Brooklyn, NY — Pine And Ginger, a Caribbean restaurant located at 685 Broadway in Brooklyn, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 23, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 39 points, placing the establishment firmly in Grade C territory. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 26, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified one critical violation, which accounted for the elevated score. Inspectors cited Code 04L: evidence of mice or live mice present in the establishment's food or non-food areas.
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, evidence of rodent activity in any area of a food service establishment — whether in food storage, food preparation zones, or non-food areas such as storage rooms or utility spaces — constitutes a critical violation. Critical violations are those that pose a direct risk to public health, as opposed to non-critical violations, which relate to general maintenance and procedural standards.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
Rodent activity in food service environments is treated as a serious public health concern under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. Mice can contaminate food and food-contact surfaces with pathogens including Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes through droppings, urine, and direct contact.
The FDA Food Code requires that food establishments be maintained free of pests and that physical barriers, sanitation practices, and pest management programs be in place to prevent infestation. NYC regulations similarly require operators to take corrective action when evidence of pest activity is identified.
A single critical violation under NYC's scoring system can carry a point value sufficient to push an establishment into Grade B or Grade C status depending on the severity assessment applied by the inspector. In this case, the 39-point score indicates the violation was assessed at a significant point value.
Restaurants that receive a Grade C may request a re-inspection or an administrative hearing before the Health Tribunal. Until a new grade is issued, the establishment is required to post the Grade C card in a location visible to the public.
Inspection History
Pine And Ginger's recent inspection record shows variability in scores over the past several years. Prior inspections on file include:
- September 2, 2024: Score 0
- August 26, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
- January 29, 2024: Score 21
- December 1, 2022: Score 28 (Grade C)
- May 10, 2022: Score 27
The restaurant previously received a Grade C in December 2022 with a score of 28, before improving to a Grade A score of 12 in August 2024. A score of 0 was recorded just one week later in September 2024, reflecting a clean follow-up inspection. The current score of 39 represents a significant increase from those more recent results.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grade system is based on inspection scores assigned during unannounced DOHMH visits. Each violation carries a point value, and the total score determines the grade:
- Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
- Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
- Grade C: Score of 28 points or higher
Grades must be prominently displayed at the restaurant's entrance. Consumers can look up current and historical inspection data for any NYC food service establishment through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database.
For questions about NYC restaurant inspections or to file a complaint about a food service establishment, contact 311 or visit the DOHMH website directly.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Pine And Ginger including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.