Buzzy NYC restaurants, bars dupe customers, city inspectors by hiding below-A health ratings

They only get an A for effort.

Nearly a dozen Instagram-worthy hotspots around the Big Apple are pulling a fast one on oblivious foodies by hiding their city-issued B and C letter grades, The Post has found.

Trendy eateries such as Serafina, Citizens of Soho, Flippers and more have earned sub-A ratings over the likes of rodents, flies and other hazards — but are duping diners by posting outdated “grade pending” notices or foregoing the mandatory signs altogether, The Post has learned.

Ritzy Dante outpost Caffe Dante has been hiding a B rating since March 2024, when it was issued five sanitary violations over mice, flies and “conditions conducive” to other pests.

As of Thursday, it displays an outdated “grade pending” sign outside.

“I honestly never would’ve noticed,” Caffe Dante diner Rebecca, 24, said, adding she would still “probably” return.

“I just wish they were more up-front about it, it’s deceptive,” she added.

But not all New Yorkers said they would return to the beloved dining spot — which did not return a request for comment — knowing its rating.

“Rats shouldn’t be in kitchens or restaurants unless it’s Ratatouille,” said 29-year-old Adam Fazli. “I only strive for A’s. That’s it.”

The city’s health department requires all restaurants to display their grades in a bold 8 x 11 sign in clear view of passers-by, and at all times, or risk fines.

Citizens of Soho, a viral Aussie-style brunch joint, touts a “grade pending” sign outside its Nolita outpost – despite being issued a C rating in April over rats, flies and food contamination concerns, The Post found.

A closing manager at the restaurant told The Post the facility is contesting the letter grade. A July follow-up still found evidence of rats, an unwashed food surface and food held at improper temperatures, but missed its absent letter rating.

“The food was good, so I don’t really know and I don’t care,” one customer said.

The brunch spot is only one of roughly 200 in Manhattan with a C rating, per city records. More than 8,000 Manhattan establishments have an A rating, and about 600 others have a B.

“New Yorkers can call 311 if they see a restaurant not posting its grade card and check ABCEats to find the restaurant’s current grade and inspection details,” a city health department spokesperson told The Post. 

West Village dive bar Bandits also did not have its letter posted after it was dinged for not posting its B letter grade over mice, contamination concerns and cold food held at higher-than-normal temperatures.

As of Thursday, its sign was still missing. A request for comment was not immediately returned.

Other B and C-rated sites – like the West Village’s Figaro, Soho’s Flippers and Serafina’s 38th Street location – have managed to avoid inspectors finding out about their lack of signage, according to city records.

Flippers and Serafina did not respond to a Post request for comment, while Figaro management claim it is awaiting a “re-inspection” to verify the results of their C rating from July.

A worker at wine bar Aria even swapped its “grade pending” to a B rating sign from November 2024 during a Post visit. While a rep for the bar claimed it is also waiting for a second inspection, the city confirmed the current letter grade stands for both Aria and Figaro.

The findings come after the Post revealed A-lister West Village hotspot Carbone has held a B since at least 2023.

La Bonbonniere received a C rating from the health department last year for possible food contamination, live roaches, mice and improperly-stored food, among other violations – and was cited last month for its missing grade.

Manager Marina pointed out that the eatery was simply caught by unannounced health inspectors on a bad day, as the city updated its rating to an A during an inspection this week.

Mr. Purple, a rooftop lounge in the Lower East Side that also serves burgers, tuna tartare and skirt steak, was similarly issued violations in December for food contamination concerns – but not for showing a “grade pending” sign instead of its B rating.

A manager from the bar declined to comment.

“Why do I care? I’m only ordering alcohol here anyway,” one barfly said.

“I just sort of go in and hope for the best,” said local Zach Trask when asked if he checks health ratings.

“Honestly I should, but I just don’t.”