Grade AAmerican

Essence Bar & Grill

1662 ATLANTIC AVENUE, Brooklyn, 11213

Should you eat here?

Caution — pest-related violations found across multiple inspections, including the latest (9 months ago).

Last inspected Nov 1, 2025 · New York City health department

What the inspector found on Nov 1, 2025

  • Signs of pests (like mice, rats, roaches, or flies) or conditions that could attract them.

    Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.

  • Signs of pests (like mice, rats, roaches, or flies) or conditions that could attract them.

    Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.

    Critical
  • Food was not kept hot or cold enough. Wrong temperatures let bacteria grow.

    Cold TCS food item held above 41 °F; smoked or processed fish held above 38 °F; intact raw eggs held above 45 °F; or reduced oxygen packaged (ROP) TCS foods held above required temperatures except during active necessary preparation.

    Critical
  • A cleanliness or sanitizing issue with surfaces, dishware, or the general premises.

    Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Inspection history

DateResultTypeViolations
Nov 1, 2025Grade PendingCycle Inspection / Re-inspection4 (2 critical)
Jun 18, 2025Grade PendingCycle Inspection / Initial Inspection5 (3 critical)
Mar 28, 2024Grade AAdministrative Miscellaneous / Initial Inspection4 (1 critical)
Sep 25, 2023Grade PendingPre-permit (Operational) / Compliance Inspection4 (3 critical)
Aug 24, 2023Grade CPre-permit (Operational) / Re-inspection8 (4 critical)
Aug 10, 2023Grade PendingPre-permit (Operational) / Initial Inspection6 (3 critical)

Problems that keep coming back

Issues cited at more than one inspection — a better signal than any single visit.

  • 5×Signs of pests (like mice, rats, roaches, or flies) or conditions that could attract them.
  • 5×A cleanliness or sanitizing issue with surfaces, dishware, or the general premises.
  • 4×Food was not kept hot or cold enough. Wrong temperatures let bacteria grow.
  • 3×Raw and ready-to-eat foods were not kept separate, risking contamination.
  • 3×Signs of pests (like mice, rats, roaches, or flies) or conditions that could attract them.
  • 2×Signs of pests (like mice, rats, roaches, or flies) or conditions that could attract them.
  • 2×A cleanliness or sanitizing issue with surfaces, dishware, or the general premises.

Around this address

City records for the building itself, not this restaurant’s inspection.

  • 4 rodent inspections on record, 2 finding rat activity.
  • 4 recent 311 complaints filed at this address.

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