Bronx, NY — Patsy's Pizzeria, located at 980 Morris Park Avenue in the Bronx, received a Grade C rating with a score of 31 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 9, 2026. The inspection identified one critical violation related to food contact surface sanitation, marking a significant decline from the restaurant's previously strong inspection record.

The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 11, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the February 9 inspection, DOHMH inspectors cited Patsy's Pizzeria for a single critical violation under code 06D: food contact surfaces were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

Food contact surfaces include any equipment, countertops, utensils, or preparation areas that come into direct contact with food during storage, preparation, or service. When these surfaces are not adequately cleaned and sanitized between uses, they can become vectors for cross-contamination and the transfer of harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria.

While only one violation was documented during the inspection, the severity of the finding was sufficient to produce a score of 31, placing the establishment in the Grade C range.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments across the five boroughs. Under these regulations, all food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized using approved methods after each use, between handling different raw food types, and any time contamination may have occurred during food preparation.

The FDA Food Code, which serves as the basis for many local food safety regulations, specifies that food contact surfaces must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized at specific intervals. For surfaces in constant use, the FDA recommends cleaning and sanitizing at least every four hours, though more frequent sanitation is required when switching between different food products.

Proper sanitation of food contact surfaces is considered one of the most fundamental practices in commercial food safety. Health authorities consistently identify inadequate surface sanitation as a leading contributing factor in foodborne illness outbreaks at restaurants.

The violation cited at Patsy's Pizzeria falls under the critical category, meaning inspectors determined it posed a direct risk to public health. Critical violations carry higher point values in New York City's scoring system, which explains how a single violation can produce a score above the Grade C threshold.

Inspection History

Patsy's Pizzeria had maintained a relatively strong inspection record prior to the February 2026 visit. The restaurant's recent inspection history shows:

  • October 9, 2024: Score 13, Grade A
  • May 15, 2023: Score 7, Grade A
  • April 11, 2022: Score 23, no grade recorded

The October 2024 inspection resulted in a score of 13, just within the Grade A threshold. The May 2023 inspection produced a score of 7, which represented the restaurant's best recorded result. The April 2022 inspection, with a score of 23, fell in the Grade B range.

The jump from a score of 13 to 31 between the two most recent inspections represents a notable shift for the establishment. However, a single inspection result does not necessarily reflect the ongoing conditions at a restaurant, as scores can fluctuate between inspection cycles.

Patsy's Pizzeria will have the opportunity to request a re-inspection. If the restaurant receives a lower score on a subsequent inspection, the posted grade can be updated accordingly.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points recorded during an inspection:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points
  • Grade B: 14–27 points
  • Grade C: 28 or more points

Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection and can post a "Grade Pending" sign while awaiting the result.

Residents can look up inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online at the NYC Department of Health website. The database includes current grades, violation details, and complete inspection histories for all permitted food service establishments in the city.

More About This Restaurant

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