Brooklyn, NY — Terra, a Mediterranean restaurant at 1716 Sheepshead Bay Road in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood, received a score of 50 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 19, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, representing a significant decline from its prior Grade A rating.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the inspection:
Cold temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food items were found held above 41°F. The violation (Code 02G) also covers smoked or processed fish held above 38°F, intact raw eggs held above 45°F, and reduced oxygen packaged TCS foods held above required temperatures, except during active necessary preparation.
No non-critical violations were recorded during the inspection.
Despite only one violation being cited, the score of 50 indicates inspectors assessed the condition as a serious departure from food safety standards. Under the DOHMH scoring system, a single violation can carry significant point values depending on the severity and scope of the condition observed.
Food Safety Context
Cold food temperature control is one of the most closely monitored aspects of restaurant food safety. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires that restaurants maintain TCS foods at or below 41°F to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli.
The FDA Food Code identifies the temperature range between 41°F and 135°F as the "danger zone," where bacteria can double in number every 20 minutes under certain conditions. Foods that remain in this range for extended periods pose an elevated risk of foodborne illness.
TCS foods — which include meats, dairy products, cooked vegetables, cut fruits, and certain prepared items — are particularly susceptible to bacterial growth when not stored at proper temperatures. For a Mediterranean restaurant, common TCS items may include hummus, prepared salads, grilled meats, and dairy-based sauces or spreads.
The point value assigned to this violation suggests inspectors found conditions that went beyond a minor or isolated temperature deviation.
Inspection History
Terra's prior inspection record shows a history of compliance before this most recent visit:
- 2024-05-28: Score 9 (Grade A)
The May 2024 inspection resulted in a score well within the Grade A range, indicating the restaurant had previously demonstrated strong food safety practices. The jump from a score of 9 to a score of 50 represents a notable change in the restaurant's inspection performance.
Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that score 28 or above on an initial inspection are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, at which point the restaurant has an opportunity to correct the cited violations and potentially receive a lower score and higher grade.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on inspection scores. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- A: 0–13 points
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Terra's score of 50 falls in the Grade C range. Restaurants receiving a Grade C on an initial inspection may request an adjudicatory hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings (OATH) and will receive a re-inspection.
During the period between an initial inspection and a re-inspection or hearing, restaurants display a "Grade Pending" card rather than a letter grade.
Public Resources
Consumers can look up Terra's full inspection history and any subsequent re-inspection results through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. The database is updated regularly as new inspection data becomes available.
Diners with questions about NYC restaurant grades or food safety concerns can contact DOHMH's complaint line at 311 or visit nyc.gov/health for additional information about the city's restaurant inspection program.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Terra including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.