Manhattan, NY — Uncle Pauls Pizza Ny, located at 70 Vanderbilt Avenue near Grand Central Terminal, received a score of 35 during a health inspection conducted on March 12, 2026, placing it in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented one critical violation involving unsanitized food contact surfaces and one non-critical violation related to improper pesticide handling.
The inspection data was released by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) on March 17, 2026. The action recorded was that violations were cited in the areas identified during the inspection.
What Inspectors Found
The critical violation documented during the inspection involved food contact surfaces that were not properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following activity when contamination may have occurred. This violation falls under DOHMH code 06D and is classified as critical because food contact surfaces that are not adequately sanitized can serve as vectors for bacterial contamination and foodborne illness.
Inspectors also cited the establishment for a non-critical violation under code 08C, related to pesticide use and storage. The violation noted that pesticide was not properly labeled or was used by an unlicensed individual, that pesticide or other toxic chemicals were improperly used or stored, or that an unprotected or unlocked bait station was in use.
The combination of these two violations resulted in the total score of 35 points, which exceeds the 28-point threshold for a Grade C designation.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, all food service establishments are required to maintain sanitary conditions and are subject to unannounced inspections by DOHMH. Food contact surface sanitation is a fundamental requirement of both the NYC Health Code and the FDA Food Code, which mandate that all surfaces that come into direct contact with food must be cleaned and sanitized between uses to prevent cross-contamination.
The FDA Food Code specifies that food contact surfaces must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized at specific intervals — including between tasks when working with different types of food, after any interruption during which contamination may have occurred, and at minimum every four hours during continuous use.
Regarding pesticide handling, New York State Environmental Conservation Law requires that commercial pesticide application in food service establishments be performed by licensed applicators and that all pesticides be properly labeled and stored in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and regulatory standards. Bait stations must be tamper-resistant and properly secured to prevent accidental exposure.
Inspection History
The March 2026 inspection represents a notable change from the restaurant's more recent inspection performance. The establishment's prior inspection record includes:
- November 21, 2024: Score of 11, Grade A
- February 1, 2024: Score of 27, no grade recorded
- November 17, 2022: Score of 18, Grade B
- April 22, 2022: Score of 0
The pizzeria had achieved its best recent result in November 2024, earning a Grade A with a score of 11. The current score of 35 represents a 24-point increase from that previous inspection. The restaurant's history shows scores that have fluctuated over the past several years, ranging from a perfect score of 0 in April 2022 to the current 35.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total points accumulated during an inspection. Points are assessed for each violation found, with critical violations carrying higher point values:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the opportunity to request a re-inspection to potentially improve their score before the grade is finalized and posted.
Consumers can look up the latest inspection results for any New York City restaurant through the DOHMH online database or by checking the letter grade card posted at the establishment's entrance, as required by law. The NYC Open Data portal also provides full inspection histories for all food service establishments in the city.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Uncle Pauls Pizza Ny including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.