Queens, NY — Roti Corner Restaurant, a Caribbean eatery located at 180-18 Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, Queens, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection on January 21, 2026. The establishment received a score of 35 points, placing it in the Grade C range, after inspectors documented evidence of mice and plumbing-related violations.
The closure was lifted two days later, on January 23, 2026, after a re-inspection resulted in a score of 2, indicating the restaurant addressed the violations that prompted the initial enforcement action.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 21 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Roti Corner Restaurant for two violations — one critical and one non-critical.
The critical violation, recorded under Code 04L, noted evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Under the NYC Health Code and the FDA Food Code, the presence of rodent activity in a food service establishment represents a significant food safety concern. Mice can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas with pathogens including Salmonella and Hantavirus through their droppings, urine, and nesting materials.
The non-critical violation, cited under Code 10B, identified issues with anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices not being provided where required. The citation also noted that equipment or floors were not properly drained, and that condensation or liquid waste was being improperly disposed of. Plumbing deficiencies of this nature can create conditions that contribute to pest harborage and compromise sanitary operations within a food establishment.
Together, these two violations resulted in the 35-point score that triggered the closure.
Food Safety Context
New York City's restaurant inspection program, governed by NYC Health Code Article 81, assigns point values to violations based on their severity and potential impact on public health. Critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations.
Evidence of rodent activity is classified as a critical violation because of the direct contamination risk it poses to food and food-contact surfaces. The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, requires that food establishments be maintained free of pests and that operators implement effective pest management practices.
When inspectors determine that conditions present an imminent health hazard, DOHMH has the authority to order an establishment closed until the violations are corrected. In this case, Roti Corner Restaurant was required to address the cited conditions before being permitted to reopen.
The restaurant's re-inspection on January 23, 2026, resulted in a score of just 2 points, indicating that the establishment took corrective action to resolve the mouse activity and plumbing issues identified during the initial inspection.
Inspection History
Roti Corner Restaurant's inspection record prior to the January 2026 closure reflected a pattern of compliance with city health standards:
- January 23, 2026: Score 2 (Grade Z — Reopened following closure)
- January 21, 2026: Score 35 (Grade C range — Closed by DOHMH)
- May 13, 2024: Score 4 (Grade A)
- December 7, 2022: Score 9 (Grade A)
- January 12, 2022: Score 3 (Grade A)
The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores across its three prior inspection cycles, with scores of 3, 9, and 4 points respectively. The January 21, 2026 inspection marked a significant departure from this track record. However, the rapid correction demonstrated during the January 23 re-inspection — which produced a score of 2 — suggests the establishment moved quickly to resolve the issues.
It should be noted that this inspection was conducted on January 21, 2026, with the data released publicly by DOHMH on February 9, 2026. There may be a delay between when inspections occur and when results appear in public databases.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. The grading scale works as follows:
- Grade A: 0–13 points (lowest risk)
- Grade B: 14–27 points (moderate concerns)
- Grade C: 28 or more points (significant concerns)
Lower scores indicate fewer and less severe violations. Restaurants that score 28 or above on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection or an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). Grades must be posted at the restaurant's entrance where they are visible to the public.
Roti Corner Restaurant's score of 35 fell into the Grade C category. Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH must correct all cited violations and pass a re-inspection before resuming operations.
Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. This public resource provides current grades, violation details, and full inspection histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Roti Corner Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.