Brooklyn, NY — Safir Bakery & Cafe, located at 1803 Kings Highway in Brooklyn, received a score of 31 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 2, 2026. The score places the bakery in Grade C territory, the lowest passing grade in the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented one critical violation: no manager or supervisor of food operations held a valid Food Protection Certificate.

What Inspectors Found

The sole violation cited during the inspection was a critical one under code 04A: the absence of a Food Protection Certificate (FPC) held by any manager or supervisor overseeing food operations at the establishment.

New York City requires that every food service establishment have at least one supervisory employee on-site who holds a valid Food Protection Certificate issued by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). This certificate is earned by completing an approved food safety course and passing an examination. The requirement ensures that someone with formal training in safe food handling, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and allergen awareness is present during all hours of operation.

While no additional non-critical violations were noted during this visit, the single critical finding was sufficient to bring the restaurant's score to 31 points, above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C.

Food Safety Context

The Food Protection Certificate requirement is codified under NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligns with the FDA Food Code, which recommends that food establishments designate a Person in Charge with demonstrated knowledge of foodborne illness prevention.

The FPC requirement exists because trained supervision is considered a foundational element of food safety. Without a certified manager on duty, there is reduced assurance that proper protocols are being followed for food storage temperatures, hand hygiene, pest prevention, and safe preparation practices. The DOHMH considers the absence of this certification a critical violation because it reflects a systemic gap in food safety oversight rather than a single procedural lapse.

Food service operators in New York City can obtain a Food Protection Certificate by enrolling in a DOHMH-approved course, which typically covers topics such as time and temperature control, personal hygiene, cleaning and sanitizing, and pest management. The certificate is valid for five years.

Inspection History

Safir Bakery & Cafe's recent inspection record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores:

  • March 2, 2026: Score 31 (Grade C range)
  • November 26, 2025: Score 28 (Grade Z — pending adjudication)
  • October 14, 2025: Score 45
  • July 9, 2025: Score 26 (Grade B)
  • March 28, 2025: Score 71
  • November 29, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • May 11, 2023: Score 46

The bakery earned a Grade A in November 2023 with a score of 13 but has not returned to that level in subsequent inspections. The most recent inspections in late 2025 and early 2026 have consistently placed the establishment at or above the Grade C threshold. A Grade Z, recorded in November 2025, indicates the restaurant's grade was pending adjudication at the time of that inspection.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points recorded during an inspection:

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

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection or an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH). During the adjudication process, the restaurant displays a "Grade Pending" card rather than a letter grade.

The inspection data referenced in this article was collected on March 2, 2026, and released publicly by DOHMH on March 5, 2026. Conditions at any food establishment may change between inspections.

Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly and accessible to the public online.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Safir Bakery & Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.