World Famous Di Fara Pizza Shut Down By Health Inspectors

MIDWOOD, BROOKLYN — The iconic New York City pizzeria Di Fara was shut down by health inspectors who found mice and workers wearing soiled and possibly contaminated clothes, city records show.

The famous Midwood pizzeria on Avenue J and East 15th Street was closed down Tuesday after health inspectors slammed the restaurant with 45 violation points, according to Health Department records.

Di Fara's violations included evidence of mice, cold foods held at unsafe temperatures, non-vermin proof facilities and workers with inadequate personal cleanliness, records show.

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This is not the first time in recent years Di Fara faced off against health inspectors. The pizzeria was temporarily shuttered in 2018 when health inspectors found similar conditions.

Di Fara has been a New York City institution since Domenico "Dom" DeMarco opened the pizzeria in 1965. Di Fara was named an All Star Eatery by Forbes in 2018 and has been named one the city's best pizzerias by CNN, the New York Post, Food & Wine, among others.

DeMarco, who is reportedly still making pizzas in the Midwood eatery, told the New Yorker in a 2017 profile that Di Fara draws people from across the globe who want to try his pizza.

"Some people make lousy pizza," DeMarco said in a New Yorker profile published in 2017. "We give you more than what you ask."

Update: A Di Fara representative told Patch via email that owners are were not immediately available to comment.