A routine inspection of Little Italy Trattoria in Manhattan's Nolita neighborhood turned into a major enforcement action after New York City Department of Health inspectors observed a live rat emerge from behind the cooking range and move through the kitchen toward the service area.
Inspectors documented the rat sighting and subsequently found evidence of a significant rodent infestation throughout the restaurant, including droppings under the prep counters, along the wall edges of the dry storage room, and — most alarmingly — in the dining room beneath a banquette near the window. A gap in the exterior foundation wall, roughly the width of a quarter, was identified as a likely entry point.
The inspection resulted in a total of 51 violation points across 11 separate violations, under New York City's scoring system where lower is better. The restaurant received a C grade, which under city law must be prominently displayed at the entrance. In NYC's system, 0–13 points earns an A, 14–27 points earns a B, and 28 or more points results in a C.
Additional violations cited included food debris accumulation on floor surfaces, improper storage of ready-to-eat food, and a non-functional light fixture in the prep area that inspectors flagged as a contributing factor to missed cleaning tasks.
The restaurant's owner told the New York Post that the rat sighting was a 'freak incident' and that they had engaged an exterminator the following day. A second inspection conducted 28 days later found the rodent issue resolved and reduced the restaurant's score to 19 points, earning a B grade restoration.