Brooklyn, NY — Off To Start Cafe, a coffee and tea establishment at 535 6th Avenue in Park Slope, received a Grade B score of 21 following a health inspection conducted on March 12, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the high end of the Grade B range, just six points from a Grade C designation. Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit. The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 16, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection identified a single critical violation: evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas (violation code 04L). No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

While the cafe received only one violation, the critical nature of a pest evidence finding carried significant point weight, resulting in the 21-point score. Under NYC's scoring system, critical violations related to pest activity are among the most heavily weighted due to the direct food safety risks they present. Evidence of mice can include droppings, gnaw marks, nesting materials, or sightings of live or dead rodents.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires food service establishments to maintain facilities free of vermin, including mice and rats. The FDA Food Code classifies rodent activity in food establishments as a critical public health hazard, as mice can contaminate food and food preparation surfaces with pathogens including Salmonella and Hantavirus.

A score of 21 sits at the upper boundary of the Grade B range (14–27 points). At just six points below the Grade C threshold of 28, this result represents one of the more serious outcomes within the B classification. Establishments receiving a Grade B are permitted to continue operating but must display the grade card prominently for public visibility.

Inspection History

Off To Start Cafe's inspection record shows a pattern of generally strong compliance in recent years, making this Grade B result a notable departure:

  • Mar 12, 2026: Score 21 (Grade B) — current inspection
  • Sep 11, 2024: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • Mar 27, 2024: Score 5 (Grade A)
  • May 2, 2023: Score 21
  • Sep 27, 2022: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • Mar 31, 2022: Score 2 (Grade P — pending adjudication)
  • Mar 21, 2022: Score 48 — closed by DOHMH

The cafe was previously closed by DOHMH in March 2022 after receiving a score of 48, but subsequently improved to Grade A scores at its next several inspections. The current score of 21 matches the cafe's May 2023 result, suggesting a recurring pattern that the establishment has addressed before.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on violation point totals:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade may request a re-inspection or contest the results through an administrative tribunal hearing.

Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database or the NYC Open Data portal. Off To Start Cafe's full record, including all violation details, is available as public record through these resources.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Off To Start Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.