Brooklyn, NY — Upside Craft Burger, a Jewish/Kosher restaurant located at 4621 13th Avenue in Brooklyn, received a Grade C following a health inspection conducted March 30, 2026. Inspectors assigned a score of 38, placing the establishment in the C grade range. The data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 8, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March visit, with no non-critical violations recorded alongside it.
The single cited violation — Code 05D — involves the availability and accessibility of hand washing facilities. Specifically, inspectors noted that a hand washing station was not accessible, was obstructed, or was being used for purposes other than hand washing. The violation code also covers situations where facilities lack hot and cold running water at adequate pressure, or where soap and an acceptable hand-drying device are not present.
Hand washing facilities are a fundamental component of food safety operations. Their absence or obstruction in or near food preparation, food service, or ware washing areas creates conditions that can allow pathogens to spread from workers' hands to food or surfaces.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food service establishments are required to maintain hand washing facilities that are properly equipped, accessible at all times, and used solely for hand washing. These requirements exist because handwashing is one of the primary controls used to prevent foodborne illness transmission in commercial kitchens.
A hand washing facility that is obstructed — whether by equipment, supplies, or other materials — is treated as non-functional for inspection purposes. The DOHMH classifies Code 05D as a critical violation because it directly relates to conditions that can contribute to foodborne illness if left unaddressed.
A score of 38 places Upside Craft Burger well within the Grade C range. Under the DOHMH's letter grade system, restaurants have the option to request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted.
Inspection History
Upside Craft Burger has maintained a strong compliance record in prior inspections, making the March 2026 result a notable departure from recent performance:
- June 17, 2024: Score 2 (Grade A)
- January 4, 2023: Score 12 (Grade A)
- May 19, 2022: Score 0
The restaurant earned a perfect score in May 2022 and has consistently received Grade A ratings across multiple inspection cycles. The jump to a score of 38 in the most recent inspection represents a significant change from that prior record.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system is based on the total number of points assigned during an inspection, with higher scores indicating more or more serious violations. The grading scale is:
- A: 0–13 points
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection are eligible for a re-inspection within 35 to 70 days, at which point a letter grade placard is issued based on the re-inspection score. Until a grade is finalized and posted, establishments may display a "Grade Pending" sign.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Upside Craft Burger including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.