Manhattan, NY — Patsy's Italian Restaurant, a longtime midtown Italian dining destination at 236 West 56th Street, received a Grade C following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted April 7, 2026. Inspectors recorded a score of 44 points, placing the restaurant firmly in Grade C range. The data was released publicly by DOHMH on April 9, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors identified one critical violation and two non-critical violations during the April visit.

The critical violation — Code 06D — documented that food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activities during which contamination may have occurred. Under NYC Health Code Article 81 and the FDA Food Code, food contact surfaces including cutting boards, utensils, prep tables, and equipment must be cleaned and sanitized at regular intervals to prevent cross-contamination and the potential transfer of pathogens to ready-to-eat foods. Failure to maintain this practice is classified as a critical violation because of its direct link to foodborne illness risk.

Two non-critical violations were also cited. Code 08A noted that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. Code 28-01 documented that a nuisance condition was identified — meaning the facility was not found to be free from an unsafe, hazardous, offensive, or annoying condition as required by the Health Code.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 governs food safety standards for all permitted food service establishments in the five boroughs. The FDA Food Code, which New York City's regulations closely follow, establishes that improper cleaning and sanitization of food contact surfaces is among the most direct contributors to foodborne illness outbreaks.

Pest harborage conditions, while classified as non-critical, are taken seriously by DOHMH because the presence of conditions favorable to rodents or insects can lead to contamination of food, equipment, and preparation surfaces. Inspectors are trained to identify structural gaps, debris accumulation, and other environmental factors that may invite pest activity.

A score of 44 points indicates multiple compounding issues identified during a single inspection cycle. DOHMH assigns point values based on the severity and scope of each violation, with critical violations carrying higher point totals.

Inspection History

Patsy's Italian Restaurant has a mixed inspection record in recent years. Prior inspections on file with DOHMH include:

  • 2026-04-29: Score 27
  • 2025-08-12: Score 17
  • 2023-12-28: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • 2022-12-28: Score 7 (Grade A)

The restaurant had maintained Grade A scores through December 2023 and recorded a score of 17 in August 2025. The April 2026 inspection represents a significant increase from that prior visit. The April 29, 2026 entry — scored at 27 — may reflect a subsequent reinspection or administrative cycle; DOHMH uses a reinspection process to allow establishments an opportunity to address cited violations before a final grade is assigned.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's letter grading system, administered by DOHMH, is based on the total points assessed during an inspection:

  • A: 0 to 13 points (lowest risk)
  • B: 14 to 27 points (moderate risk)
  • C: 28 or more points (highest risk)

Grades must be posted in a location visible to the public at the establishment's entrance. Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection are offered a reinspection, at which point the resulting score determines the posted grade. Establishments may also request an administrative tribunal hearing to contest cited violations.

Consumers can look up current and historical inspection scores for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH Restaurant Inspection Results database at nyc.gov/health. The dataset is updated regularly as new inspections are completed and reviewed.

More About This Restaurant

View the full inspection history for Patsy's Italian Restaurant including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.