Lips Cafe
Last inspected: May 2, 2025
74
Score
The health department has logged nine inspections at Lips Cafe, the earliest from 2022. The newest entry in the record is dated May 2, 2025. Diners should read medium risk as a signal that some issues exist but aren't extreme.
Violation counts have been trending down, averaging around three violations across recent inspections versus roughly seven violations before.
“Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions” comes up most often, recorded five times in the inspection record.
The city-wide average is 77, putting Lips Cafe squarely in typical territory. Nothing in the record is alarming, but there's room to improve.
9
Inspections
2
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
May 2, 2025
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
2 critical violations.
View 2 violations
Wiping cloths not stored clean and dry, or in a sanitizing solution, between uses.
06F
Sanitized equipment or utensil, including in-use food dispensing utensil, improperly used or stored.
06E
74
Mar 6, 2025
Cycle Inspection / Reopening Inspection
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (frsa) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. frsa flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, phorid flies and fruit flies.
04N
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
Order or notice posted or required to be posted by the department mutilated, obstructed or removed.
18-14
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.
10F
74
Mar 4, 2025
Cycle Inspection / Reopening Inspection
1 critical violation. 1 minor violation.
View 2 violations
Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (frsa) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. frsa flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, phorid flies and fruit flies.
04N
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
82
Feb 26, 2025
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
7 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 11 violations
Raw, cooked or prepared food is adulterated, contaminated, cross-contaminated, or not discarded in accordance with haccp plan.
04H
Food protection certificate (fpc) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
04A
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.
02G
Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
04K
After cooking or removal from hot holding, tcs food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal temperature is reduced from 140 °f to 70 °f or less within 2 hours, and from 70 °f to 41 °f or less within 4 additional hours.
02H
Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (frsa) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. frsa flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, phorid flies and fruit flies.
04N
Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
04L
Contract with a pest management professional not in place. record of extermination activities not kept on premises.
28-06
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. unprotected, unlocked bait station used.
08C
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.
10B
29
Jul 10, 2024
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
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.
02G
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.
10F
Toilet facility not maintained or provided with toilet paper, waste receptacle or self-closing door.
10A
78
Dec 5, 2023
Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection
5 critical violations. 3 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Food protection certificate (fpc) not held by manager or supervisor of food operations.
04A
Evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas.
04L
Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
04M
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.
02G
After cooking or removal from hot holding, tcs food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal temperature is reduced from 140 °f to 70 °f or less within 2 hours, and from 70 °f to 41 °f or less within 4 additional hours.
02H
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.
10B
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
Thawing procedure improper.
09B
41
Oct 2, 2023
Administrative Miscellaneous / Initial Inspection
1 minor violation.
View 1 violation
Current letter grade or "grade pending" card not conspicuously posted or visible to passersby
20-05
95
Dec 6, 2022
Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection
2 critical violations. 1 minor violation.
View 3 violations
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.
02G
After cooking or removal from hot holding, tcs food not cooled by an approved method whereby the internal temperature is reduced from 140 °f to 70 °f or less within 2 hours, and from 70 °f to 41 °f or less within 4 additional hours.
02H
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.
10F
70
Oct 5, 2022
Administrative Miscellaneous / Initial Inspection
4 critical violations. 4 minor violations.
View 8 violations
Live roaches in facility's food or non-food area.
04M
Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
06D
Filth flies or food/refuse/sewage associated with (frsa) flies or other nuisance pests in establishment’s food and/or non-food areas. frsa flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, phorid flies and fruit flies.
04N
Food, supplies, and equipment not protected from potential source of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display or service.
06C
Current letter grade or grade pending card not posted
20-06
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.
10F
Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
08A
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.
10B
45
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Lips Cafe last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Lips Cafe on file is from May 2, 2025. The public record contains nine inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Lips Cafe?
Across the inspection record, “establishment is not free of harborage or conditions” has been cited five times, more than any other issue at Lips Cafe.
How does Lips Cafe compare to other restaurants in Brooklyn?
Lips Cafe most recently scored 74 out of 100, which is about the same as the Brooklyn average of 77.
Has Lips Cafe's inspection record improved over time?
Yes. Recent inspections at Lips Cafe have averaged around three violations per visit, down from roughly seven earlier in the record.
What does a medium risk rating mean?
A medium risk rating at Lips Cafe means the most recent inspection turned up a handful of issues that the health department wrote up but did not classify as critical.
How often is Lips Cafe inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Lips Cafe is inspected around three times per year on average.
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