Sal Calce, owner of Sal’s Pizzeria on Bainbridge Avenue in Norwood, beamed as he talked about how his restaurant, which has called this neighborhood home for the past 31 years, earned an “A” grade during its last inspection by the Health Department.

Even without speaking to Calce, you would know this information before stepping into his establishment because a Health Department placard emblazoned with a big blue “A” is posted prominently on his storefront window.

According to a new policy put in place last summer, all city restaurants are required to post their health inspection grades on their storefronts.

While restaurant owners lament the fines levied by city inspectors each time they come in for an annual visit — “That’s how New York gets its money,” says Andrea Deliaj, the son of the owner of Napoli Pizza on East 204th Street — many believe it helps bring in customers.

“It lets people know it’s nice and clean inside,” said Calce, as he geared up for the upcoming Valentine’s Day crowds.

Dan Bernstein, deputy director of the Fordham Road BID, agrees and says the Health Department’s system gives restaurants the benefit of the doubt.

Every city restaurant is scheduled for an unannounced inspection at least once a year. Restaurants that score an “A” on this initial inspection receives a final “A” grade. If an eatery scores below an “A,” the Health Department gives it at least a week to clean up its act before it is re-inspected and given a final grade. Restaurants must post these grades on their store fronts or risk being fined. Owners who disagree with their grade or violations can also ask for a hearing to contest them.

An informal look at local restaurants showed mostly “A” grades, including Napoli Pizza. But the owner of Kennedy Fried Chicken on E. 204th Street, Abdullah Nasar, said he was the unfair recipient of a “B” grade because an employee couldn’t produce the store’s Food Protection Certificate while Nasar was away.

“B isn’t horrible, but I paid the fine,” Nasar said. “I should have gotten like an A-plus!”