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A

Otto's Shrunken Head

538 East 14 Street, Manhattan, NY 10009

Polynesian East Village (212) 228-2240

Grade A · as of Sep 30, 2025

Otto's Shrunken Head was last inspected on September 30, 2025 and scored 7 points (A range). Inspectors found 2 violations, 1 of them critical.

Latest inspection

September 30, 2025 · Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection

A

Score: 7 points (A range)

1 critical1 general

CriticalHygiene & sanitation

Surfaces that touch food weren’t properly washed and sanitized.

Official wording (code 06D)
Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.
GeneralFacility upkeep

Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.

Official wording (code 10F)
Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.

Inspection scores over time. Lower is better: 0–13 is an A, 14–27 a B, 28 or more a C.

Inspection history

3 inspections on record

Jun 6, 2024 A 11 points (A range)

Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection
1 critical2 general Show violations
- CriticalPests
  
  Rats, or signs of rats, were found.
  
  Official wording (code 04K)
  Evidence of rats or live rats in establishment's food or non-food areas.
- GeneralPests
  
  The building wasn’t pest-proofed: gaps, holes, or clutter that let rodents or insects in or give them shelter.
  
  Official wording (code 08A)
  Establishment is not free of harborage or conditions conducive to rodents, insects or other pests.
- GeneralFacility upkeep
  
  Non-food surfaces or equipment were dirty, damaged, or made of unsuitable material.
  
  Official wording (code 10F)
  Non-food contact surface or equipment made of unacceptable material, not kept clean, or not properly sealed, raised, spaced or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides, above and underneath the unit.
Mar 18, 2023 A 5 points (A range)

Cycle Inspection · Initial Inspection
1 critical Show violations
- CriticalHygiene & sanitation
  
  Surfaces that touch food weren’t properly washed and sanitized.
  
  Official wording (code 06D)
  Food contact surface not properly washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred.

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How NYC grades restaurants

Inspectors add points for each violation. Lower is better.
0–13 points earns an A. 14–27 is a B. 28 or more is a C.
A restaurant that scores 14 or more on its first inspection gets no grade yet. It is re-inspected about a month later and can display “Grade Pending” in the meantime.

More on reading these results

Severity levels

Critical Can directly make someone sick: food temperatures, contamination, pests, hand-washing.
General Cleanliness, maintenance and facility problems.
Paperwork Missing signs, permits or paperwork.

More in East Village

Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) open data, refreshed hourly. Last inspection 13 months ago. Always confirm with the official record.