State Senator Jeffrey Klein released his annual “Dirty Dozen” list of the city’s most unsanitary restaurants based on inspection reports from the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

With it comes both good and bad news for the Bronx. Guacamole X on East 180th Street was third on the list with 126 violations and Popcorn Hof and Bar on East 204th in Bedford Park came in ninth with 93 violations. The Blimpie’s at 85 E. Gun Hill Rd., on the other hand, made Klein’s “Sparkling 12” list. The eatery currently holds a Golden Apple Award, given by the city for an exemplary inspection record.

In general, the Bronx fared well in comparison to other boroughs. According to Klein, only seven restaurants in the Bronx scored in the bottom 100 compared to 40 in Manhattan and 38 in Brooklyn.

To pass an inspection, restaurants need to score under 28 points. But passing doesn’t guarantee that the restaurant’s food is safe to eat, says Klein. He explains that many restaurants that pass may still be cited for critical violations such as the presence of live vermin, which is not a public health hazard warranting a restaurant’s closure.

“We are not doing enough to alert the consumer to potential health hazards with the current inspections process,” said Klein in his report, titled “Restaurants Enough to Make You Sick: New York City Restaurant Sanitation.”

Klein’s solution is pushing for publicly displayed A-to-F grades in every restaurant, reflecting most recent inspections. “If restaurants stand to lose business based on a poor letter grade, they may be more inclined to correct critical violations permanently,” Klein argues.

The system would be modeled after the Los Angeles A-to-C grading system established in 1998. So far it appears effective. Local food-related hospitalizations have decreased by 20 percent and A-grade restaurants have received a 5.7 percent increase in business. Klein writes: “A letter grading system is a huge step towards alerting the consumers to the potential of a public health threat.”