Manhattan, NY — Visit Sicily Nyc, an Italian restaurant located at 86 East 7th Street in Manhattan's East Village, received a score of 29 following a New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) inspection conducted on February 18, 2026. The score places the establishment in Grade C territory, the lowest grade issued under the city's restaurant grading system. Inspectors documented one critical violation related to food protection and contamination prevention.
The inspection data was released by DOHMH on February 23, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
During the February 18 inspection, DOHMH inspectors identified one critical violation at the East Village restaurant:
- Food contamination risk (Code 06C): Food, supplies, or equipment were not protected from potential sources of contamination during storage, preparation, transportation, display, or service. Additionally, condiments were not provided in single-service containers or dispensed directly by the vendor.
This violation falls under the category of food protection failures, which are classified as critical because they represent conditions that could directly contribute to foodborne illness. When food items, cooking supplies, or equipment are left exposed to potential contamination sources, the risk of cross-contamination or exposure to harmful substances increases.
The condiment-related portion of the violation addresses a specific requirement that condiments available to customers must either be in individual single-service packets or dispensed directly by restaurant staff. Open or communal condiment containers that customers can access and potentially contaminate pose a recognized food safety concern.
No non-critical violations were recorded during this inspection.
Food Safety Context
The violation documented at Visit Sicily Nyc relates to requirements established under NYC Health Code Article 81, which governs food service establishments in New York City. Article 81 sets standards for how food must be stored, handled, prepared, and served to minimize the risk of contamination and foodborne illness.
The FDA Food Code, which serves as the model framework for local food safety regulations nationwide, similarly requires that food be protected from contamination at all points in the food handling process. Section 3-302.11 of the FDA Food Code specifies that food must be protected from cross-contamination by proper storage, separation, and handling practices.
Food contamination prevention is a foundational element of restaurant food safety programs. Contamination can come from chemical sources, physical objects, or biological agents including bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Restaurants are required to maintain systems that prevent exposure to all potential contamination sources throughout their operations.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Visit Sicily Nyc in the DOHMH public database. This may indicate that the February 18, 2026 inspection was the establishment's first recorded inspection, or that the restaurant may have recently opened or changed ownership. DOHMH conducts initial inspections of new food service establishments and then performs routine inspections on a regular cycle.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total violation points accumulated during an inspection. Lower scores indicate fewer or less severe violations:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Visit Sicily Nyc's score of 29 falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection have the option to request a re-inspection, during which the establishment has another opportunity to demonstrate compliance and potentially receive a better score. The grade from the most recent adjudicated inspection cycle is the one displayed publicly.
All New York City restaurant inspection results are public record and can be accessed through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database. Consumers can search for any restaurant's current grade, inspection history, and specific violations at the city's official inspection results portal.
Restaurants are required to post their current letter grade in a location visible to the public near the entrance of the establishment, as mandated by NYC Health Code Article 81.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Visit Sicily Nyc including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.