By Patrick Hedlund
DNAinfo News Editor
LOWER EAST SIDE — While the pastrami at Katz’s Deli on East Houston Street may be anything but average, the landmark restaurant’s cleanliness is barely enough to cut the mustard.
The city’s Department of Health gave the world-famous delicatessen a “C” as part of its new letter-grading system that went into effect this month.
A "C" represents a failing grade under the department's new guidelines.
The destination eatery racked up 47 violation points during a July 2 inspection, which found sanitary citations related to non-food contact surfaces and equipment being improperly maintained.
A June 30 inspection yielded the restaurant a whopping 153 violation points for improper use of sanitized equipment and evidence of live rats in food and/or non-food areas.
Owner Allen Dell voiced his displeasure with the new system to New York magazine’s Grub Street blog, saying that a “rude” inspector could slap the restaurant with unwarranted violations.
The letter grade must be posted prominently in the restaurant under the new regulations, something that will likely not throw the hordes of tourists that make pilgrimages to Katz’s on daily basis.
“I don’t think it’s going to hurt business or help business — I just think people will get used to whatever it is,” Dell told the blog. “Would I rather have it the old way? Yeah, but not enough to make a fuss about it.”
