A beloved fixture of Lenox Hill's dining scene is facing serious scrutiny after city health inspectors found evidence of both rats and mice on the premises of Patsy's Pizzeria on East 60th Street. The NYC Health Department inspection on March 11, 2026 turned up seven violations and a score of 30 points on an initial, ungraded inspection cycle — a result that would correspond to "C" grade territory if confirmed at re-inspection, and a dramatic fall from the two previous inspections in which it had earned scores comfortably within A range.
A Storied Name, A Troubling Inspection
Patsy's Pizzeria traces its lineage to one of the most storied names in New York pizza history. The Food Atlas of New York notes that Italian immigrant Pasquale "Patsy" Lancieri opened the city's first pizzeria in East Harlem in 1933 and is widely credited with inventing the concept of selling pizza by the slice. The 60th Street location, situated near the Roosevelt Island Tramway on the border of Lenox Hill and Midtown East, is one of several Manhattan franchise outlets operating under the Patsy's Pizzeria name, serving the same thin-crust coal-oven pies that made the brand a New York institution, according to NYC Tourism.
The March 11 inspection awarded 30 points, per the NYC Health Department's ABCEats portal. That score surpasses the 28-point threshold that the city defines as a "C" grade, according to NYC Health. By contrast, Patsy's last two inspections — in January 2025 (12 points) and December 2023 (13 points) — had both landed just within A grade territory. The sharp deterioration in a single inspection cycle is the kind of jump that triggers a mandatory re-inspection, typically within 90 to 150 days for a score at this level.
Seven Violations, Including Dual Rodent Findings
Among the most alarming findings were simultaneous citations for both rats and mice — a combination that signals deeply entrenched pest conditions rather than an isolated incident. The inspection cited "evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas" and "evidence of mice or live mice in establishment's food or non-food areas" as two separate violations. Inspectors also cited the establishment for harboring "conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests" — the trifecta of pest-related violations that points to a systemic failure rather than a one-time lapse.
According to M&M Pest Control, evidence of rats carries a minimum fine of $200–$350 and at least 5 points per finding under the city's inspection framework; live rats elevate the condition to Level IV, while three or more live rats or over 100 fresh droppings can trigger a Level V — the most severe pest designation. The inspectors' findings at Patsy's, spanning both rat and mouse activity, suggest the problems extend throughout multiple areas of the restaurant.
The inspection sheet also flagged cold TCS (Temperature Control for Safety) food held above 41°F, a violation that indicates potential risk of bacterial growth in items like cheese, meat, or prepared foods. Rounding out the list were citations for inadequate personal cleanliness among staff — including soiled garments and improper hair restraints — as well as plumbing deficiencies, and non-food contact surfaces not kept properly clean or movable for cleaning underneath.
A Wider Rodent Problem in the Neighborhood
The findings at Patsy's don't exist in a vacuum. As reported by ABC7 New York, the Upper East Side and Lenox Hill have seen rat sightings increase by more than 100% in recent years — among the steepest rises in any Manhattan neighborhood. The city's own Rat Mitigation Zone program has designated several high-activity corridors across the boroughs for intensive inter-agency intervention, though Lenox Hill has not itself been formally designated a Rat Mitigation Zone.
Compounding the issue, the city's health department has been stretched thin. Gothamist reported in late 2025 that the department inspected only 66% of city restaurants in the 2023–2024 fiscal year, down sharply from 83% the prior year, due to staffing shortages. That gap means some restaurants may go longer between visits — and problems can compound before inspectors return.
What Comes Next
Under city rules described by America Josh, a restaurant scoring 28 or more points on an initial inspection is not immediately graded. Until that unannounced re-inspection occurs — typically within a month — Patsy's legally retains and may continue to display its prior A grade, which is why the NYC Health Department website currently still reflects an A. That re-inspection result is what will determine whether a B, C, or "Grade Pending" card goes in the window. Restaurants scoring in C range on a re-inspection face another follow-up visit within 90 to 150 days.
This is not the first time the broader Patsy's brand has faced health scrutiny. A different establishment bearing the Patsy's name — the Italian restaurant on West 56th Street — was closed by the health department in 2018 after racking up 58 violation points, including findings of live mice and filth flies, as Times Square Chronicles reported at the time. That location is a separate business from the Patsy's Pizzeria franchise. Even so, having the Patsy's name attached to a serious health inspection — at any location — is likely to raise eyebrows among regulars and tourists alike who count the brand among New York's foundational pizza institutions.
Hoodline reached out to Patsy's Pizzeria for comment on the inspection findings and has not received a response. Diners can review the full inspection record for the 60th Street location on the NYC Health Department's ABCEats portal.
