Brooklyn, NY — That Sushi Spot, a Jewish/Kosher restaurant located at 3004 Avenue L in Brooklyn, received a score of 40 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 19, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, a significant departure from its previously consistent Grade A record.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 19 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at the establishment:
Inspectors documented that a properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple was not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas. This equipment is essential for measuring temperatures of Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding processes.
The absence of functional temperature monitoring equipment is classified as a critical violation under DOHMH inspection protocols because it directly impacts a restaurant's ability to verify that food is being stored, prepared, and held at safe temperatures. Without reliable thermometers, kitchen staff cannot confirm that hot foods remain above 140°F or that cold foods stay below 41°F — the thresholds established to prevent bacterial growth.
No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection. The action recorded by DOHMH was that violations were cited in the following area(s).
Food Safety Context
Temperature control is one of the foundational principles of food safety regulation. NYC Health Code Article 81 requires food service establishments to maintain TCS foods at proper temperatures throughout all stages of preparation and service. The FDA Food Code similarly mandates that food establishments have accurate thermometers readily accessible to staff for routine temperature monitoring.
TCS foods — which include meats, dairy products, cooked vegetables, and other items prone to bacterial growth — must be kept out of the "danger zone" between 41°F and 140°F. When restaurants lack calibrated thermometers, there is no reliable method to verify compliance with these temperature requirements. This is why the absence of such equipment is classified as a critical violation rather than a general one.
For a kosher establishment that handles a variety of prepared foods, temperature monitoring is particularly important given the range of cooked and held items typically present during service.
Inspection History
That Sushi Spot's February 2026 inspection represents a notable change from the restaurant's prior record, which had been consistently strong:
- October 28, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
- June 14, 2023: Score 9 (Grade A)
- April 29, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores across its three previous inspections on record, with scores ranging from 9 to 13 points. The jump to a score of 40 marks the first time the establishment has scored outside of Grade A range in its available inspection history.
It should be noted that a single inspection represents a snapshot of conditions at the time of the visit. Restaurants that receive scores in the Grade B or C range are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to demonstrate that violations have been corrected.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Critical violations carry higher point values than general (non-critical) violations. A score of 40 with only one critical violation cited suggests that the single violation carried substantial point weight under DOHMH's scoring methodology.
Restaurants receiving a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are scheduled for a re-inspection, typically within 30 days. The restaurant may post either the grade from the initial inspection or a "Grade Pending" sign until the re-inspection is completed.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH public database, available online at the NYC Open Data portal. All inspection scores, violation details, and grade histories are public record and updated regularly as new inspection data becomes available.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for That Sushi Spot including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.