Brooklyn, NY — Tea Spot, a coffee and tea café at 1276 Fulton Street in Brooklyn, received a Grade B score of 22 following a health inspection conducted on March 4, 2026. The inspection documented one critical violation related to evidence of mice on the premises, a significant decline from the restaurant's prior Grade A rating.

The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 10, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the March 4 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Tea Spot for one critical violation:

  • Evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas (Code 04L)

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection. However, the single critical violation alone resulted in a score of 22 points, placing Tea Spot near the upper boundary of the Grade B range. A score of 28 or higher would have resulted in a Grade C.

The violation was categorized under "Violations were cited in the following area(s)," and no closure or other enforcement action was noted at the time of the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Evidence of mice in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishment sanitation standards. The presence of rodents poses a risk of food contamination through droppings, urine, and direct contact with food preparation surfaces.

Under the FDA Food Code, food establishments are required to maintain facilities free of pests and to implement pest management practices that prevent rodent entry and harborage. Mice can carry pathogens including Salmonella and Hantavirus, making rodent control a priority in food safety management.

A score of 22 places Tea Spot at the higher end of the Grade B range, just five points below the Grade C threshold of 28. This represents a notable shift from the establishment's previous inspection performance.

Inspection History

Tea Spot's prior inspection record on file with DOHMH includes:

  • Sept. 25, 2024: Score 4 (Grade A)

The September 2024 inspection resulted in a near-perfect score of 4 points, well within the Grade A range. The jump from 4 to 22 represents an 18-point increase between inspection cycles, driven entirely by the mouse-related critical violation documented in March 2026.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during inspections. 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 may request a re-inspection and have the option to post a "Grade Pending" card while awaiting adjudication through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

All New York City restaurant inspection results are public record and can be reviewed on the DOHMH website. Consumers can search inspection histories by restaurant name or address to make informed dining decisions.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Tea Spot including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.