Staten Island, NY — Osteria Santina, an Italian restaurant at 502 Jewett Avenue, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on April 4, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 29, placing the restaurant in the C grade tier. The data was released by DOHMH on April 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one critical violation during the April 4 visit, citing a breach of food protection standards under NYC Health Code Article 81.

The violation — classified under Code 06C — found that food, supplies, or equipment were not adequately protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Specifically, inspectors noted that condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor, a requirement designed to prevent cross-contamination between customers.

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food establishments are required to protect food and food-contact surfaces from contamination at all stages of service. Shared condiment containers — such as open bottles or communal dispensers reused across tables without sanitization — are identified as a potential contamination pathway, as they can be handled by multiple customers and may not be cleaned or replaced between uses.

The single-service container requirement is intended to eliminate this risk by ensuring that each customer receives a container used only once, or that condiments are dispensed mechanically by staff without direct customer contact with the supply.

Critical violations are defined by DOHMH as those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness if not corrected. They carry higher point values than non-critical violations and can significantly affect an establishment's inspection score.

Inspection History

Osteria Santina's most recent prior inspections show a record that includes both strong grades and periods of elevated scores:

  • April 30, 2024: Score 8 (Grade A)
  • April 2, 2024: Score 53
  • August 30, 2022: Score 13 (Grade A)

The April 30, 2024 Grade A followed a score of 53 recorded just weeks earlier on April 2, 2024 — a pattern consistent with an initial inspection and a follow-up reinspection cycle, which is standard DOHMH procedure. The restaurant's August 2022 inspection also resulted in a Grade A with a score of 13.

The current score of 29 represents a decline from the restaurant's most recent graded result.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

DOHMH assigns letter grades to restaurants following inspections based on the total point score:

  • A: Score of 0 to 13 points (fewest violations)
  • B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • C: Score of 28 points or higher

Points are assigned based on the nature and severity of violations identified. Critical violations, which pose a higher risk to public health, carry more points than non-critical violations. A restaurant that receives a B or C on its initial inspection is typically reinspected within a set period, and the grade from the reinspection may be posted in lieu of the initial result.

Restaurants are required to post their current grade card in a window visible from the street.

More About This Restaurant

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