Brooklyn, NY — Ren Restaurant, an Asian fusion establishment at 1571 McDonald Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 42 during a health inspection conducted on February 19, 2026, placing it well into Grade C territory. Inspectors from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) documented two critical violations related to improper food temperature control and inadequate protection of food from contamination.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified two critical violations at the establishment:
The first violation, cited under code 02G, involved cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items held above 41°F. This category also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods held above required temperatures. The violation applies except during periods of active necessary preparation. Improper cold holding temperatures can allow harmful bacteria to multiply rapidly in foods that require refrigeration.
The second violation, cited under code 06C, documented that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. This code also addresses condiments not being provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor. When food items lack proper protection from contaminants, the risk of cross-contamination and foodborne illness increases.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
Temperature control is one of the most fundamental requirements in food safety regulation. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, cold TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below to prevent the growth of pathogenic bacteria. Foods such as raw proteins, dairy products, cooked vegetables, and prepared dishes fall under TCS requirements because they support rapid bacterial growth when held in the temperature danger zone between 41°F and 135°F.
The FDA Food Code identifies improper holding temperatures as one of the leading contributing factors to foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings. When cold foods are held above safe temperatures, bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and E. coli can reach dangerous levels within hours.
The food protection violation addresses another core principle of food safety: preventing contamination from environmental sources, other food items, or unsanitary surfaces. Proper storage practices, covered containers, and separation of ready-to-eat foods from raw ingredients are standard requirements under both local and federal food safety guidelines.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Ren Restaurant in the DOHMH database. This may indicate that the February 19, 2026, inspection was the establishment's first recorded inspection, or that prior records are not yet reflected in the publicly available dataset.
The action recorded for this inspection noted that violations were cited in the identified areas. The restaurant was not recorded as closed at the time of this inspection.
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 accumulated during an inspection. Each violation carries a specific point value, with critical violations generally carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.
The grading scale is as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Ren Restaurant's score of 42 places it 14 points above the Grade C threshold. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The grade posted at the restaurant reflects the better score between the initial inspection and any subsequent re-inspection within the cycle.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database includes current grades, inspection dates, violation details, and enforcement actions for all inspected establishments.
All inspection data referenced in this article is sourced from publicly available DOHMH records. Residents and visitors are encouraged to review inspection results as one factor among many when making dining decisions.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Ren Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.