Brooklyn, NY — Taqueria Al Pastor And Bar, located at 117 Court Street in Brooklyn, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted July 7, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 80, placing it in the C category under the city's grading system, and inspectors cited two critical violations, including the presence of sewage or liquid waste contamination in the food preparation area.

The closure was announced when inspection data was released by DOHMH on July 10, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented three violations during the July 7 visit, two of which were classified as critical.

The most serious finding was recorded under Code 04F: the food preparation area, food storage area, or another area used by employees or patrons was contaminated by sewage or liquid waste. This type of violation indicates that waste material had compromised spaces where food is handled or stored, creating direct public health risk.

A second critical violation was cited under Code 04H: raw, cooked, or prepared food was found to be adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with the establishment's HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) plan. Together, these two critical violations reflect a breakdown in the fundamental food safety controls required of licensed food service establishments.

A non-critical violation was also noted under Code 28-06: the restaurant did not have a current contract with a pest management professional in place, and records of extermination activities were not kept on the premises as required.

DOHMH noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments operating in New York City are required to maintain conditions that prevent contamination of food and food contact surfaces. Sewage or liquid waste contamination — as documented under Code 04F — represents one of the more serious categories of violation because it can introduce pathogens including E. coli, norovirus, and other harmful microorganisms into food preparation environments.

The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City's inspection standards, identifies sewage backups and contaminated food contact areas as conditions that warrant immediate corrective action and, when necessary, closure of the establishment until the hazard is resolved.

Code 04H violations involving adulterated or contaminated food are similarly treated as urgent, as they indicate food that may be unsafe for consumption has not been properly identified, segregated, or discarded in compliance with the facility's food safety plan.

The absence of a pest management contract, while classified as non-critical, indicates a lapse in the preventive measures required to keep establishments free of rodents and insects — conditions that can escalate into more serious violations if left unaddressed.

Inspection History

The July 2026 closure represents a significant departure from the restaurant's recent performance record. Prior inspections show:

  • 2025-01-06: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • 2024-11-12: Score 50
  • 2023-08-18: Score 2 (Grade A)
  • 2023-07-18: Score 30

As recently as January 2026, the restaurant achieved a score of 13 — well within the Grade A range. The jump to a score of 80 in July 2026 is notable, representing the establishment's worst recorded result in the available inspection history. The November 2024 score of 50 and the July 2023 score of 30 suggest that the restaurant has previously cycled through periods of lower compliance, but neither of those inspections resulted in a closure order.

It is not uncommon for restaurants to show variability across inspection cycles. However, a score of 80 combined with a closure order indicates that the conditions found on July 7 were assessed as requiring immediate intervention.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system is determined by the point score assigned during an inspection. Points are added for each violation found, with critical violations carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.

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

A score of 80 falls well into Grade C territory. When an establishment is closed by DOHMH, it must pass a re-inspection before it is permitted to reopen. The posted grade reflects the score from the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Consumers can look up inspection results for any permitted food service establishment in New York City through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available at nyc.gov. The public record includes scores, violation descriptions, and grade history for all inspected locations.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Taqueria Al Pastor And Bar including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.