Brooklyn, NY — Ricotta Coffee, a Jewish/Kosher cafe located at 513 Albany Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on June 29, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 72, placing the establishment in the C range, and cited four critical violations. Data from the inspection was released by DOHMH on July 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified four critical violations during the June 29 inspection, each representing conditions that pose a direct risk to public health under NYC Health Code Article 81.

The first critical violation, Code 04N, documented the presence of filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated flies in the establishment's food and non-food areas. This category includes house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies. Fly activity in food preparation or storage areas is considered a direct contamination risk.

The second critical violation, Code 02B, noted that hot temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were not held at or above 140°F. Maintaining proper hot-holding temperatures is a core requirement under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, as temperatures below this threshold allow bacterial growth in cooked or prepared foods.

The third critical violation, Code 04H, found that raw, cooked, or prepared food was adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with the establishment's HACCP plan. This violation covers a range of food handling failures that can introduce pathogens into food intended for consumption.

The fourth critical violation, Code 04C, documented that a food worker or food vendor did not use a utensil or other barrier to eliminate bare-hand contact with food that would not receive adequate additional heat treatment. Direct hand contact with ready-to-eat food is prohibited under both city and federal food safety standards because it presents a pathway for transmitting illness-causing organisms.

No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the standards that food service establishments in New York City are required to meet. Violations are categorized as critical or general based on their likelihood to contribute to foodborne illness. Critical violations, such as those documented at Ricotta Coffee on June 29, are weighted more heavily in the scoring system because they represent conditions directly tied to contamination or bacterial growth risk.

The FDA Food Code, which New York City's regulations align with, identifies improper hot-holding temperatures, pest activity, and bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food as among the most significant risk factors for foodborne illness outbreaks. DOHMH requires that violations identified as posing an immediate public health risk be corrected before a closed establishment can reopen.

Under DOHMH's closure protocol, an establishment closed during an inspection must address all conditions requiring immediate action and pass a reinspection before resuming operations. The DOHMH inspection program conducts unannounced visits, and establishments are subject to reinspection following a closure.

Inspection History

Ricotta Coffee's inspection record shows a pattern of elevated scores across multiple visits over the past two years:

  • June 29, 2026: Score 72, closed by DOHMH
  • April 30, 2026: Score 37 (Grade Z)
  • March 4, 2026: Score 30
  • December 8, 2025: Score 35 (Grade Z)
  • October 21, 2025: Score 72
  • November 27, 2024: Score 27
  • October 28, 2024: Score 16 (Grade B)
  • September 25, 2024: Score 40

The October 28, 2024 inspection produced the establishment's most recent Grade B, with a score of 16. Outside of that visit, scores have consistently fallen in ranges associated with Grade C or Grade Z designations. The June 29, 2026 score of 72 matches a score recorded in October 2025, making it the highest recorded score in the available history.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following inspections. The grade reflects the score recorded during an initial or reinspection visit:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or more

A Grade Z designation is assigned when an establishment is inspected but a grade has not yet been issued, typically because the establishment is in the process of reinspection or adjudication. Establishments that receive a score of 28 or higher on an initial inspection are typically reinspected within a month, at which point the grade from the reinspection is posted.

Scores are cumulative, with each violation assigned a point value based on its severity and public health risk. Critical violations carry higher point values than general violations.

More About This Restaurant

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