Staten Island, NY — A routine health inspection at John's Famous Deli on April 3, 2026 resulted in a score of 24, placing the restaurant near the upper end of the Grade B range and within four points of the Grade C threshold under New York City's restaurant grading system.

The inspection was conducted by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Inspection data was released publicly on April 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one non-critical violation during the visit:

  • Code 08A: The establishment was found not to be free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests.

No critical violations were cited. Under NYC Health Code Article 81, pest harborage conditions are defined broadly to include structural gaps, improper waste storage, and other environmental factors that may attract or sustain pests. While the violation was classified as non-critical, it contributed meaningfully to the restaurant's total score, accounting for a significant share of the 24 points recorded.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program, governed by NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligned with the FDA Food Code, uses a points-based system in which lower scores reflect better compliance. Violations are weighted by severity, with critical violations — those directly linked to foodborne illness risk — carrying higher point values than non-critical ones.

A score of 24 falls within the Grade B band, but its position near the upper boundary of that range is worth noting. Pest harborage conditions, even when classified as non-critical, are taken seriously by DOHMH because they can evolve into conditions that more directly affect food safety if left unaddressed. Establishments are expected to maintain active pest management programs and structural integrity that prevents entry or nesting.

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections on a cycle determined in part by a restaurant's inspection history and prior scores. Restaurants scoring in the Grade B or C range are typically re-inspected within a shorter window than those earning a Grade A.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history for John's Famous Deli is currently available in the DOHMH public dataset. This appears to be among the first recorded inspections for this location.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grades are assigned based on the score received during an unannounced inspection:

  • Grade A: 0 to 13 points (lowest number of violations)
  • Grade B: 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: 28 points or more

A score of 24 means the restaurant is operating within the Grade B range but is four points away from a Grade C designation. Restaurants that do not achieve a Grade A on an initial inspection are offered a re-inspection before a grade is publicly posted.

John's Famous Deli is located at 15 Innis Street, Staten Island, NY 10302, and serves sandwiches.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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