Brooklyn, NY — Sol De Quito Restaurant II, a Latin American restaurant located at 4417 New Utrecht Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following a May 28, 2026 inspection that recorded a score of 78, placing the establishment in C-grade territory. The restaurant subsequently reopened on June 1, 2026, four days after the closure. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on June 2, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

The May 28 inspection identified two violations — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, cited under Code 02G, involved cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items held above the required 41°F threshold. Proper cold holding temperatures are a foundational requirement under the FDA Food Code and NYC Health Code Article 81, as bacterial growth accelerates rapidly when perishable foods remain in the temperature "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F. Inspectors did not specify which food items were found out of temperature compliance in the available public record.

The non-critical violation, cited under Code 20-04, documented the absence of required postings. Specifically, inspectors noted that a "Choking First Aid" poster, an "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and signage for resuscitation equipment — including exhaled air resuscitation masks for adults and children and latex gloves — were not displayed. These postings are mandated under New York City and New York State regulations and are required to be visible to staff and patrons.

Food Safety Context

Cold holding violations are among the most commonly cited critical violations in New York City restaurant inspections and are treated seriously by DOHMH under NYC Health Code Article 81. When perishable proteins, dairy products, and prepared foods are stored above 41°F for extended periods, conditions become favorable for the growth of pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus — organisms that can cause foodborne illness.

Under DOHMH protocol, inspectors may order an immediate closure, formally known as an Administrative Closure, when they determine that conditions pose an imminent public health hazard. A score of 78 indicates a substantial number of violation points accumulated during the inspection cycle. Restaurants closed under these circumstances must pass a reinspection before they are permitted to resume service. Sol De Quito Restaurant II's reinspection on June 1, 2026, recorded a score of 0, satisfying the criteria for reopening.

The non-critical posting violations, while carrying no immediate food safety consequence, reflect regulatory requirements tied to patron safety and public awareness. Posting requirements are established separately from food handling standards and carry their own point values under the DOHMH scoring system.

Inspection History

Sol De Quito Restaurant II has a documented inspection record spanning several years. The full history on file shows:

  • June 1, 2026: Score 0 (Grade Z) — Reopened following closure
  • May 28, 2026: Score 78 (C, 28+ points) — Closed by DOHMH
  • January 27, 2026: Score 12
  • January 9, 2025: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • April 15, 2024: Score 60
  • May 11, 2023: Score 19
  • April 8, 2022: Score 21
  • March 3, 2022: Score 22 (Grade B)

The record reflects variability across inspection cycles. The restaurant earned a Grade A in January 2025 with a score of 12, and had similarly low scores in January 2026. However, the April 2024 inspection recorded a score of 60, and the most recent May 2026 inspection recorded 78 — the highest score in the available history. The April 2024 score did not result in a documented closure based on available data; the May 2026 inspection did.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to New York City restaurants based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection cycle. The grade posted in a restaurant's window reflects the most recent graded inspection:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest risk)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points (highest risk category)

A "Grade Z" designation, as recorded on June 1, 2026, is used by DOHMH when a restaurant is in the process of grading and has not yet been assigned a final letter grade — often following a closure reinspection. Restaurants in this status may operate while awaiting an adjudicated grade.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at the NYC Open Data portal. Consumers can search records by restaurant name, address, or cuisine type.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Sol De Quito Restaurant Ii including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.