Brooklyn, NY — Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, located at 1317 East 17th Street in Brooklyn, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted March 19, 2026. The restaurant scored 24 points — placing it in the upper portion of the Grade B range and within three points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 24, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented three violations during the visit, two of which were classified as critical.

Both critical violations were recorded under Code 02G, which covers the improper holding temperature of cold Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods. NYC Health Code and FDA Food Code standards require that cold TCS foods be maintained at or below 41°F to inhibit bacterial growth. Inspectors identified cold food items held above that threshold during the inspection. This type of violation is considered critical because improperly stored perishable foods can support the growth of pathogens including Salmonella and Listeria.

The single non-critical violation, cited under Code 20-01, noted the absence of a conspicuously posted food allergy information poster in the food preparation area. New York City requires that such postings be visible to food workers where food is prepared or processed, as part of efforts to reduce allergen-related incidents for customers.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control violations are among the most commonly cited issues in food service inspections citywide. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, TCS foods must be held at 41°F or below during cold storage to prevent the growth of harmful microorganisms. Each critical temperature violation carries a significant point value in the DOHMH scoring system, which accounts for the majority of Rita's total score.

A score of 24 falls in the upper portion of the Grade B band. With the Grade C threshold beginning at 28 points, the establishment scored within four points of a lower grade designation.

Inspection History

Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard has one prior inspection on record:

  • July 10, 2025: Score 36 (Grade N)

A Grade N designation is issued when an establishment scores 28 or higher on an initial inspection cycle and has not yet undergone a re-inspection. The score of 36 at that time indicated a more significant violation burden. The current score of 24 represents an improvement, though the persistent presence of critical temperature violations warrants continued attention.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the number of points accumulated during an inspection cycle:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Grades must be posted at the restaurant entrance. A Grade B indicates that violations were found and that corrective action may be required before a re-inspection determines whether an A grade can be issued.

Consumers can review full inspection records, including violation details and scoring history, through the NYC Restaurant Inspection Results database available at the DOHMH website.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.