Brooklyn, NY — Tom's Restaurant, located at 782 Washington Avenue in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 21, 2026. The restaurant recorded a score of 23, placing it in the upper portion of the B range and within four points of the Grade C threshold.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one non-critical violation during the March inspection. The cited violation, Code 10G, identified deficiencies in the cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment used in dishwashing and ware washing operations.

While classified as non-critical, ware washing deficiencies can affect the sanitary condition of food contact surfaces. Proper sanitization of tableware is a standard requirement under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, both of which establish minimum thresholds for cleaning and sanitizing procedures in food service establishments.

The single violation accounted for the full score of 23. A score at this level, while still within Grade B boundaries, sits closer to the Grade C cutoff than to the Grade A range, indicating meaningful room for improvement in sanitation practices.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food service establishment operations across the five boroughs and requires that all tableware, utensils, and food contact equipment be cleaned and sanitized at appropriate intervals. The FDA Food Code, which informs local regulations, specifies that ware washing equipment must be operated and maintained to ensure adequate removal of food residue and application of sanitizer at effective concentrations.

Dishwashing deficiencies are among the more commonly cited violations in NYC restaurant inspections and can contribute to cross-contamination risks if not corrected. DOHMH inspection data for this visit was released on March 24, 2026, three days after the inspection was conducted.

Inspection History

Tom's Restaurant has a mixed recent inspection record. Prior visits show variability in scores:

  • December 15, 2024: Score 22 (Grade Z — initial inspection, grade pending)
  • September 18, 2024: Score 25
  • December 5, 2023: Score 9 (Grade P — reinspection following closure)
  • December 1, 2023: Score 80 — closed by DOHMH
  • January 19, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • January 27, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)

The restaurant's December 2023 closure, which followed a score of 80, represented a significant low point. Subsequent reinspection resulted in a score of 9, allowing the restaurant to reopen. The current score of 23 reflects a step back from that recovery, returning to a score range similar to late 2024.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on inspection scores following an initial inspection and, where applicable, a reinspection cycle:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 or more points

Grades must be posted at the restaurant entrance. Consumers can look up full inspection records, including violation details and historical scores, through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Tom's Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.