A

Hidden Grounds

400 Union Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Coffee/Tea North Side-South Side (929) 209-3327

Grade A · as of Feb 4, 2026

Hidden Grounds was last inspected on February 4, 2026 and scored 13 points (A range). Inspectors found 2 violations, 1 of them critical.

Latest inspection

February 4, 2026 · Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

A

Score: 13 points (A range)

1 critical1 general
  • CriticalFood handling

    No one supervising the kitchen held a Food Protection Certificate.

    Official wording (code 04A)

    Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.

  • 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.

ABFeb 9, 2023: 878723/02Mar 9, 2023: 242423/03Jun 25, 2024: 252524/06Aug 30, 2024: 2224/08Feb 4, 2026: 131326/02
Inspection scores over time. Lower is better: 0–13 is an A, 14–27 a B, 28 or more a C.

Inspection history

6 inspections on record

  1. A 2 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.

  2. 25 25 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 critical3 general Show violations
    • 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.

    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Food or supplies weren’t protected from contamination during storage, prep, or service.

      Official wording (code 06C)

      Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

    • 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.

    • GeneralFood handling

      Food-contact surfaces were in poor repair.

      Official wording (code 09C)

      Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food contact surface improper. Surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained.

  3. B 24 points (B range)

    Pre-permit (Operational) · Re-inspection

    3 critical2 general Show violations
    • CriticalHygiene & sanitation

      Food or supplies weren’t protected from contamination during storage, prep, or service.

      Official wording (code 06C)

      Food, supplies, or equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, service or from customer’s refillable, reusable container. Condiments not in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.

    • CriticalFacility

      No approved procedure for refilling reusable containers.

      Official wording (code 05H)

      No approved written standard operating procedure for avoiding contamination by refillable returnable containers.

    • CriticalFood handling

      No working thermometer was available to check food temperatures.

      Official wording (code 04J)

      Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.

    • 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.

  4. –

    Administrative Miscellaneous · Re-inspection · Violations were cited in the following area(s)

    1 paperwork Show violations
    • PaperworkSigns & paperwork

      Required healthy-eating information wasn’t posted.

      Official wording (code 20-08)

      Failure to post or conspicuously post healthy eating information

  5. 87 87 points (C range)

    Pre-permit (Operational) · Initial Inspection

    Scored in the C range on an initial inspection, so no grade is given yet. A re-inspection follows.

    6 critical Show violations
    • CriticalFacility

      No approved procedure for refilling reusable containers.

      Official wording (code 05H)

      Written Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the Department for refillable, reusable containers not available at the time of inspection. Container construction improper

    • CriticalFood handling

      No one supervising the kitchen held a Food Protection Certificate.

      Official wording (code 04A)

      Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.

    • CriticalFacility

      A hand-washing sink was missing, blocked, or not stocked with soap and towels.

      Official wording (code 05D)

      No hand washing facility in or adjacent to toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service or ware washing area. Hand washing facility not accessible, obstructed or used for non-hand washing purposes. No hot and cold running water or water at inadequate pressure. No soap or acceptable hand-drying device.

    • CriticalFood handling

      No working thermometer was available to check food temperatures.

      Official wording (code 04J)

      Properly scaled and calibrated thermometer or thermocouple not provided or not readily accessible in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas to measure temperatures of TCS foods during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.

    • 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.

    • CriticalFacility

      Food-contact equipment or containers were made of unsuitable material or badly maintained.

      Official wording (code 05C)

      Design, construction, materials used or maintenance of food contact surface improper. Surface not easily cleanable, sanitized and maintained. Culinary sink or other acceptable method not provided for washing food.

More in North Side-South Side

Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 9 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.