The Black Flamingo

Name: The Black Flamingo
Address: 281 Van Brunt Street, NYC, NY, 11231, US
Telephone: (917) 254-1789

281 Van Brunt Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

Coffee/Tea Carroll Gardens-Columbia Street-Red Hook (917) 254-1789

Grade A · as of May 7, 2026

The Black Flamingo was last inspected on May 7, 2026 and scored 13 points (A range). Inspectors found 3 violations, 1 of them critical.

Latest inspection

May 7, 2026 · Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

Score: 13 points (A range)

1 critical2 general

CriticalFood temperature

Cold food was kept warmer than 41°F, where bacteria can grow.

Official wording (code 02G)
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.
GeneralFacility upkeep

Plumbing was missing protection against backflow, or floors didn’t drain properly.

Official wording (code 10B)
Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
GeneralFacility upkeep

Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.

Official wording (code 10F)
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 scores over time. Lower is better: 0–13 is an A, 14–27 a B, 28 or more a C.

Inspection history

5 inspections on record

Dec 9, 2024 –

Administrative Miscellaneous · Initial Inspection · Violations were cited in the following area(s)
1 paperwork Show violations
- PaperworkSigns & paperwork
  
  Failure to maintain a sufficient supply of single-use, non-compostable plastic straws.
Dec 9, 2024 A 8 points (A range)

Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection
1 critical1 general Show violations
- CriticalHygiene & sanitation
  
  Surfaces that touch food weren’t properly washed and sanitized.
  
  Official wording (code 06D)
  Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
- GeneralFacility upkeep
  
  Plumbing was missing protection against backflow, or floors didn’t drain properly.
  
  Official wording (code 10B)
  Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.
Feb 12, 2024 A 3 points (A range)

Cycle Inspection · Re-inspection
1 general Show violations
- GeneralFacility upkeep
  
  Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.
  
  Official wording (code 10F)
  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.
Jan 11, 2024 20 20 points (B range)

Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

Scored in the B range on an initial inspection, so no grade is given yet. A re-inspection follows.
2 critical2 general Show violations
- CriticalFood handling
  
  Food was contaminated or cross-contaminated, or wasn’t thrown out when it should have been.
  
  Official wording (code 04H)
  Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
- CriticalHygiene & sanitation
  
  Food or supplies weren’t protected from contamination during storage, prep, or service.
  
  Official wording (code 06C)
  Food, supplies, and equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
- GeneralFacility upkeep
  
  Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.
  
  Official wording (code 10F)
  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.
- GeneralFacility upkeep
  
  Plumbing was missing protection against backflow, or floors didn’t drain properly.
  
  Official wording (code 10B)
  Anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device not provided where required; equipment or floor not properly drained; sewage disposal system in disrepair or not functioning properly. Condensation or liquid waste improperly disposed of.

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How NYC grades restaurants

Inspectors add points for each violation. Lower is better.
0–13 points earns an A. 14–27 is a B. 28 or more is a C.
A restaurant that scores 14 or more on its first inspection gets no grade yet. It is re-inspected about a month later and can display “Grade Pending” in the meantime.

Severity levels

Critical Can directly make someone sick: food temperatures, contamination, pests, hand-washing.
General Cleanliness, maintenance and facility problems.
Paperwork Missing signs, permits or paperwork.

More in Carroll Gardens-Columbia Street-Red Hook

Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 6 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.