Brooklyn, NY — Phobar, a Southeast Asian restaurant located at 80 6th Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 29 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 11, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. The inspection identified one critical violation related to improper hot food holding temperatures.

The inspection results were released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 16, 2026, five days after the inspection took place.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 11 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented a single critical violation at Phobar:

  • Violation Code 02B: Hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items were not held at or above 140°F.

TCS foods include items such as cooked meats, rice, soups, and sauces — foods that are common in Southeast Asian cuisine and require consistent temperature control to prevent bacterial growth. When hot TCS foods fall below the 140°F threshold, they enter what food safety experts refer to as the "temperature danger zone" (between 41°F and 140°F), where bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Clostridium perfringens can multiply rapidly.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

The requirement to maintain hot TCS foods at or above 140°F is established under both the NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. These regulations exist because temperature control is one of the most fundamental safeguards in commercial food preparation.

Under Article 81 of the NYC Health Code, food service establishments are required to maintain proper holding temperatures for all potentially hazardous foods throughout service. The FDA Food Code further specifies that hot foods must reach an internal temperature of 140°F or higher during holding, and establishments must have systems in place to monitor and maintain these temperatures consistently.

A single critical temperature violation resulted in the 29-point score, which exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. This represents a notable shift from the restaurant's recent inspection performance.

Inspection History

Phobar's prior inspection record shows the restaurant had maintained strong compliance in recent years before this latest result:

  • March 11, 2026: Score 29 (Grade C) — current inspection
  • November 8, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • August 29, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • July 20, 2023: Score 30

The restaurant had earned consecutive Grade A scores in its two most recent prior inspections, with scores of 12 and 13 points respectively. However, the current Grade C result is not without precedent — Phobar received a score of 30 during a July 2023 inspection as well, suggesting that temperature control or similar issues have surfaced before.

Following a Grade C result, restaurants in New York City are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, during which the establishment has an opportunity to demonstrate corrected conditions and potentially achieve a lower score.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total points accumulated during an inspection. Points are assigned for each violation found, with critical violations carrying higher point values:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. A Grade C designation means the restaurant accumulated 28 or more points, indicating significant areas requiring corrective action.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may choose to post the letter grade or a "Grade Pending" sign while awaiting a re-inspection or adjudication through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Public Resources

Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. All inspection results, including violation details and scores, are public record.

Residents with food safety concerns about any NYC restaurant can contact 311 or file a complaint through the city's 311 online portal. Phobar is located at 80 6th Avenue in the Park Slope area of Brooklyn, NY 11217.

More About This Restaurant

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