Brooklyn, NY — Popeyes, located at 80 Court Street in Downtown Brooklyn, received a score of 28 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, a notable decline from its previous Grade A rating. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 5, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the Court Street location:

  • Code 08A: The establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests.

This violation indicates that inspectors identified environmental conditions within the restaurant that could attract or sustain pest activity. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain their premises in a condition that prevents pest harborage. This includes sealing entry points, eliminating standing water, properly storing food items, and maintaining clean conditions in storage and preparation areas.

While no critical violations — those that directly contribute to foodborne illness — were cited during this inspection, the pest-related condition was sufficient to bring the restaurant's score to 28, crossing the threshold from a Grade B into Grade C range.

Food Safety Context

Pest management is a foundational element of food safety regulation. The FDA Food Code identifies pest control as essential to preventing contamination of food products and food-contact surfaces. Rodents and insects can carry pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and other organisms that cause foodborne illness.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments must implement integrated pest management practices and maintain conditions that do not attract or harbor pests. Conditions conducive to pests can include gaps in walls or flooring, improper waste storage, unsealed food containers, or excess moisture.

DOHMH assigns violation points based on the nature and severity of each finding. Non-critical violations such as Code 08A carry fewer points than critical violations, but they can still significantly affect a restaurant's overall score when conditions are documented during an inspection.

The action recorded for this inspection was "Violations were cited in the following area(s)," indicating that the establishment was not closed but was required to address the documented conditions.

Inspection History

The Court Street Popeyes has undergone several DOHMH inspections in recent years. The prior inspection record shows:

  • Nov 12, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • Mar 29, 2024: Score 18
  • Apr 6, 2023: Score 11 (Grade A)

The restaurant had maintained relatively consistent scores in the Grade A and low Grade B range prior to the March 2026 inspection. The jump from a score of 12 to 28 represents a significant change in the establishment's inspection performance.

It is worth noting that inspection scores represent conditions observed on a single day and may not reflect the restaurant's overall operational standards. Restaurants have the opportunity to address cited violations and may request a re-inspection to improve their posted grade.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection:

  • 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 may choose to post the grade or opt for a re-inspection. During the adjudication period, restaurants display a "Grade Pending" sign rather than the letter grade.

The grading system was introduced in 2010 to provide transparency for diners and to incentivize food safety compliance among food service establishments. DOHMH inspection results, including violation details and scores, are public record and available through the NYC Open Data portal.

Consumers can look up the inspection history of any restaurant in New York City by visiting the DOHMH restaurant inspection results page or by checking the letter grade posted at the establishment's entrance. The NYC 311 service is also available for residents who wish to report food safety concerns at any food service establishment.

More About This Restaurant

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