Manhattan, NY — Fiat Cafe, an Italian restaurant at 203 Mott Street in Manhattan, received a Grade B following a health inspection conducted on March 26, 2026. Inspectors assigned a score of 23, placing the restaurant near the upper boundary of the B range and within four points of the Grade C threshold. Inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 30, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the March 26 visit. The cited violation — Code 02B — recorded that a hot temperature-controlled for safety (TCS) food item was not held at or above 140°F. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, hot TCS foods must be maintained at 140°F or higher to prevent the growth of pathogens that can cause foodborne illness. No non-critical violations were noted during this inspection cycle.

A score of 23 carries weight beyond the letter grade alone. While the restaurant retains a B, the result sits at the higher end of the 14-to-27-point range, leaving limited margin before a score would fall into Grade C territory (28 points or above).

Food Safety Context

Temperature control is among the most closely monitored categories in NYC restaurant inspections. NYC Health Code Article 81 and FDA Food Code guidance identify improper holding temperatures as a contributing factor in a significant share of foodborne illness outbreaks. Hot foods held below 140°F can allow bacterial growth in a relatively short window, making this category of violation a priority concern for public health inspectors.

Critical violations are weighted more heavily in DOHMH scoring because they represent conditions with a direct potential to cause illness. Even a single critical violation can substantially affect a restaurant's total score.

Inspection History

Fiat Cafe's recent inspection record shows fluctuation between strong and borderline results:

  • March 26, 2026: Score 23 (Grade B)
  • March 12, 2026: Score 24 (Grade B)
  • November 12, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • August 24, 2023: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • July 11, 2023: Score 21
  • November 18, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • April 20, 2022: Score 22

The two most recent inspections — both in March 2026 — produced scores of 23 and 24, suggesting a pattern that differs from the Grade A results the restaurant achieved in 2022 and 2024. Prior to this period, Fiat Cafe consistently scored in the low double digits.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades based on the total score accumulated during an inspection:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer or less serious violations. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection are typically re-inspected within roughly a month, at which point they may improve their grade.

Current and historical inspection records for all NYC restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection lookup at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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