MARCELA'S
173 MONTROSE AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206 · Restaurant (Spanish)
Inspection summary
MARCELA'S has been inspected 4 times by NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) since September 4, 2025. The most recent inspection, on May 15, 2026, recorded 1 infraction.
None of the 4 inspections on record were free of infractions. In the past 12 months there were 3 inspections with 6 infractions recorded. The higher-risk findings here relate to: Food temperature control, Protecting food from contamination and Pests.
Recent inspections have recorded fewer infractions than earlier ones, so the record is improving.
What these findings mean
Health authorities word their violations differently, so we group them by what they mean for food safety. Higher-risk findings are the ones inspectors treat as critical, because they can directly make someone sick.
Food temperature controlHigher risk
Bacteria multiply fastest between about 4 °C and 60 °C (40 °F to 140 °F). Inspectors check that cold food stays cold, hot food stays hot, cooked food is cooled quickly, and that staff have accurate thermometers. Temperature problems are one of the most common causes of food poisoning, so these are treated as critical findings.
Recorded 3 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 15, 2026. For example:
28-03: Lighting fixture located over, by or within food storage, preparation, service or display facility, and facility where utensils and equipment are cleaned and stored, which may shatter due to extreme heat, temperature changes or accidental contact; not fitted with shatterproof bulb or shielded and encased, with end caps or other device.
Protecting food from contaminationHigher risk
This covers how food is stored, prepared and displayed: raw meat kept away from ready-to-eat food, food covered and stored off the floor, and nothing dripping or splashing into it. Cross-contamination from raw to cooked food is a direct route for salmonella and E. coli.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 13, 2026. For example:
Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
PestsHigher risk
Signs of mice, rats, cockroaches or flies, or gaps and clutter that let them get in or hide. Pests carry bacteria and can contaminate food and surfaces, so evidence of activity is treated seriously and usually triggers a follow-up visit.
Recorded 2 times on September 4, 2025. For example:
Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
Cleaning and sanitizingHigher risk
Anything that touches food, such as cutting boards, dishes and utensils, must be washed, rinsed and sanitized. Inspectors check dishwasher temperatures, sanitizer strength and how wiping cloths are stored. Poor sanitizing lets bacteria survive from one use to the next.
Recorded once on May 15, 2026. For example:
Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
Food safety training and certificationLower risk
Most jurisdictions require a certified food handler or manager on site, and some require allergen or food-worker training. These findings mean the paperwork or the trained person was missing at the time. They do not by themselves mean food was handled unsafely.
Recorded 2 times across 2 separate inspections, most recently on May 13, 2026. For example:
Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
About this data
These results come from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH), which inspects food premises and other public facilities in this area. We republish the authority's public disclosure data and refresh it regularly; the official record is the final word.
4 inspections
- Cycle Inspection / Reopening Inspection
1 infraction
- 10G: Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- Not Critical
- 10G: Dishwashing and ware washing: Cleaning and sanitizing of tableware, including dishes, utensils, and equipment deficient.
- Administrative Miscellaneous / Reopening Inspection
1 infraction
- 28-03: Lighting fixture located over, by or within food storage, preparation, service or display facility, and facility where utensils and equipment are cleaned and stored, which may shatter due to extreme heat, temperature changes or accidental contact; not fitted with shatterproof bulb or shielded and encased, with end caps or other device.
- Not Critical
- 28-03: Lighting fixture located over, by or within food storage, preparation, service or display facility, and facility where utensils and equipment are cleaned and stored, which may shatter due to extreme heat, temperature changes or accidental contact; not fitted with shatterproof bulb or shielded and encased, with end caps or other device.
- Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
4 infractions
- 04H: Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
- Critical
- 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
- Critical
- 05F: Insufficient or no hot holding, cold storage or cold holding equipment provided to maintain Time/Temperature Control for Safety Foods (TCS) at required temperatures
- Critical
- 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.
- Critical
- 04H: Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with HACCP plan.
- Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
4 infractions
- 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
- Critical
- 04L: Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- Critical
- 08A: Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- Not Critical
- 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.
- Critical
- 04A: Food Protection Certificate (FPC) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
Nearby inspected facilities
- THE BROOKLYN TREE
188 MONTROSE AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
4 inspections
- LUCKYBIRD CAKE STUDIO
163 MONTROSE AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
5 inspections
- FAITH CHINESE FOOD
170 GRAHAM AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
6 inspections
- WIN SON
159 GRAHAM AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
4 inspections
- WIN SON BAKERY
164 GRAHAM AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
3 inspections
- ERIS
167 GRAHAM AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
2 inspections
- CHIARA PIZZERIA
176 GRAHAM AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
4 inspections
- LULLA'S
169 GRAHAM AVENUE, Brooklyn, NY 11206
2 inspections