Queens, NY — A health inspection conducted at Sal's Pizza, located at 85-07 Jamaica Avenue in Queens, resulted in a score of 27 — placing the restaurant at the uppermost boundary of the Grade B range under New York City's restaurant grading system. The inspection took place on March 23, 2026, with data released by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 26, 2026.

A score of 27 represents the highest possible score within the B range. One additional point would have placed the restaurant in Grade C territory.

What Inspectors Found

Inspectors documented one non-critical violation during the March inspection. The citation, recorded under Code 10B, noted that an anti-siphonage or back-flow prevention device was not provided where required, or that equipment or floor drainage did not meet applicable standards. No critical violations were identified during this inspection cycle.

While the single violation was classified as non-critical, the cumulative point total it contributed pushed the restaurant's score to the top of the Grade B band.

Food Safety Context

Under NYC Health Code Article 81, restaurants operating in New York City are subject to unannounced inspections carried out by DOHMH sanitarians. Each violation carries a point value based on its public health risk; higher-risk violations carry greater point weight.

The FDA Food Code, which informs NYC's inspection standards, identifies proper drainage and back-flow prevention as components of a safe food service environment. Back-flow prevention devices protect potable water supplies from contamination by ensuring that non-potable liquids cannot flow backward into clean water lines.

Non-critical violations, while not posing the immediate public health risk of critical violations, still factor into a restaurant's overall score and grade assignment.

Inspection History

Sal's Pizza's inspection record over the past two years reflects variability in scores:

  • April 14, 2026: Score 7 (Grade A)
  • May 19, 2025: Score 12 (Grade A)
  • January 15, 2025: Score 26
  • September 25, 2024: Score 13 (Grade A)
  • August 7, 2024: Score 53

The August 2024 score of 53 represents a notably elevated result. The restaurant's more recent inspections — including a score of 7 recorded in April 2026, after the March inspection covered in this report — suggest improvement over time. It is worth noting that the April 2026 Grade A result postdates the March inspection and reflects a separate inspection cycle.

Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades

New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on their inspection scores:

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

Restaurants that receive a B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection, at which point they can either post the scored grade card or opt to display a "Grade Pending" notice while awaiting the result.

Consumers can look up inspection records for any NYC restaurant through the DOHMH's online restaurant inspection database at nyc.gov/health.

More About This Restaurant

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