Brooklyn, NY — Plum Restaurant & Lounge, a Caribbean restaurant located at 3342 Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 34 during a New York City health inspection conducted on February 19, 2026. The score places the establishment in the Grade C category, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system.
Plum Restaurant & Lounge restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. Inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on February 23, 2026, four days after the inspection took place.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 19 inspection, health inspectors cited Plum Restaurant & Lounge for one critical violation related to improper handling of wiping cloths.
Specifically, the restaurant was cited under violation code 06F for failing to store wiping cloths clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses. While this may seem like a minor operational detail, wiping cloths that are not properly stored can become a vehicle for cross-contamination. When cloths are left damp and unrefrigerated without being held in an approved sanitizing solution, they can harbor bacteria and spread pathogens across food preparation surfaces, serving areas, and equipment.
The violation contributed to a total score of 34, which exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation. No additional non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.
Food Safety Context
Wiping cloth sanitation is a standard addressed by both local and federal food safety regulations. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that food service establishments maintain sanitary conditions throughout all areas of food preparation, storage, and service. Wiping cloths are specifically addressed as items that must be stored in EPA-approved sanitizing solutions at proper concentrations when not actively in use.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as a model for local health regulations nationwide, similarly mandates that wet wiping cloths used for cleaning food contact and non-food contact surfaces be held in a chemical sanitizer solution between uses. The code specifies acceptable sanitizer types and concentrations to prevent bacterial growth.
The critical classification of this violation reflects the potential for direct contribution to foodborne illness. Under the DOHMH scoring framework, critical violations carry higher point values because they represent conditions that are more likely to contribute to food contamination or disease transmission if left unaddressed.
Inspection History
Plum Restaurant & Lounge has a limited inspection record on file with DOHMH. The restaurant's prior documented inspection includes:
- 2023-12-27: Score 13 (Grade N)
The December 2023 inspection resulted in a score of 13, which falls within the Grade A range of 0 to 13 points. The Grade N designation indicates that the grade was issued during an initial or re-inspection cycle where the letter grade had not yet been formally posted. That earlier score suggests the restaurant had previously met the highest standard under the city's grading system.
The jump from a score of 13 in December 2023 to a score of 34 in February 2026 represents a notable change in inspection outcomes for this establishment. However, it should be noted that more than two years elapsed between the two inspections, and conditions at any restaurant can change over time due to staffing, management, operational practices, and other factors.
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 recorded during an inspection. The scoring thresholds are as follows:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which the establishment has the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score. Grade cards must be posted in a location visible to the public near the entrance of the establishment.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history for any restaurant in New York City through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. Plum Restaurant & Lounge's complete record, including any future re-inspection results, can be found by searching the establishment's name or address on the city's inspection lookup portal.
All inspection data referenced in this article is based on public records released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Plum Restaurant & Lounge including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.