Brooklyn, NY — The Canary, an American restaurant at 789 Franklin Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 62 on a health inspection conducted February 26, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 2, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, a significant decline from its prior Grade A rating.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 26 inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one non-critical violation at the establishment:

  • Code 08A: The establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests.

This violation indicates that inspectors identified environmental conditions within the restaurant that could attract or sustain pest activity. Such conditions may include gaps in walls or floors, improper food storage, accumulated debris, or other structural or sanitary issues that create potential harborage for pests.

While the restaurant received only one cited violation, the score of 62 points represents a substantial departure from the establishment's previous inspection performance. It is worth noting that the DOHMH scoring system assigns varying point values to different violations based on their severity and the conditions observed, and a single violation category can carry a significant point value depending on the specific circumstances documented during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Pest control and prevention are foundational requirements under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments throughout the city. The regulation requires that all food establishments maintain their premises in a condition that prevents the entry and harborage of pests, including rodents, insects, and other vermin.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local health regulations, similarly emphasizes that food establishments must be designed, constructed, and maintained to prevent the entry and nesting of pests. Conditions conducive to pest activity can compromise food safety by introducing biological contaminants into food preparation and storage areas.

Restaurants operating in New York City are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH, and scores are assigned based on the number and severity of violations observed during each visit. The inspection process is designed to evaluate compliance with food safety regulations at a specific point in time.

Inspection History

The Canary's prior inspection record shows a notable contrast with the most recent result:

  • September 22, 2024: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • February 26, 2026: Score 62 (Grade C range)

The restaurant's previous inspection in September 2024 resulted in a score of 12, which falls within the Grade A range and indicates strong compliance with health code requirements at that time. The jump from 12 to 62 represents a 50-point increase over approximately 17 months between inspections.

Under DOHMH procedures, restaurants that receive scores in the Grade C range may request an adjudication hearing to contest the findings. Additionally, restaurants are typically scheduled for a re-inspection, which provides an opportunity to demonstrate corrected conditions and potentially receive an improved score.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated 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 and reflect stronger compliance with health code requirements. A Grade C designation, which applies to scores of 28 points and above, indicates that significant violations were documented during the inspection.

Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are given a re-inspection opportunity. The final grade posted is based on the better score between the initial inspection and the re-inspection. Grade cards must be prominently displayed at the restaurant's entrance.

Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history, including specific violations and scores, through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible online. The Canary is located at 789 Franklin Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY 11238.

More About This Restaurant

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