Brooklyn, NY — Shama Restaurant & Sweets, a Pakistani restaurant located at 232 Neptune Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 30 following an inspection conducted April 1, 2026, placing the establishment in Grade C territory under New York City's restaurant grading system. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released the inspection data on April 3, 2026. Inspectors cited two critical violations and no non-critical violations during the visit.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two critical violations during the April inspection.

The first violation, Code 04C, recorded that food workers were not using utensils or other barriers to prevent bare-hand contact with food that would not receive additional heat treatment before being served to customers. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, ready-to-eat foods must not be handled with bare hands, as this practice can transfer pathogens including norovirus, Salmonella, and Hepatitis A directly to food that customers will consume without further cooking.

The second violation, Code 04L, noted evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. The presence of rodents in a food service environment poses a significant contamination risk. Rodents can introduce Salmonella, Leptospira, and other pathogens through droppings, urine, and direct contact with food surfaces and packaging. DOHMH inspectors are required to document any evidence of rodent activity, including droppings, gnaw marks, or live animals.

Both violations are classified as critical, meaning they represent a direct threat to public health if not corrected. The establishment was not ordered closed following this inspection; violations were cited and the restaurant remained open pending any required corrective action or reinspection.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program operates under NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes sanitary standards for all food service establishments in the five boroughs. The program requires unannounced inspections of every permitted restaurant at least once per year, with higher-risk establishments inspected more frequently.

The FDA Food Code, which forms the basis for many of NYC's food safety regulations, identifies bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food and evidence of pest activity among the most serious risk factors associated with foodborne illness outbreaks. Critical violations receive higher point values in DOHMH's scoring system, directly affecting a restaurant's letter grade.

When violations are cited, establishments are expected to correct them before a follow-up inspection. Restaurants that do not achieve a Grade A on an initial inspection cycle are typically reinspected within a month, at which point they may post whichever grade is better — or opt to post a Grade Pending card while seeking an Administrative Tribunal hearing.

Inspection History

Shama Restaurant & Sweets has received mixed results over recent inspection cycles:

  • October 28, 2025: Score 29 (Grade C)
  • August 16, 2024: Score 8 (Grade A)
  • August 25, 2023: Score 18 (Grade B)

The most recent inspection marks the second consecutive cycle in which the restaurant scored in Grade C range, after achieving a Grade A in August 2024. The October 2025 inspection recorded a score of 29, just one point above the Grade C threshold. The current score of 30 is consistent with that recent trend.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points — fewest violations
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points — some violations identified
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points — most violations identified

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. A score of 30 places Shama Restaurant & Sweets at the lower end of Grade C. Restaurants are required to post their most recent grade card in a window visible to the public.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online database at nyc.gov/health. Records include violation details, scores, and grade history for all inspected establishments.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Shama Restaurant & Sweets including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.