Manhattan, NY — Patsy's Pizzeria at 204 East 60th Street received a Grade C score of 30 points following a health inspection conducted on March 11, 2026, according to data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on March 13. Inspectors cited four violations, including two critical findings related to pest activity and personal hygiene practices.

What Inspectors Found

The inspection documented evidence of rats in the establishment, recorded under violation code 04K. This critical violation indicates that inspectors identified either live rats or signs of rat activity in food preparation or storage areas. Rodent presence in food service establishments poses direct contamination risks to food products and surfaces.

Inspectors also cited the restaurant for inadequate personal cleanliness practices under code 06A. The violation noted issues including outer garments soiled with possible contaminants, lack of effective hair restraints where required, jewelry worn on hands or arms, and fingernails not kept clean and trimmed or fingernail polish worn in food preparation areas. These practices create potential pathways for bacterial contamination of food.

Two non-critical violations were documented during the inspection. Code 08A identified conditions conducive to pests, indicating the establishment was not free of harborage or environments that attract rodents, insects, or other pests. Additionally, code 10B noted issues with anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention devices, improper drainage of equipment or floors, and improper disposal of condensation or liquid waste.

Food Safety Context

NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes comprehensive standards for food service establishment operations, including requirements for pest control, personal hygiene, and sanitary facilities. The documented violations represent failures to maintain these baseline standards.

The FDA Food Code, which informs New York City regulations, identifies rodent activity as a priority foundation violation requiring immediate correction. Rats can transmit numerous pathogens including Salmonella, E. coli, and Leptospira through their droppings, urine, and direct contact with surfaces.

Personal hygiene violations such as those documented under code 06A address critical control points in preventing foodborne illness. Hair restraints prevent physical contamination, while restrictions on jewelry and requirements for clean, trimmed fingernails reduce bacterial transfer risks. Studies have shown that hands are the primary vector for cross-contamination in food service environments.

Inspection History

Patsy's Pizzeria maintained a consistent A-grade record prior to this inspection:

  • January 22, 2025: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • December 19, 2023: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • September 20, 2022: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • February 8, 2022: Score 25 (no grade recorded)

The current score of 30 points represents a significant increase from the restaurant's recent inspection performance. The establishment had not received a C grade in available records dating back to 2022.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades based on inspection point totals:

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

Points accumulate based on the severity and number of violations found during inspections. Critical violations, which directly relate to foodborne illness risk factors, carry higher point values than non-critical violations related to sanitary conditions or facilities maintenance.

Restaurants receiving C grades must post the grade card in their front window. Establishments have the right to request a re-inspection, and many do so to attempt to improve their grade before the posted result becomes permanent.

Public Health Resources

The DOHMH conducts unannounced inspections of food service establishments at least once per year. Inspection results are public record and available through the NYC Health Department's restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health.

Consumers who observe health code violations at food service establishments can report concerns to 311 or through the city's online complaint system. The health department investigates complaints and may conduct additional inspections based on reported conditions.

Full inspection records, including detailed violation descriptions and reinspection results, are maintained in the city's publicly accessible database.

More About This Restaurant

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