Brooklyn, NY — Spice & Grill, an Indian restaurant located at 441 Myrtle Avenue in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on May 5, 2026. Inspectors assigned the establishment a score of 125, well above the threshold for a Grade C under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on May 7, 2026.

The closure followed the identification of one critical and one non-critical violation. Violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of inspection, per DOHMH standard procedure.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors cited two violations during the May 5 inspection.

The critical violation — Code 05F — documented that the restaurant had insufficient or no hot holding, cold storage, or cold holding equipment capable of maintaining Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods at required temperatures. TCS foods include items such as meat, poultry, dairy, cooked vegetables, and other products that require temperature regulation to prevent bacterial growth. This violation is classified as critical because it presents a direct risk of foodborne illness.

The non-critical violation — Code 10G — noted deficiencies in the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment used in dishwashing and ware washing operations. While categorized as non-critical, this type of violation can contribute to cross-contamination if not corrected.

DOHMH closed the establishment as a result of these findings. Under city protocol, violations requiring immediate action must be corrected before a restaurant can reopen following a closure order.

Food Safety Context

Temperature control is among the most fundamental requirements in commercial food service. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, operators are required to maintain cold TCS foods at or below 41°F and hot TCS foods at or above 140°F. Equipment failures or inadequate capacity in this area can allow pathogens such as Salmonella, Listeria, and Staphylococcus aureus to reach dangerous levels in food.

The FDA Food Code, which New York City's health regulations are modeled upon, identifies temperature abuse as one of the leading contributing factors in foodborne illness outbreaks. Adequate refrigeration and hot-holding equipment is not optional — it is a baseline requirement for lawful food service operation.

Ware washing requirements under Article 81 specify that all food-contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized at appropriate intervals and using approved methods. Sanitization, distinct from cleaning, involves reducing microbial contamination to safe levels through chemical or heat-based processes.

Inspection History

Spice & Grill has a mixed inspection record over the past several years. Prior inspections on record include:

  • 2026-03-25: Score 25 (Grade B range)
  • 2024-12-18: Score 26 (Grade B)
  • 2024-06-24: Score 26
  • 2023-01-23: Score 7 (Grade A)
  • 2022-07-27: Score 35

The restaurant earned a Grade A in January 2023 with a score of 7, indicating strong compliance at that time. However, subsequent inspections in 2024 recorded scores of 26 — near the upper boundary of the Grade B range. The March 2026 inspection resulted in a score of 25, also within Grade B range. The May 2026 inspection score of 125 represents a significant departure from the establishment's recent history and triggered the closure action.

It is worth noting that inspection scores can vary based on the number and severity of violations identified on a given date, the conditions present at the time of inspection, and whether a re-inspection or compliance check is underway. A single high-score inspection does not necessarily reflect the restaurant's typical operating conditions.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system for restaurants is based on the numeric score assigned during a DOHMH inspection. Scores reflect the total number of points associated with violations found, with more severe violations carrying higher point values. The grading scale is as follows:

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

Restaurants that are closed by DOHMH or that receive a score above 28 may be re-inspected before a grade is officially posted. During this period, a Grade Pending card may be displayed in place of a letter grade.

Consumers can look up the current inspection status and full violation history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database, available at nyc.gov/health. The site is updated regularly as new inspection data is processed and released.

Spice & Grill is located at 441 Myrtle Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11205. Its current operational status can be confirmed through the DOHMH database or by contacting the restaurant directly.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Spice & Grill including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.