Brooklyn, NY — Pan Rico Ambateno Bakery, a Latin American bakery located at 198 Wyckoff Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 29 following a New York City health inspection conducted on February 12, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade in the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation during the visit.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant finding involved improper cold food storage temperatures. Inspectors cited Pan Rico Ambateno Bakery for holding cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items above 41°F, a critical violation under NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection code 02G. TCS foods — which include items such as dairy products, cooked vegetables, cut fruits, and prepared foods — require consistent cold holding at or below 41°F to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Smoked or processed fish must be held at or below 38°F, and intact raw eggs at or below 45°F.

When cold TCS foods are stored above their required temperatures, they enter what food safety professionals refer to as the "temperature danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, where bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli can multiply rapidly. This is classified as a critical violation because it presents a direct risk to consumer health.

Inspectors also documented one non-critical violation related to equipment and non-food contact surfaces. The citation, under code 10F, noted that non-food contact surfaces or equipment were either made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or positioned to allow full accessibility for cleaning. While this type of violation does not pose an immediate health risk, it can contribute to unsanitary conditions over time if not addressed.

Food Safety Context

The cold holding temperature requirement is grounded in both local and federal food safety regulations. NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the standards for food service establishments operating within the five boroughs, while the FDA Food Code provides the national framework that many of these local rules are based upon. Both emphasize strict temperature control as one of the most fundamental measures for preventing foodborne illness.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 48 million Americans experience foodborne illness each year, resulting in approximately 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths. Improper food storage temperatures are among the leading contributing factors to foodborne disease outbreaks in restaurant settings.

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of all New York City food service establishments at least once per year. Inspectors evaluate conditions across multiple categories, including food handling, temperature control, personal hygiene, facility maintenance, and pest activity. Each violation is assigned a point value, and the total score determines the restaurant's letter grade.

Inspection History

This inspection represents the first recorded inspection for Pan Rico Ambateno Bakery in the DOHMH public dataset. No prior inspection history is available for this establishment.

It should be noted that the inspection was conducted on February 12, 2026, with the data released publicly by DOHMH on February 18, 2026. Conditions at the establishment may have changed since the inspection date, and the restaurant may have already taken corrective action to address the cited violations.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. Lower scores indicate fewer violations and better compliance with health regulations:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points — strong compliance with health regulations
  • Grade B: 14–27 points — moderate violations identified
  • Grade C: 28 or more points — significant violations documented

With a score of 29, Pan Rico Ambateno Bakery falls just above the Grade C threshold. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to improve their score and potentially earn a higher grade. The establishment's grade card must be posted in a location visible to the public, as required by city law.

Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant grades search portal or the NYC Open Data platform. These resources provide detailed violation descriptions, scores, and inspection dates for all food service establishments in the city.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Pan Rico Ambateno Bakery including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.