Brooklyn, NY — Restaurante & Panaderia El Quetzalito, a Latin American restaurant and bakery located at 4617 5th Avenue in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a Grade C score of 31 during a health inspection conducted on February 25, 2026. The inspection, carried out by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), documented conditions conducive to pest activity at the establishment.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 25 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited one non-critical violation at the restaurant. The establishment was found not to be free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests (violation code 08A).

This type of violation refers to environmental conditions within the restaurant that may attract or sustain pest populations. Such conditions can include gaps in walls or flooring, improper food storage that could attract pests, accumulated debris, or other structural or sanitation issues that create favorable environments for rodents, insects, or other pests. While the violation is classified as non-critical, it contributed to the restaurant's overall score exceeding the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating.

It should be noted that the score of 31 points resulted in a Grade C designation, which is the lowest letter grade assigned under New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 3, 2026.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. Inspections evaluate restaurants across a range of food safety categories, including food handling and temperature control, personal hygiene practices, facility maintenance, and pest management.

Under the FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, food establishments are required to maintain premises that are free of pests and conditions that could harbor pest activity. Pest management is considered a foundational element of food safety because rodents and insects can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas.

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of the city's approximately 27,000 restaurants on a regular cycle. Each violation observed during an inspection is assigned a point value, with more serious violations carrying higher point values. The total points determine the restaurant's letter grade.

Inspection History

Restaurante & Panaderia El Quetzalito's recent inspection history shows a pattern of scores across the grading spectrum:

  • February 25, 2026: Score 31 (Grade C), violations cited for pest-conducive conditions
  • December 2, 2024: Score 20 (Grade B)
  • September 27, 2024: Score 36

The restaurant's September 2024 inspection resulted in a score of 36, which also exceeded the Grade C threshold. The subsequent December 2024 inspection showed improvement with a score of 20, placing the establishment in the Grade B range. The most recent February 2026 inspection reflects a return to a higher violation score.

This pattern indicates fluctuating compliance with city health standards over the past approximately 18 months.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system, introduced in 2010, assigns 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 request a re-inspection. If the score does not improve on re-inspection, the restaurant must post the grade card received. Restaurants that score a Grade C may also request an adjudicatory hearing before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH).

Grade cards are required to be posted in a conspicuous location near the entrance of the restaurant where they are visible to the public before entering.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the city's open data portal. The database includes current grades, violation details, and inspection histories for all inspected food service establishments in the city.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Restaurante & Panaderia El Quetzalito including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.