Yesterday, State Senator Jeff Klein released his annual list of the 12 dirtiest and cleanest New York restaurants. Klein compiles his lists from Department of Health restaurant inspection info, and he reserves special ire for pest-ridden restaurants. He released his two lists at a press conference outside Del Posto, in the meatpacking district, which failed its inspection in June but has since cleaned up the problems.

Klein wants the city to adopt a grading system (like LA's), in which each restaurant is given a DOH grade, A-D, and must post the grade prominently. That might work better than just shutting down places at the drop of a hat—if your favorite restaurant earns a C, you can decide for yourself whether to go there or not.

Here are the lists (which Klein calls the "Dirty Dozen" and the "Sparkling Twelve.") Heh. Frankly, I think I'd rather eat cockroaches than go to the McDonald's that's listed as one of the cleanest. On the other hand, Sripraphai, the fantastic Queens Thai spot, is also listed as one the cleanest—just another good reason to eat there. 26 Seats is the only relatively high-profile restaurant called out on the dirty list.

The lists are below, with their violation scores in parentheses after the date of inspection.

Senator Jeff Klein’s Dirty Dozen New York City Restaurants of 2008

EL BARRIO RESTAURANT
152 EAST 110 STREET, MANHATTAN
7/24/08 – INSECTS, COCKROACHES (204)

GOLDEN KRUST CARIBBEAN BAKERY
1862 NOSTRAND AVENUE, BROOKLYN
7/09/09 – MICE, INSECTS, COCKROACHES (182)

GUACAMOLE’X
1186 EAST 180 STREET, BRONX
7/25/08 – MICE, INSECTS (126)

MERRY JERRY’S JAMAICAN RESTAURANT
102 SARATOGA AVENUE, BROOKLYN
7/10/08 – RATS, INSECTS (125)

NEW CHOPSTICK HOUSE
102-09 QUEENS BOULEVARD, QUEENS
7/03/08 – MICE, COCKROACHES (100)

NINO’S PIZZA
842 FRANKLIN AVENUE, BROOKLYN
7/29/08 – MICE, INSECTS, COCKROACHES (98)

THE METROPOLITAN GRILL
1 MADISON STREET, MANHATTAN
6/05/08 – MICE, INSECTS, COCKROACHES (97)

CAFÉ CARCIOFO
248 COURT STREET, BROOKLYN
7/29/08 – MICE, INSECTS (97)

JIMMY’S COFFEE SHOP
900 6 AVENUE, MANHATTAN
7/08/08 – INSECTS, COCKROACHES (95)

POPCORN HOF AND BAR
246 EAST 204 STREET, BRONX
4/24/08 – MICE, RATS (93)

ACTION BURGER
513 GRAND STREET, BROOKLYN
4/17/08 – MICE, RATS (93)

26 SEATS
168 AVENUE B, MANHATTAN
8/06/08 – MICE, INSECTS (92)

Senator Jeff Klein’s Sparkling Twelve
Cleanest New York City Restaurants of 2008

ARTUSO PASTRY SHOP
672 EAST 187 STREET, BRONX
1/23/08 (7)

BLIMPIE
85 EAST GUN HILL ROAD, BRONX 10467
4/2/08 (5)

CAFFE ITALIA
12-40 A CLINTONVILLE STREET, QUEENS
10/16/07 (4)

CARIFESTA RESTAURANT
4251 WHITE PLAINS ROAD, BRONX
4/2/08 (4)

CHURRASCARIA PLATAFORMA
316 WEST 49 STREET, MANHATTAN
4/22/08 (6)

CORATO PIZZA II
60-91 MYRTLE AVENUE, QUEENS
2/20/08 (2)

MCDONALD'S
119-05 LIBERTY AVENUE, QUEENS
4/9/08 (7)

OCEAN GRILL
384 COLUMBUS AVENUE, MANHATTAN
11/27/07 (5)

PRIMO AMORE
34-33 FRANCIS LEWIS BOULEVARD, QUEENS
10/11/07 (2)

RUSSO'S ON THE BAY
162-45 CROSS BAY BOULEVARD, QUEENS
11/1/07 (4)

SRIPRAPHAI THAI RESTAURANT
64-13 39 AVENUE, QUEENS
11/29/07 (5)

TRATTORIA ALBA
233 EAST 34 STREET, MANHATTAN
2/21/08 (5)