Brooklyn, NY — Philadelphia Grille, a pizza restaurant located at 10004 4 Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 28 points and a Grade C rating following a health inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene cited violations in multiple areas, including one critical food safety deficiency.

The inspection data, released by DOHMH on March 11, 2026, shows violations were cited and the establishment remains open for business. Under NYC's letter grading system, a score of 28 points places the restaurant in Grade C territory, indicating sanitation and food handling practices require significant improvement.

What Inspectors Found

Health inspectors documented a critical violation related to the restaurant's food safety protocols. Specifically, the establishment lacked an approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers, cited under violation code 05H.

This violation addresses a fundamental aspect of food safety management. Refillable containers — such as condiment bottles, beverage containers, or bulk ingredient storage — require documented procedures to prevent cross-contamination between uses. Without written protocols, staff may inadvertently introduce pathogens or allergens when refilling containers, or fail to properly sanitize containers between uses.

The absence of approved written procedures represents a systemic gap in the restaurant's food safety management system rather than a one-time oversight. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires food service establishments to maintain written plans for critical operational procedures, particularly those that could result in contamination if performed incorrectly.

Food Safety Context

Written standard operating procedures serve as the foundation of modern food safety management. The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for NYC's food safety regulations, emphasizes the importance of documented procedures for operations that pose contamination risks.

For refillable containers specifically, proper protocols must address several key elements: cleaning and sanitizing containers before refilling, preventing cross-contact between different products, ensuring containers are refilled from approved sources, and maintaining proper labeling throughout the process. Without documented procedures, restaurants cannot consistently train staff or verify that safe practices are being followed.

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service operations in New York City. The code requires establishments to develop and implement written procedures for operations that could affect food safety, making these documents available for inspection upon request.

Inspection History

This appears to be the first documented inspection result available in the public database for Philadelphia Grille at this location. No prior inspection records were found in the DOHMH data system.

The March 3, 2026 inspection resulted in:

  • Score: 28 points
  • Grade: C
  • Critical violations: 1
  • Non-critical violations: 0
  • Action: Violations cited

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant letter grading system translates inspection scores into easy-to-understand ratings:

  • Grade A: 0-13 points (good food safety practices)
  • Grade B: 14-27 points (some issues requiring correction)
  • Grade C: 28+ points (significant food safety concerns)

Each violation receives a point value based on its severity and public health risk. Critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — carry higher point values. Restaurants scoring 28 points or higher receive a Grade C, signaling to consumers that substantial food safety improvements are needed.

Establishments have the right to request a re-inspection after correcting cited violations. Many restaurants successfully improve their scores and upgrade their letter grades through follow-up inspections.

Public Health Resources

Consumers can verify current inspection results for any NYC restaurant by visiting the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene website at nyc.gov/health. The database provides detailed violation information, inspection dates, and current letter grades for all food service establishments operating in New York City.

Questions about food safety or concerns about restaurant conditions can be reported to the DOHMH at 311 or through the city's online complaint portal. The department investigates complaints and conducts inspections based on risk assessment and public reports.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Philadelphia Grille including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.