Brooklyn, NY — Omar Khayyam Cafe, a Russian restaurant located at 3159 Coney Island Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 35 during a New York City health inspection conducted on February 19, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented evidence of rats on the premises along with a separate nuisance condition violation.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 23, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection resulted in two violations — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under code 04K, documented evidence of rats or live rats in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Under DOHMH guidelines, any evidence of rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation due to the direct risk rodents pose to food safety and public health. Rats can contaminate food, preparation surfaces, and storage areas through direct contact, droppings, and urine.

The non-critical violation, cited under code 28-01, noted that a nuisance was created or allowed to exist and that the facility was not free from unsafe, hazardous, offensive, or annoying conditions. This general condition violation indicates that inspectors identified environmental issues within the establishment that fell below acceptable standards for food service operations.

Food Safety Context

Rodent activity in food service establishments is treated as a serious public health concern under both local and federal food safety regulations. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that all food service establishments maintain their premises in a condition that prevents the harborage and presence of vermin, including rats and mice. The FDA Food Code similarly mandates that food establishments implement effective pest management practices and maintain facilities to exclude pests.

Evidence of rats can indicate broader sanitation and maintenance issues, including gaps in building infrastructure, improper waste management, or inadequate cleaning protocols. DOHMH inspectors are trained to identify signs of rodent activity including droppings, gnaw marks, grease marks along walls, burrows, and live or dead rodents.

The nuisance condition violation further suggests that the overall environment of the establishment required attention beyond the specific rodent issue. Under NYC regulations, food service operators are responsible for maintaining their facilities in a condition that does not create hazardous or offensive conditions for workers or patrons.

Inspection History

Omar Khayyam Cafe's recent inspection history shows variable compliance with health codes:

  • February 19, 2026: Score 35 (Grade C range), cited for evidence of rats and nuisance conditions
  • 2023-03-30: Score 16 (Grade B)
  • 2022-05-09: Score 43

The current score of 35 represents a decline from the restaurant's 2023 inspection, where a score of 16 placed it in the Grade B range. The 2022 inspection resulted in a score of 43, indicating that the establishment has experienced significant scoring fluctuations over the past several years.

Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that receive a Grade C have the option to request a re-inspection or contest the grade through an adjudication process at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). The posted grade may be updated following any subsequent inspection or hearing outcome.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer and less severe violations:

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

Each violation carries a specific point value, with critical violations related to food safety risks — such as rodent activity, improper food temperatures, or cross-contamination — generally carrying higher point values than non-critical violations related to facility maintenance or administrative requirements.

Restaurant inspection results, including violation details and grade histories, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can look up any restaurant's current grade and inspection history on the NYC Open Data portal or the DOHMH website.

The next scheduled inspection for Omar Khayyam Cafe will be determined by DOHMH based on standard re-inspection timelines and the establishment's current grade status.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Omar Khayyam Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.