Brooklyn, NY — Richards Restaurant And Grill, a Caribbean restaurant located at 5505 Church Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 24, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 107, which falls well into the C range under the city's grading system. The closure followed the identification of two critical violations, both of which require immediate corrective action under NYC Health Code Article 81.
The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on July 27, 2026, three days after the inspection took place.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented two critical violations during the July 24 visit.
The first, Code 04M, cited the presence of live roaches in the facility's food or non-food areas. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, evidence of live pests — particularly in areas where food is stored, prepared, or served — constitutes a critical violation due to the direct risk of food contamination. Live roaches can transmit pathogens including Salmonella and E. coli and are considered an immediate public health concern.
The second critical violation, Code 04A, noted that no manager or supervisor of food operations held a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC). New York City requires at least one certified food protection manager to be present and responsible during all hours of food service operations. The FPC demonstrates that supervisory staff have completed city-approved food safety training and are equipped to oversee proper handling, storage, and preparation of food. Absence of a certified manager is a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection. However, the two critical violations combined to produce a score of 107 — reflecting a substantial departure from the standards required to maintain an A or B grade.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishments across the five boroughs and sets baseline requirements for sanitation, pest control, food handling, and employee certification. Critical violations, as defined by the code, are those most directly linked to foodborne illness or contamination. When critical violations cannot be addressed on-site during an inspection, DOHMH is authorized to order an establishment closed until conditions are corrected and a reinspection confirms compliance.
The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's local standards, identifies pest activity and lack of certified food protection management as two of the most significant risk factors for foodborne illness outbreaks in food service environments. Pest infestations in particular require documented treatment plans, typically involving licensed pest control operators, as well as structural remediation to eliminate entry points and harborage areas.
An establishment that has been closed by DOHMH must pass a reinspection before it is permitted to reopen.
Inspection History
The July 2026 closure is not the first time Richards Restaurant And Grill has received an elevated score. The restaurant's recent inspection record shows a pattern of high scores over the past year:
- April 9, 2026: Score 25
- October 22, 2025: Score 65
- May 27, 2025: Score 36 (Grade Z)
- April 17, 2025: Score 35
The April 2026 inspection produced a score of 25, which sits at the upper edge of the B range. Prior to that, the October 2025 inspection recorded a score of 65, and both the April and May 2025 inspections produced scores in the mid-30s — each in the C range. The May 2025 inspection resulted in a Grade Z, which is issued when a restaurant has been graded C on an initial inspection and requests a re-grade inspection. The July 2026 score of 107 represents the highest recorded score in the restaurant's recent history.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's letter grading system is based on the point total assigned during an inspection. Each violation carries a set number of points depending on its severity. The grade thresholds are:
- A: Score of 0–13 points
- B: Score of 14–27 points
- C: Score of 28 points or higher
A score of 107 is in the C range. Establishments that receive a C on an initial inspection may request a reinspection for re-grading purposes. If closed by DOHMH, the restaurant must first pass a compliance reinspection before resuming food service operations.
Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection results database at nyc.gov. Consumers can search any establishment by name or address to review full inspection histories, violation details, and current grade status.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Richards Restaurant And Grill including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.