Manhattan, NY — Fiat Cafe, the Italian restaurant at 203 Mott Street in Nolita, received a Grade B with a score of 24 following a health inspection conducted on March 12, 2026. The score places the restaurant near the upper end of the Grade B range, just three points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection identified one critical violation and no non-critical violations. The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 16, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented a single critical violation during the visit: hot time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food was not being held at or above 140°F, as required under violation code 02B.

TCS foods — which include cooked meats, pasta, sauces, and other items common in Italian cuisine — must be maintained at 140°F or higher to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. When these foods fall into the "danger zone" between 41°F and 140°F, bacterial growth can accelerate rapidly, potentially doubling every 20 minutes under certain conditions.

While only one violation was cited, the resulting score of 24 points reflects the severity assigned to hot holding temperature failures under the DOHMH scoring system.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the food safety standards that all restaurants in the city must follow. The hot holding requirement aligns with the FDA Food Code, which designates 140°F as the minimum safe temperature for hot TCS foods.

Temperature control violations are among the most commonly cited critical issues in New York City restaurant inspections. The DOHMH considers them critical because improper holding temperatures are directly linked to foodborne illness risk. According to the CDC, temperature abuse is one of the leading contributing factors in foodborne disease outbreaks.

A score of 24 is notable because it sits in the upper portion of the Grade B range. At just three points below a Grade C designation, it indicates that the violation was weighted significantly in the scoring system.

Inspection History

Fiat Cafe's recent inspection record shows a pattern of alternating scores:

  • Nov 12, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • Aug 24, 2023: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • Jul 11, 2023: Score 21
  • Nov 18, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • Apr 20, 2022: Score 22

The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores on its two most recent graded inspections prior to the March 2026 visit. However, the record also shows two previous instances — in July 2023 and April 2022 — where the restaurant scored in the Grade B range with scores of 21 and 22 respectively.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH grading system:

  • A: 0–13 points — Minimal violations identified
  • B: 14–27 points — Moderate violations identified
  • C: 28 or more points — Significant violations identified

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection for a chance to improve their score.

Fiat Cafe's current Grade B score of 24 represents a significant increase from its prior Grade A scores of 11. The restaurant's inspection results are public record and can be reviewed on the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can also check current grades displayed at restaurant entrances as required by city law.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Fiat Cafe including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.