Inspection scores, violation details, and grade histories are public record and updated regularly as new inspection data becomes available.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Nathan's Famous including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.