Bronx, NY — Seis Vecinos Restaurant, a Spanish cuisine establishment located at 640 Prospect Avenue in the Bronx, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on May 18, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 102, well above the threshold for a Grade C rating under the city's restaurant grading system. The inspection data was released by DOHMH on May 20, 2026.

According to public records, the closure was ordered after violations were cited and those requiring immediate action were addressed on-site by inspectors.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two violations during the May 18 inspection — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under Code 06C, identified that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, condiments were found to be neither in single-service containers nor dispensed directly by the vendor. This type of violation raises concerns about cross-contamination, as condiments accessible to multiple customers without proper containment can become vectors for foodborne illness.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 10E, noted that an accurate thermometer was not provided or properly located within refrigerated, cold storage, or hot holding equipment. Proper temperature monitoring is a foundational element of food safety compliance, as it is the primary means by which operators can verify that perishable foods are held at safe temperatures.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments in New York City are required to maintain conditions that prevent contamination and ensure the safe handling, storage, and service of food. The requirements align closely with standards set forth in the FDA Food Code, which serves as the model framework for food safety regulation across the country.

The Code 06C violation falls into the category of conditions that can directly increase the risk of foodborne illness transmission. The FDA Food Code specifically addresses the handling and dispensing of condiments, requiring that they be protected from contamination through the use of single-service containers, squeeze bottles, shakers, or other dispensing equipment that limits direct customer contact.

Temperature control violations like Code 10E, while classified as non-critical, are considered important compliance indicators. Refrigeration and hot holding equipment must be monitored with accurate, properly placed thermometers to ensure that potentially hazardous foods remain outside the temperature danger zone — between 41°F and 140°F — where bacterial growth accelerates.

A score of 102 is significantly elevated. Under the city's scoring system, each violation carries a point value based on severity, and scores accumulate during a single inspection cycle. The closure action indicates that at least some violations required immediate remediation before the establishment could resume operations.

Inspection History

Seis Vecinos Restaurant has been inspected multiple times in recent years. Its prior record includes the following:

  • April 15, 2025: Score 13, Grade A
  • January 11, 2024: Score 34
  • August 12, 2022: Score 15, Grade P (Grade Pending)
  • August 9, 2022: Score 0, Closed by DOHMH

The April 2025 inspection resulted in a Grade A, the highest rating available under the city's system, indicating the establishment had previously demonstrated strong compliance. The 2022 record shows a prior closure followed shortly by a passing re-inspection. The current inspection's score of 102 represents a significant departure from the establishment's most recent performance.

It is not uncommon for inspection scores to vary between cycles. Factors such as staffing changes, operational shifts, or equipment issues can affect compliance from one visit to the next.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grade system is based on the total number of points accumulated during a DOHMH inspection. Grades are assigned as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points — indicates a high level of compliance
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points — indicates some violations were found
  • C: Score of 28 points or more — indicates multiple or more serious violations

When an establishment scores in the C range or is closed during an initial inspection, it may request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted. During that window, a Grade Pending card is displayed. Scores and inspection records are publicly available through the DOHMH online restaurant inspection database.

Residents and diners can look up any restaurant's full inspection history, including violation details and grade history, through the NYC Open Data portal or the DOHMH restaurant search tool at nyc.gov.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Seis Vecinos Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.