Manhattan, NY — Prova Pizza Bar, a pizza restaurant located at 89 East 42nd Street near Grand Central Terminal, received a score of 25 during a New York City health inspection conducted on March 11, 2026. The score places the restaurant in the Grade B range but near the upper boundary, just two points below the Grade C threshold of 28.

The inspection data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 13, 2026.

What Inspectors Found

During the inspection, DOHMH inspectors documented one critical violation:

  • Evidence of mice or live mice in the establishment's food or non-food areas (violation code 04L).

No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection cycle. The single critical violation alone accounted for the restaurant's score of 25, reflecting the significant weight that DOHMH assigns to pest-related conditions. Evidence of mice is categorized as a critical violation because rodents can contaminate food and food-contact surfaces with pathogens including Salmonella and E. coli.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain premises free of vermin, including mice, rats, and insects. The presence of rodent activity in a restaurant is considered a serious food safety concern under both city regulations and the FDA Food Code, which requires that food establishments be designed, maintained, and operated to prevent the entry and harborage of pests.

A score of 25 places Prova Pizza Bar at the high end of the Grade B range. While the restaurant avoids a Grade C designation, the proximity to the 28-point threshold indicates conditions that the city considers significantly below the standards expected of Grade A establishments. Restaurants scoring in this range are typically required to address cited violations promptly and may face a re-inspection.

Inspection History

Prova Pizza Bar's inspection record shows a pattern of fluctuating scores over the past several years:

  • March 11, 2026: Score 25 (Grade B)
  • August 21, 2025: Score 34 (Grade C range)
  • October 19, 2023: Score 10 (Grade A)
  • November 9, 2022: Score 32 (Grade C range)

The restaurant achieved its best recorded score of 10 in October 2023, earning a Grade A. However, the most recent two inspections have resulted in elevated scores, with the August 2025 inspection yielding a 34 — well into Grade C territory. The current score of 25 represents an improvement from that cycle but remains significantly above Grade A standards.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on inspection scores under the DOHMH grading system:

  • Grade A: 0–13 points (lowest number of violations)
  • Grade B: 14–27 points (moderate violations)
  • Grade C: 28 or more points (most serious violations)

Lower scores indicate fewer and less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C may choose to post the letter grade or a "Grade Pending" sign while awaiting a re-inspection or adjudication at the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings.

Consumers can look up the full inspection history of any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, which is updated regularly with public record data. Prova Pizza Bar's complete inspection details are available through the city's open data portal.

More About This Restaurant

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