Queens, NY — Silver's Crust, a Caribbean restaurant located at 129-26 Merrick Boulevard in Jamaica, Queens, received a score of 33 during a health inspection conducted on February 9, 2026, according to New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) records. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade assigned under the city's restaurant grading system.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 11, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 9 inspection, inspectors documented one critical violation at the establishment:

Evidence of mice or live mice was identified in the restaurant's food or non-food areas, cited under violation code 04L. This type of violation is classified as critical because the presence of rodents in a food service establishment poses a direct risk to public health. Mice can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas with pathogens including Salmonella and Hantavirus.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle.

Food Safety Context

The presence of mice in a food establishment is a well-documented public health concern addressed by multiple regulatory frameworks. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments to maintain premises free of vermin, including rodents and insects. Specifically, establishments must implement pest management programs and ensure that all entry points are sealed to prevent pest access.

The FDA Food Code similarly addresses pest control, requiring that food establishments take effective measures to exclude pests from the facility and to eliminate any pests that do gain entry. The code emphasizes that the presence of rodents can lead to contamination of food products and food-contact surfaces, creating conditions that may contribute to foodborne illness.

Under New York City's inspection protocols, evidence of mice — including droppings, gnaw marks, nesting materials, or sightings of live animals — is sufficient to cite a critical violation regardless of whether direct food contamination is observed at the time of inspection.

Inspection History

Silver's Crust has been inspected previously by DOHMH. The restaurant's recent inspection record includes:

  • December 6, 2025: Score of 37 (Grade N)

A Grade N designation indicates that the restaurant received a "not yet graded" status, which typically occurs during an initial inspection cycle. The December 2025 score of 37 also placed the restaurant above the Grade C threshold of 28 points.

The February 2026 inspection resulted in a lower score of 33 compared to the prior cycle, representing a modest improvement of four points. However, the score still falls within the Grade C range.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:

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

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the opportunity to request a re-inspection. During the period between the initial inspection and the re-inspection, the restaurant may post a "Grade Pending" sign rather than displaying the letter grade.

The grading system was introduced in 2010 to provide consumers with accessible information about restaurant hygiene conditions. Grades must be prominently posted at the entrance of the establishment.

Public Resources

Consumers can look up inspection results for any restaurant in New York City through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The database includes current grades, inspection dates, violation details, and historical records for all inspected establishments.

Residents who observe potential health code violations at any food service establishment can file a complaint through the city's 311 service by phone, online, or through the 311 mobile app. All complaints are reviewed and may prompt an unscheduled inspection by DOHMH.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Silver's Crust including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.