American · New York City, NY

Mother's Ruin

Name: Mother's Ruin
Address: 18 Spring Street, New York City, NY

18 Spring Street

Last inspected Nov 6, 2025 · View Map ↗ · Compare ↗

Read Reviews on Google

A Grade

Get the next inspection, free.

We'll email you when Mother's Ruin has a new health inspection. No spam, one-click unsubscribe.

Own this restaurant? Add an inspection badge to your website · Inspection prep checklist

Repeat problemsSerious findings or closures appear in two or more of the last three inspections. Review the dated records below.

The full inspection history

5 inspections

Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

Nov 6, 2025

A Grade

Official score: 13 · Understand this area’s scale

2 recorded violations

criticalCode 04JFood temperature

Official wording

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.

In plain English

Food was not kept cold enough, hot enough, cooled fast enough, or cooked or reheated to the right temperature. Bacteria grow quickly in the "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F, which makes this one of the most important food-safety checks.

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

criticalCode 02HFood temperature

Official wording

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.

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Nov 6, 2025 · Original Source

Cycle Inspection / Re-inspection

May 20, 2024

A Grade

Official score: 12 · Understand this area’s scale

4 recorded violations

minorCode 08CPests

Official wording

Pesticide not properly labeled or used by unlicensed individual. Pesticide, other toxic chemical improperly used/stored. Unprotected, unlocked bait station used.

In plain English

The inspector found mice, rats, cockroaches, flies, or evidence of them (like droppings) inside the business, or conditions that could attract them. Pests can spread bacteria to food and surfaces, so this is treated as one of the more serious findings.

More about signs of rodents or insects

minorCode 10FCleaning and sanitizing

Official wording

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.

In plain English

Dishes, equipment, or surfaces that touch food were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized, or sanitizer was not at the right strength. Clean surfaces help stop germs from spreading to food.

More about cleaning or sanitizing problems

minorCode 10BWater, plumbing, and sewage

Official wording

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.

In plain English

The business had issues with hot or cold running water, plumbing, drains, backflow prevention, or sewage disposal. Some of these, like no hot water, can force a temporary closure until fixed.

More about water, plumbing, or sewage problems

criticalCode 06DContamination

Official wording

Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

In plain English

Food was stored or handled in a way that could let germs or other material get into it, such as raw meat stored above ready-to-eat food or uncovered food. Cross-contamination is a common cause of foodborne illness.

More about food not protected from contamination

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, May 20, 2024 · Original Source

Administrative Miscellaneous / Initial Inspection

Oct 16, 2023

No violations recorded

0 recorded violations

No violations recorded in this inspection.

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Oct 16, 2023 · Original Source

Trans Fat / Initial Inspection

Oct 16, 2023

Violations cited

1 recorded violation

notedCode 16-02Food temperature

Official wording

The original nutrition fact labels or ingredient label for a cooking oil, shortening or margarine or food item sold in bulk, or acceptable manufacturer’s documentation not maintained on site.

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

Official record from NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Oct 16, 2023 · Original Source

Cycle Inspection / Initial Inspection

Oct 16, 2023

Violations cited

Official score: 40 · Understand this area’s scale

4 recorded violations

minorCode 08APests

Official wording

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

In plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

criticalCode 04LPests

Official wording

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

In plain English

More about signs of rodents or insects

criticalCode 02BFood temperature

Official wording

Hot TCS food item not held at or above 140 °F.

In plain English

More about food kept at an unsafe temperature

criticalCode 04NPests

Official wording

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.