Manhattan, NY — A March 2026 health inspection at Peter Dillon's Pub, an Irish pub located at 130 East 40th Street in Midtown Manhattan, resulted in a score of 35, placing the establishment in the Grade C range. Inspection data was conducted on March 31, 2026 and released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 2, 2026.
The inspection documented one critical violation and one non-critical violation across food and non-food areas of the establishment.
What Inspectors Found
The most serious finding was a critical violation under Code 04N, which documented the presence of filth flies or food/refuse/sewage-associated (FRSA) flies in the establishment's food and non-food areas. FRSA flies include house flies, blow flies, bottle flies, flesh flies, drain flies, Phorid flies, and fruit flies. The presence of such pests in areas where food is prepared or stored represents a direct contamination risk and is classified as a critical violation by DOHMH.
Inspectors also cited a non-critical violation under Code 08A, noting that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects, or other pests. This violation addresses physical conditions in a facility — such as gaps, cracks, clutter, or improper waste storage — that may attract or shelter pests.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to maintain premises free of pest activity and conditions that could support pest harborage. These requirements align with the FDA Food Code, which identifies pest control as a foundational element of safe food handling.
Critical violations like Code 04N are weighted more heavily in DOHMH scoring because flies can transfer pathogens to food contact surfaces and exposed food. A single critical violation of this type can contribute significantly to an establishment's total score.
DOHMH inspectors do not assign grades at every visit. When a restaurant scores 28 or more points on an initial inspection cycle visit, a Grade C card must be posted. The restaurant may request a re-inspection, at which point the score from that second inspection determines the grade that is posted publicly.
Inspection History
Peter Dillon's Pub has a mixed inspection record in recent years:
- January 6, 2026: Score 40
- August 22, 2024: Score 10 (Grade A)
- February 1, 2024: Score 22
- November 22, 2022: Score 15 (Grade B)
The August 2024 Grade A result indicates the establishment has previously met the city's highest sanitary standards. The January 2026 score of 40 and the current March 2026 score of 35 represent a period of declining performance. The presence of fly activity across two consecutive inspection cycles suggests the issue has persisted.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system is based on points assigned during unannounced DOHMH inspections. Lower scores indicate fewer violations:
- A: 0–13 points
- B: 14–27 points
- C: 28 or more points
Critical violations — those most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — are weighted more heavily than non-critical violations in the scoring formula. Restaurants that score in the B or C range on an initial inspection are typically given the opportunity for a re-inspection before a letter grade is finalized and posted.
Current inspection records for all New York City restaurants are publicly available through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health. Diners can look up any establishment's full inspection history, including violation details, scores, and grade history, using the restaurant's name or address.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Peter Dillon's Pub including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.