New York City health inspectors shut down a Brooklyn cafe after finding live cockroaches, evidence of mice and food held above required cold-storage temperatures. Zaca Cafe’s temporary closure on September 24 is the kind of serious enforcement action that can result from restaurant health-code violations, but the business was cleared to reopen one week later.
The cafe at 426 Marcus Garvey Boulevard in Bedford-Stuyvesant serves French and American fare, including breakfast, sandwiches and dinner. City inspection data show the restaurant was ordered closed during a September 24 compliance inspection, then authorized to reopen following a separate inspection on October 1.
Inspectors cited roaches, mice evidence and food-temperature problems
The September 24 inspection recorded live roaches in a food or non-food area of the establishment. Inspectors also cited evidence of mice or live mice, along with flies associated with refuse or other unsanitary conditions.
Food safety concerns extended beyond pests. The inspection included a finding for cold-held food above the applicable temperature limit, as well as food, supplies or equipment that were not adequately protected from potential contamination. A separate citation covered conditions that could provide harborage for rodents or insects.
The report also flagged garbage-handling conditions, problems involving plumbing or drainage, inadequate cleaning and sanitizing of dishes or equipment, and maintenance of non-food-contact surfaces.
The September inspection carried a score of 59 points. Under New York City’s inspection system, lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. That score reflected the conditions inspectors documented at the time and led to the temporary closure order.
What changed at the reopening inspection
When inspectors returned on October 1, the result was substantially different. The follow-up inspection scored three points and recorded the health department’s action as “Establishment re-opened by DOHMH.”
Only a finding involving the cleanliness or maintenance of non-food-contact surfaces and equipment appeared on that follow-up report. The earlier roach, mice-evidence and cold-holding violations were not listed again during the reopening inspection. The city’s authorization meant Zaca Cafe could resume service.
The cafe’s own website continues to advertise its regular operating hours, dine-in service and online ordering.
The cafe’s earlier inspection history
This wasn’t Zaca Cafe’s first inspection involving pests. An August 5 visit recorded evidence of mice or live mice and resulted in a 28-point score. The establishment had also received an A grade following a March 2025 inspection, reflecting better conditions at that earlier point.
New York City routinely inspects restaurants and makes their inspection histories public. Closure orders can be lifted after a successful follow-up visit, even when the earlier findings were significant. Anyone checking a restaurant’s record can consult the city’s public inspection database for its latest available results.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment