Staten Island, NY — Ambrosinos Pizzeria, located at 3161 Amboy Road in Staten Island, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on January 12, 2026. The establishment received a score of 41 points, placing it well above the 28-point threshold associated with a Grade C rating. Inspectors documented evidence of mice and conditions conducive to pest activity at the location.
The pizzeria has since reopened. A follow-up inspection on January 14, 2026 resulted in a score of 0 points, indicating all previously cited violations had been addressed.
What Inspectors Found
During the January 12 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Ambrosinos Pizzeria for two violations — one critical and one non-critical.
The critical violation, recorded under code 04L, documented evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. Under NYC health inspection protocols, evidence of active rodent activity is classified as a critical violation due to the direct risk it poses to food safety and public health.
The non-critical violation, cited under code 08A, noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This type of violation typically refers to structural gaps, improper storage, accumulated debris, or other environmental factors that can attract or shelter pests.
Together, these two violations contributed to the 41-point score that prompted the closure action. Violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the inspection.
Food Safety Context
Rodent activity in food service establishments is treated as a serious public health concern under both local and federal food safety regulations. NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the sanitary standards that all food service establishments in New York City must maintain. Under these regulations, establishments must be free of vermin and must maintain conditions that prevent pest harborage.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model framework for state and local food safety regulations nationwide, similarly classifies evidence of rodent activity as a critical violation. Mice and other rodents can contaminate food, food preparation surfaces, and storage areas through direct contact, droppings, and urine. They are known carriers of pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Hantavirus.
When DOHMH inspectors identify conditions that pose an imminent threat to public health, they have the authority to close an establishment until the violations are corrected. The closure of Ambrosinos Pizzeria on January 12 followed this standard enforcement procedure. The establishment was required to address all cited violations before being permitted to reopen.
Inspection History
Ambrosinos Pizzeria's inspection record over the past four years shows a pattern of generally acceptable scores prior to the January 2026 closure. The restaurant's full recent inspection history is as follows:
- January 14, 2026: Score 0, Grade Z (reopened following closure)
- January 12, 2026: Score 41, closed by DOHMH
- January 16, 2025: Score 23
- November 2, 2023: Score 18, Grade B
- February 21, 2023: Score 19
- February 3, 2022: Score 8, Grade A
The establishment earned a Grade A with a score of 8 points in February 2022, its best recorded result in this period. Subsequent inspections in 2023 produced scores of 19 and 18, with the latter resulting in a Grade B designation. The January 2025 inspection yielded a score of 23, which while elevated, did not result in a closure action.
The January 12, 2026 score of 41 represents a notable departure from the establishment's prior performance. However, the rapid turnaround — achieving a score of 0 just two days later on January 14 — indicates that the restaurant took prompt corrective action to address the cited violations.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points documented during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection. The grade posted in the restaurant's window reflects the most recent grading outcome. A "Grade Pending" sign indicates that the restaurant is awaiting a re-inspection or is in the adjudication process.
Inspection data referenced in this article was collected on January 12, 2026, and released publicly by DOHMH on January 16, 2026. All NYC restaurant inspection results are available through the DOHMH public database and the NYC Open Data portal. Consumers can search any restaurant's inspection history at the city's official restaurant grading website.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Ambrosinos Pizzeria including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.