Staten Island, NY — A health inspection conducted at Primo Pizzeria, located at 1282 Richmond Road in Staten Island, resulted in a score of 58, placing the restaurant in Grade C standing under New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection was carried out on March 27, 2026, with data released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on April 22, 2026.

The inspection identified one critical violation and one non-critical violation.

What Inspectors Found

The critical violation recorded during the inspection involved the absence of a valid Food Protection Certificate (FPC) held by a manager or supervisor of food operations, cited under Code 04A.

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, food service establishments are required to have at least one certified food protection manager on site during all hours of operation. The Food Protection Certificate is obtained by passing a DOHMH-approved food safety examination and demonstrates that the holder has been trained in safe food handling practices, temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and related topics. The absence of a certified manager is classified as a critical violation because it indicates a gap in oversight that could increase the risk of foodborne illness.

Inspectors also noted a non-critical violation under Code 20-06: the current letter grade card or Grade Pending card was not posted in a location visible to customers. NYC regulations require that the most recent letter grade be displayed conspicuously at or near the entrance of the establishment so that diners can make informed decisions before entering.

Food Safety Context

The Food Protection Certificate requirement is established under NYC Health Code Article 81-13 and is consistent with guidance in the FDA Food Code, which recommends that at least one certified food protection manager be present at all times during food preparation and service. The certification is intended to ensure that someone with formal food safety training is responsible for overseeing kitchen operations and responding to potential hazards.

A score of 58 points reflects multiple deductions applied during the inspection. Under New York City's grading system, scores are based on the nature and severity of violations observed, with critical violations typically carrying higher point penalties than non-critical ones. A score in this range results in a Grade C designation, the lowest posted grade in the city's three-tier system.

The grade posting requirement under Code 20-06 ensures transparency in the city's public health inspection program. Customers are entitled by regulation to view the most recent grade before choosing to dine at an establishment.

Inspection History

Primo Pizzeria's recent inspection record shows variability in compliance over the past several years:

  • September 4, 2024: Score 15, Grade B
  • November 2, 2023: Score 36
  • August 15, 2022: Score 13, Grade A
  • January 3, 2022: Score 21

The restaurant previously earned a Grade A in August 2022 with a score of 13, indicating a period of strong compliance. The score rose to 21 in January 2022 and reached 36 in November 2023, before improving to a Grade B with a score of 15 in September 2024. The March 2026 inspection represents a significant increase in score compared to the most recent prior result.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City's restaurant letter grade system is administered by DOHMH and is based on the total number of points assessed during a sanitary inspection. The grades are defined as follows:

  • Grade A: Score of 0 to 13 points
  • Grade B: Score of 14 to 27 points
  • Grade C: Score of 28 points or higher

When a restaurant receives a score that would result in a Grade B or Grade C, it has the option to request a re-inspection before a grade is officially posted. If the score on the re-inspection qualifies for a Grade A, that grade is posted. Otherwise, the restaurant may post a Grade Pending card while it has the opportunity to appeal before the final grade is displayed.

Inspection records for all NYC restaurants are available to the public through the DOHMH online restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search by restaurant name, address, or borough to review full violation histories, scores, and grade information.

More About This Restaurant

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