Brooklyn, NY — Nonna's Pizzeria, located at 253 Nassau Avenue in the Greenpoint neighborhood, received a score of 63 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 17, 2026. The score places the restaurant well above the 28-point threshold for a Grade C rating, with inspectors documenting two critical violations related to food temperature control and personal cleanliness.
Nonna's Pizzeria restaurant inspection" width="400" height="225" loading="eager" decoding="async" class="article-featured-image">The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 20, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified two critical violations at the pizza restaurant, both of which relate to core food safety practices.
The first critical violation, cited under code 02G, involved cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items being held above 41°F. NYC health regulations require that cold TCS foods — including ingredients such as cheese, deli meats, and prepared toppings commonly used in pizza preparation — be maintained at or below 41°F to prevent bacterial growth. When cold foods are stored above safe temperatures, harmful pathogens including Salmonella, Listeria, and E. coli can multiply to levels that pose a risk of foodborne illness.
The second critical violation, cited under code 06A, addressed personal cleanliness standards. Inspectors noted inadequate personal cleanliness practices, which can include issues such as soiled outer garments, lack of effective hair restraints in food preparation areas, jewelry worn on hands or arms, and fingernail polish or improperly maintained fingernails. These requirements exist to prevent physical and biological contaminants from being introduced into food during handling and preparation.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
Restaurant health inspections in New York City are governed by NYC Health Code Article 81 and align with the FDA Food Code, which establish standards for safe food handling, storage, and preparation in commercial food service establishments.
Temperature control is one of the most fundamental requirements in food safety. The FDA Food Code mandates that cold TCS foods be held at 41°F or below. Foods held in the temperature "danger zone" between 41°F and 135°F allow bacteria to double in number approximately every 20 minutes under certain conditions. For a pizza restaurant, where ingredients like mozzarella cheese, cured meats, and vegetable toppings may sit in preparation areas, maintaining proper cold holding temperatures is essential.
Personal hygiene requirements for food handlers are equally foundational. Hair restraints, clean outer garments, and restrictions on hand jewelry and nail polish exist to prevent physical contamination and reduce the transfer of bacteria from hands and clothing to food products.
A score of 63 indicates a significant accumulation of violation points, representing nearly five times the maximum score allowed for a Grade A rating.
Inspection History
A review of Nonna's Pizzeria's inspection record shows variability in compliance over recent years:
- March 22, 2024: Score 11 (Grade A)
- April 17, 2023: Score 22
- November 15, 2022: Score 31 (Grade C)
- February 17, 2022: Score 24
The restaurant had demonstrated improved compliance during its most recent prior inspection in March 2024, earning a Grade A with a score of 11. The current score of 63 represents a significant departure from that performance. The restaurant also received a Grade C score in November 2022, indicating that compliance challenges have occurred in the past.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer violations:
- Grade A: 0–13 points
- Grade B: 14–27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they may improve their score. Grade cards must be posted in a conspicuous location near the entrance of the establishment.
Consumers can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is publicly accessible and updated regularly. The database provides current grades, violation details, and full inspection histories for all inspected food service establishments in the five boroughs.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Nonna's Pizzeria including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.