Manhattan, NY — 9Th Ave Pizza, located at 712 9th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, received a score of 36 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on February 9, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade C territory, the lowest letter grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented a critical violation related to the absence of an accessible hand washing facility.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified one critical violation at the pizza restaurant. Inspectors cited the establishment under violation code 05D for lacking a hand washing facility in or adjacent to the toilet room or within 25 feet of a food preparation, food service, or ware washing area. The citation further noted that the hand washing facility was not accessible, was obstructed, or was being used for non-hand washing purposes, and that no hot and cold running water at adequate pressure, no soap, or no acceptable hand-drying device was available.
Hand washing access is considered one of the most fundamental food safety controls in restaurant operations. The ability for food handlers to wash their hands properly and frequently is a primary defense against the transmission of foodborne illness.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
Hand washing requirements are established under NYC Health Code Article 81 and align with the FDA Food Code, which mandates that food establishments provide hand washing sinks that are convenient, accessible, and properly supplied at all times during operation. The FDA Food Code specifies that hand washing facilities must be equipped with water at a temperature of at least 100°F, hand cleanser, and a means of drying hands.
The absence of a functional and accessible hand washing station is classified as a critical violation because it directly increases the risk of contamination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, inadequate hand washing by food service workers is a leading contributing factor in foodborne illness outbreaks in restaurant settings. Proper hand hygiene helps prevent the spread of pathogens including norovirus, Salmonella, and E. coli.
Under the DOHMH inspection framework, critical violations are those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness and carry heavier point values on the scoring scale.
Inspection History
The February 2026 inspection is not the first time 9Th Ave Pizza has received an elevated score. The restaurant's recent inspection record shows:
- January 14, 2026: Score 29 (Grade N)
A Grade N designation indicates the restaurant received a score of 28 or higher on an initial inspection and was awaiting a re-inspection or adjudication hearing. The February 9 inspection resulted in an even higher score of 36, representing a seven-point increase from the previous visit less than a month earlier.
The DOHMH noted that violations were cited but did not record a closure action during the February inspection. The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 11, 2026, two days after the inspection was conducted.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by the DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
A score of 36 falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade C on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection opportunity, typically within 30 days. The restaurant may also request an adjudication hearing through the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings to contest specific violations.
Grade cards must be posted at the restaurant's entrance where they are visible to the public. The grading system, introduced in 2010, is designed to give diners a quick reference point for evaluating a restaurant's compliance with food safety regulations.
Consumers can look up the full inspection history for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly available restaurant inspection database or through NYC Open Data. The inspection records for 9Th Ave Pizza and all other city restaurants are public information and are updated as new inspections are completed.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for 9Th Ave Pizza including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.