Bronx, NY — Nick's Pizza, a pizzeria located at 1356 East Gun Hill Road in the Bronx, was closed by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) following an inspection conducted on July 7, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 64, which places the establishment in the C grade range under the city's restaurant grading system. The closure was ordered after violations requiring immediate action were identified on the premises.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on July 10, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
Inspectors documented two violations during the July 7 visit — one critical and one non-critical.
The critical violation, cited under Code 04N, involved the presence of filth flies in the establishment's food and non-food areas. Under this code, filth flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies. The presence of these pests in a food service environment is classified as a critical violation because of the direct risk of food contamination they represent. This violation was among those requiring immediate action, which led to the closure order.
The non-critical violation, cited under Code 10B, involved drainage and plumbing deficiencies. Inspectors noted that anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices were not provided where required, or that equipment or flooring was not properly drained. Condensation or liquid waste was also found to be improperly disposed of. While classified as non-critical, drainage issues can contribute to conditions that attract pests and compromise sanitation.
DOHMH noted that violations requiring immediate action were addressed at the time of the inspection. The restaurant may apply for a reinspection once corrective measures have been completed.
Food Safety Context
Pest control is a foundational requirement under both New York City Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code. Filth flies are capable of mechanically transferring pathogens — including Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria — from contaminated surfaces to food. Their presence in a food preparation or storage environment represents a direct risk to public health.
NYC Health Code Article 81.22 requires that food service establishments be maintained free of pests and vermin at all times. Operators are responsible for identifying and eliminating conditions that attract or harbor pests, including improper waste disposal, standing water, and structural gaps that allow entry.
Drainage issues, as cited under Code 10B, are also regulated under Article 81 because standing water and improperly managed liquid waste can serve as breeding sites for certain fly species, including drain flies and Phorid flies — both of which are covered under the Code 04N violation category.
When DOHMH inspectors identify violations that pose an immediate public health risk, they are authorized under the Health Code to close an establishment until those conditions are corrected and verified.
Inspection History
Nick's Pizza has a generally favorable inspection history over the past several years, with multiple Grade A scores before the July 2026 closure:
- 2025-01-22: Score 12 (Grade A)
- 2024-11-04: Score 27
- 2023-06-27: Score 13 (Grade A)
- 2023-06-05: Score 29
- 2022-05-26: Score 12 (Grade A)
- 2022-03-02: Score 25
The pattern shows the restaurant consistently achieved Grade A status at initial inspections over the past three cycles, with higher scores appearing at reinspection visits — a common pattern in the city's grading system, where a reinspection is triggered when an initial score falls in the B or C range. The 64 recorded on July 7, 2026, represents a significant departure from the restaurant's recent performance.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City grades restaurants based on the total number of points accumulated during an inspection. Each violation carries a point value based on its severity and the risk it poses to public health. The grading scale is as follows:
- A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violations)
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points (highest number of violations)
A score of 64 places Nick's Pizza well into the C range. When a restaurant receives a score in the B or C range at an initial inspection, DOHMH schedules a follow-up reinspection, at which point the grade card is posted. Restaurants have the option to display a "Grade Pending" card while awaiting reinspection.
Closure orders are issued separately from grading and reflect the presence of conditions that inspectors determine require immediate correction before the establishment can safely continue operating.
Resources
Members of the public can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online database. Complaints about restaurant conditions can be filed through 311 or the NYC 311 website. Inspection scores are public record and are updated as new inspections are completed.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Nick's Pizza including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.