Queens, NY — The Rock Restaurant & Diner, a Spanish cuisine establishment located at 91-17 Liberty Avenue in Queens, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 22, 2026. Inspectors documented two critical violations and one non-critical violation, resulting in a score of 76, which falls in the C range under the city's grading system.

Inspection data was released by DOHMH on July 24, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented three violations during the July 22 visit, two of which were classified as critical.

The first critical violation, cited under Code 04N, identified the presence of filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated flies in the establishment's food and non-food areas. This category covers house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies. Fly activity in food preparation and storage environments is considered a direct threat to food safety, as these insects can transfer pathogens to exposed food and surfaces.

The second critical violation, cited under Code 04H, found that raw, cooked, or prepared food was adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with the establishment's Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan. This type of violation indicates a breakdown in one of the foundational protocols restaurants are required to maintain to prevent foodborne illness.

A non-critical violation was also recorded under Code 08B, relating to garbage receptacle maintenance. Inspectors found that refuse containers were not pest or water resistant, lacked tight-fitting lids, and were not properly cleaned after use. Improper refuse storage can contribute to pest activity and sanitary concerns in and around a food service establishment.

Because the two critical violations required immediate action and the overall inspection score reached a level indicating serious noncompliance, DOHMH ordered the establishment closed. According to DOHMH policy, a restaurant may reopen only after addressing the cited conditions and passing a reinspection.

Food Safety Context

New York City restaurant inspections are conducted under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food preparation, storage, handling, and sanitation in food service establishments. The inspection process is administered by DOHMH and applies to all restaurants operating within the five boroughs.

The violations cited at The Rock Restaurant & Diner correspond directly to provisions addressed in both Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, which serves as the national framework for food safety regulation. Code 04H violations, which involve food adulteration or contamination, are among the most serious categories in the inspection system because they indicate conditions that could result in illness if contaminated food reaches consumers. Code 04N violations involving filth flies are similarly weighted, as insect presence in food preparation areas represents a direct vector for contamination.

Under city rules, violations that pose an immediate public health risk trigger mandatory corrective action and can result in closure. Inspectors are authorized to issue a closure order on-site when critical conditions cannot be remediated during the inspection visit.

Inspection History

The July 2026 closure represents a departure from The Rock Restaurant & Diner's recent compliance record. Prior inspections show the following:

  • March 10, 2025: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • February 21, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • June 1, 2023: Score 36 (no grade issued)
  • June 7, 2022: Score 13 (Grade A)

The establishment received Grade A scores in three of its four most recent inspections prior to the current cycle, including a score of 9 in March 2025, which placed it well within the lowest-violation tier. The June 2023 inspection resulted in a score of 36, indicating a prior period of elevated violations, but subsequent inspections showed improvement.

The current score of 76 is a significant increase from the March 2025 result and represents the highest recorded score in the restaurant's available history.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores. The grading scale is as follows:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 or more points (most violations)

A score of 76 places The Rock Restaurant & Diner well into the C range. Restaurants that receive a score above a certain threshold during an initial inspection, or that are found to have conditions requiring immediate corrective action, may be closed pending reinspection. When a restaurant is closed, it does not receive a posted grade until it has successfully completed the reinspection process.

Restaurants that pass their reinspection are permitted to reopen and receive a grade based on their corrected score. If a restaurant does not pass reinspection, it may remain closed until compliance is achieved.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for The Rock Restaurant & Diner including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.