Brooklyn, NY — Nyc Munchies, a Middle Eastern restaurant located at 1398 Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn, was re-closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on April 8, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 15, which falls within the Grade B range, and documented one critical violation related to evidence of mice on the premises. This marks the second closure of the establishment within approximately five weeks.
What Inspectors Found
During the April 8 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one critical violation under Code 04L: evidence of mice or live mice present in the establishment's food or non-food areas.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation due to the potential for direct food contamination. Mice can carry pathogens including Salmonella and Listeria, and their presence in any area of a restaurant — whether food preparation, storage, or dining — poses a documented public health risk.
The single violation recorded in this inspection was sufficient, in combination with the establishment's score of 15, to result in a closure order. DOHMH has the authority to close a restaurant immediately when conditions are deemed to pose an imminent public health hazard, regardless of the total score or number of violations cited.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on April 13, 2026, five days after the inspection was conducted.
Food Safety Context
Rodent control is addressed directly in NYC Health Code Article 81, which requires food service establishments to maintain their premises free of pests and to take active measures to prevent rodent entry, harborage, and access to food. Inspectors look for physical evidence including droppings, gnaw marks, rub marks, and nesting materials, as well as live or dead rodents.
The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's regulatory standards, classifies active rodent presence as a priority violation — the highest level of concern — because of the direct link to foodborne illness risk. Priority violations must be corrected immediately or result in facility closure.
A re-closure, as noted in this inspection's action, indicates that the establishment had previously been closed and had not sufficiently addressed the conditions that led to the original closure, or that inspectors found conditions warranting a new closure upon reinspection.
Inspection History
Nyc Munchies has a mixed inspection record in recent years. The following entries reflect DOHMH data on file:
- March 4, 2026: Score 70 — Closed by DOHMH
- December 2, 2024: Score 12 — Grade A
- October 1, 2024: Score 44
The March 2026 closure, which preceded the April re-closure, was associated with a score of 70 — a significantly elevated figure. The December 2024 inspection resulted in a Grade A with a score of 12, indicating a period of compliance. The October 2024 inspection recorded a score of 44, which falls within the Grade C range.
The pattern reflects variability in compliance over time. The two most recent inspections have both resulted in closure actions, suggesting ongoing challenges in meeting DOHMH standards during this period.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the numeric score assigned at each inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. The grading scale is as follows:
- Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
- Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a reinspection, at which point a final grade is assigned. Establishments that are closed by DOHMH are not eligible to receive a letter grade until the closure is lifted and conditions are brought into compliance.
A score of 15, as recorded in the April 8 inspection, falls at the lower end of the Grade B range. However, the presence of the critical rodent violation triggered the re-closure action independent of the overall numeric score.
Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov. Records include inspection dates, scores, violation codes, and any closure or reopening actions taken by the department.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Nyc Munchies including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.