Staten Island, NY — Giuseppe Pizzeria, located at 4300 Amboy Road in Staten Island, was cited for two critical health code violations during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on March 24, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 30, placing it in Grade C territory under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspection data was released by DOHMH on March 26, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented two critical violations during the March inspection.

The first involved evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas, cited under Code 04L. The presence of rodents in a food service environment poses direct risks of food contamination and is among the more serious categories of violations tracked by DOHMH.

The second critical violation, cited under Code 05D, involved the handwashing facility being inaccessible, obstructed, or used for purposes other than handwashing. Inspectors also noted the absence of adequate soap or an acceptable hand-drying device. Proper handwashing access is a foundational requirement in commercial food preparation environments, as it directly affects the prevention of foodborne illness transmission.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Both violations cited at Giuseppe Pizzeria fall under requirements established in NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments operating in New York City. These standards are also aligned with the FDA Food Code, which provides the federal framework for food safety practices that municipalities across the country use as a baseline.

Code 04L addresses pest control and the exclusion of rodents from food service areas. Rodent activity in a restaurant setting can contaminate food, food contact surfaces, and storage areas, and is weighted heavily in DOHMH's scoring system. A single rodent evidence violation can carry a point value between 12 and 28 depending on the severity and scope of the finding.

Code 05D addresses handwashing infrastructure. Under both NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food service establishments are required to maintain accessible, properly equipped handwashing stations in or adjacent to food preparation and service areas. Handwashing is considered a primary control measure against the spread of pathogens in food handling environments.

Inspection History

Giuseppe Pizzeria's inspection record prior to the March 2026 citation shows a pattern of generally strong performance, with Grade A scores on multiple recent visits:

  • September 23, 2025: Score 9 (Grade A)
  • May 8, 2025: Score 23 (no grade listed)
  • April 1, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
  • January 12, 2024: Score 26 (no grade listed)
  • October 31, 2022: Score 13 (Grade A)

The March 2026 score of 30 represents a significant departure from the Grade A rating the restaurant received as recently as September 2025. Scores in the 20s, seen at the May 2025 and January 2024 inspections, indicate the restaurant has previously operated in the borderline range before returning to Grade A performance.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following inspections based on the total number of points accumulated for violations. The grading scale is as follows:

  • Grade A: Score of 0–13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14–27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or higher

A Grade C does not automatically result in a closure order. Restaurants that receive a score in the Grade C range may request a re-inspection before a grade card is posted, or may post a Grade Pending card while the process continues. The grade posted at the establishment reflects the most recent completed inspection cycle.

Inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH online database at nyc.gov/health. Consumers can search by restaurant name or address to view full violation histories, scores, and current grade status.

More About This Restaurant

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