Brooklyn, NY — Potiwa Pizza International, a pizzeria located at 1456 Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a health inspection conducted on February 5, 2026. The establishment received a score of 136 points, far exceeding the 28-point threshold for the lowest passing grade, and was cited for two critical violations and one non-critical violation.
The closure data was released by DOHMH on February 9, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 5 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented three violations at the Flatbush Avenue location, two of which were classified as critical.
The first critical violation, cited under Code 04J, noted that a properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple was not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot and cold holding areas. This equipment is essential for measuring temperatures of time and temperature control for safety (TCS) foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding. Without functioning thermometers, staff cannot verify that foods are being maintained at safe temperatures to prevent bacterial growth.
The second critical violation, cited under Code 06A, documented inadequate personal cleanliness among staff. Inspectors noted that outer garments were soiled with possible contaminants, effective hair restraints were not worn where required, jewelry was worn on hands or arms, and fingernail polish was worn or fingernails were not kept clean and trimmed. These personal hygiene standards are fundamental to preventing the contamination of food during preparation and service.
A non-critical violation was also recorded under Code 08C, related to improper pesticide use and storage. Inspectors found issues that may have included pesticides not properly labeled, use by an unlicensed individual, improper use or storage of pesticides or other toxic chemicals, or the use of unprotected or unlocked bait stations.
Following the inspection, the establishment was closed by DOHMH, and the agency noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed.
Food Safety Context
The violations documented at Potiwa Pizza International relate to foundational food safety requirements established under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code.
Temperature monitoring is a cornerstone of food safety practice. The FDA Food Code requires that TCS foods be maintained at or below 41°F for cold holding and at or above 140°F for hot holding. During cooking, specific internal temperatures must be reached to eliminate harmful pathogens. Without calibrated thermometers readily available, kitchen staff have no reliable method to confirm these critical temperatures are being met, creating conditions where foodborne illness could occur.
Personal hygiene requirements exist because food handlers are a primary potential source of contamination. Clean outer garments, proper hair restraints, clean and trimmed fingernails, and the absence of jewelry on hands and arms all reduce the risk of introducing biological, chemical, or physical contaminants into food. These requirements are standard across food safety regulatory frameworks nationwide.
Proper pesticide management is regulated to protect both workers and customers from exposure to toxic chemicals. New York State law requires that commercial pesticide application be performed by licensed applicators, and all products must be properly labeled and stored away from food, equipment, and food-contact surfaces.
A score of 136 points is notably high. In the NYC restaurant grading system, lower scores indicate better compliance, and scores of 0 to 13 correspond to an A grade. A score of 136 indicates multiple significant areas of non-compliance identified during the inspection.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available in the DOHMH public database for Potiwa Pizza International at this location. The February 5, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection in the publicly available dataset. This may indicate the establishment is relatively new or that earlier records predate the current database system.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores. The scoring scale works as follows:
- A: 0 to 13 points — indicates strong compliance with food safety regulations
- B: 14 to 27 points — indicates moderate violations that require correction
- C: 28 or more points — indicates significant violations requiring attention
Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection, typically within a specified timeframe, to demonstrate improved compliance. Restaurants may also request an adjudicatory hearing to contest inspection findings through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).
When an establishment is closed by DOHMH, operators must correct the conditions that led to the closure and pass a subsequent inspection before reopening to the public.
Consumers can look up restaurant inspection results for any NYC food establishment through the DOHMH online database or by checking the letter grade posted at the restaurant entrance, as required by law. Inspection data for Potiwa Pizza International and all other NYC restaurants is available through the city's open data portal.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Potiwa Pizza International including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.