Brooklyn, NY — Fazio's, a pizza restaurant at 709 Knickerbocker Avenue in Brooklyn, received a score of 25 following a health inspection conducted on March 24, 2026, according to records released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 26, 2026. The score places the restaurant in Grade B territory but within two points of the Grade C threshold.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the visit. The citation, recorded under Code 02G, identified cold temperature control failures: food items classified as Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) were held above the required 41°F limit. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, maintaining proper cold holding temperatures is a foundational requirement for preventing bacterial growth in perishable foods such as dairy, meat, and prepared items.

A single critical violation of this nature carries significant point weight in DOHMH's scoring system, contributing substantially to the restaurant's final score of 25. No non-critical violations were cited during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Cold holding violations are among the most commonly cited and consequential findings in restaurant inspections. The FDA Food Code establishes 41°F as the upper limit for cold TCS foods because temperatures above that threshold allow pathogens — including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli — to multiply to potentially unsafe levels.

NYC Health Code Article 81 requires all food service establishments to actively monitor and maintain proper food storage temperatures. Inspectors assess compliance through direct measurement of food temperatures using calibrated equipment during unannounced visits.

A score of 25 falls within the Grade B range and represents a relatively high penalty load within that band. Restaurants scoring at or above 28 receive a Grade C, making Fazio's current score notably close to that threshold.

Inspection History

Fazio's has a mixed record across recent inspection cycles:

  • March 24, 2026: Score 25 (Grade B)
  • September 9, 2025: Score 37 (Grade Z — score pending adjudication)
  • May 28, 2025: Score 21
  • December 19, 2023: Score 21 (Grade B)
  • March 30, 2023: Score 57

The restaurant's September 2025 result of 37 was recorded as a Grade Z, indicating the score was under appeal or adjudication at the time of that inspection cycle. The pattern shows recurring elevated scores, with the 2023 result of 57 representing a significantly higher violation load.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores under the following scale:

  • A: 0–13 points (lowest violation severity)
  • B: 14–27 points
  • C: 28 or more points

Grades must be posted in a visible location at the restaurant's entrance. A Grade B indicates that violations were identified and that the establishment did not meet the standard for an A grade during this inspection cycle. Restaurants that score in the B or C range during an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within 30 to 60 days.

Diners can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's NYC Restaurant Inspection Results portal at nyc.gov or via the NYC Open Data platform. Complaints about food safety conditions can be filed with 311.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Fazio's including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.