Staten Island, NY — Oishii Sushi, a Japanese restaurant located at 307 Nelson Avenue in Staten Island, received a score of 43 during a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on March 3, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, indicating 28 or more violation points. Inspectors documented two critical violations during the visit, including evidence of mice on the premises.

What Inspectors Found

The most significant finding during the March 3 inspection was evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas. This violation, classified under code 04L, is considered critical by the DOHMH due to the direct risk rodent activity poses to food safety. Mice can contaminate food, preparation surfaces, and storage areas through droppings, urine, and direct contact.

Inspectors also cited the restaurant for a second critical violation under code 04C: food workers not using utensils or other barriers to eliminate bare hand contact with food that will not receive adequate additional heat treatment. This violation is particularly significant for a sushi restaurant, where many menu items — including raw fish preparations — are served without further cooking. Direct hand contact with ready-to-eat foods increases the risk of transmitting foodborne pathogens from workers to customers.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection. The DOHMH noted that violations were cited in the listed areas, though no immediate closure action was taken at the time of the inspection.

Food Safety Context

Both violations documented at Oishii Sushi fall under provisions of NYC Health Code Article 81, which establishes the sanitary standards for food service establishments operating in New York City. The requirement for food workers to use gloves, utensils, or other barriers when handling ready-to-eat foods aligns with FDA Food Code Section 3-301.11, which specifically prohibits bare hand contact with foods that will not undergo additional cooking.

The evidence of rodent activity carries particular weight under the city's health code. Pest control is a foundational requirement for food service establishments, and repeated or severe rodent findings can lead to enforcement actions including closure orders. The FDA Food Code classifies rodent contamination as a condition that can contribute directly to foodborne illness outbreaks.

For sushi and other raw-preparation restaurants, the combination of bare hand contact and pest evidence represents a compounding concern, as raw foods offer no secondary kill step through cooking to reduce potential contamination.

Inspection History

No prior inspection history is available in the DOHMH database for this establishment at this location. The March 3, 2026 inspection represents the first recorded inspection in the publicly available dataset. This could indicate that the restaurant is a relatively new establishment or that it is operating under a new permit.

  • March 3, 2026: Score 43 (Grade C), two critical violations cited

It should be noted that this inspection data was released by the DOHMH on March 5, 2026, two days after the inspection was conducted. Conditions at the restaurant may have changed between the inspection date and the publication of this report.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on the total violation points recorded during inspections. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:

  • A: 0–13 points — Minimal violations found
  • B: 14–27 points — Moderate violations found
  • C: 28 or more points — Significant violations found

Oishii Sushi's score of 43 falls well into Grade C range, exceeding the threshold by 15 points. Restaurants that receive a Grade C are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct cited violations and potentially achieve a lower score and higher grade.

Residents can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH's publicly accessible database at the NYC Open Data portal. The restaurant is required to post its current grade card in a location visible to customers near the entrance. Consumers with specific concerns about food safety conditions at any establishment may file a complaint through the city's 311 service line or online portal.

More About This Restaurant

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