Manhattan, NY — Pizza Plus, a pizzeria located at 4 South Street in Lower Manhattan, was closed following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene inspection conducted on January 16, 2026. The restaurant received a score of 75 points, well above the 28-point threshold that triggers a C grade — the lowest passing designation in New York City's restaurant grading system.

The inspection data was released publicly by DOHMH on February 6, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the January 16 inspection, health inspectors documented two violations at Pizza Plus — one critical and one non-critical.

The critical violation, coded 06E, involved sanitized equipment or utensils, including in-use food dispensing utensils, being improperly used or stored. Under NYC Health Code regulations, proper sanitization and storage of food-contact surfaces is essential to preventing cross-contamination and the potential spread of foodborne illness. When sanitized equipment is improperly handled or stored, it can be re-contaminated before coming into contact with food, undermining the purpose of the sanitization process entirely.

The non-critical violation, coded 19-06, cited the restaurant for providing single-use, non-compostable plastic straws to customers without a customer request, including making such straws available at a self-serve station. This violation relates to New York City's environmental regulations governing single-use plastics, which took effect as part of the city's broader sustainability initiatives.

While the restaurant received only two individual violations, the cumulative point total of 75 indicates the critical nature and severity of the conditions observed during the inspection.

Food Safety Context

New York City's restaurant inspection program, administered by DOHMH, operates under NYC Health Code Article 81 and aligns with the FDA Food Code standards for food safety. Restaurants are evaluated across a range of criteria including food temperature control, personal hygiene practices, facility maintenance, pest activity, and proper handling and storage of equipment.

The critical violation documented at Pizza Plus — improper use or storage of sanitized equipment — falls under provisions designed to maintain the integrity of food-contact surfaces. The FDA Food Code specifies that cleaned and sanitized equipment must be stored in a manner that protects it from contamination until it is used. When this chain of sanitation is broken, the risk of bacterial transfer to food increases.

A score of 75 represents a significant departure from the standards required for continued operation. Under New York City's grading system, any score of 28 or above results in a C grade, and establishments with serious or persistent conditions may face closure until violations are corrected and a re-inspection is conducted.

Inspection History

A review of Pizza Plus's inspection history shows a pattern of fluctuating scores over the past several years:

  • January 22, 2026: Score 2, Grade Z — reopened following re-inspection
  • January 16, 2026: Score 75, Grade C — closed by DOHMH
  • October 27, 2025: Score 18
  • August 27, 2024: Score 19, Grade B
  • April 16, 2024: Score 6
  • January 5, 2023: Score 15
  • December 1, 2022: Score 16, Grade B

Notably, Pizza Plus was re-inspected on January 22, 2026 — six days after the closure — and received a score of 2, which allowed the restaurant to reopen. The Grade Z designation indicates the score was recorded during a re-inspection following a closure, and the low score of 2 suggests the previously cited conditions had been substantially corrected.

Prior to the January 2026 closure, the restaurant's inspection scores ranged from 6 to 19 over the preceding three years, with two Grade B designations recorded in August 2024 and December 2022. The October 2025 inspection resulted in a score of 18, which while above the Grade A threshold of 13, did not result in closure at that time.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores, with lower scores indicating fewer violations:

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

Restaurants that receive a B or C grade on an initial inspection are entitled to a re-inspection, during which they have the opportunity to correct violations and potentially improve their score. Closure actions are typically reserved for conditions that present an immediate public health concern.

All New York City restaurant inspection results, including scores, grades, and specific violations, are public record and available through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection history before dining by visiting the city's online portal or checking the letter grade posted at the establishment's entrance.

More About This Restaurant

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