It was a real “Ratatouille”.
A plump and courageous rat was spotted scurrying around the window sill of a downtown Manhattan theater – right next to a successful health inspection sign with the top grade of “A”.
The large rodent was seen in a TikTok shared online Saturday evening that showed the animal scurrying around the front window of Dixon Place, a theater with a full bar.
Even though the furry fiend was surrounded by rat feces at the Chrystie Street facility, the company could still boast of receiving top marks for sanitary conditions from the New York City Department of Health.
In the TikTok, which is appropriately set to “Le Festin” from the “Ratatouille” soundtrack, a woman can be seen tapping on the glass to see if the rat moves.
The rat’s tail moves quickly back and forth as the creature scurries behind the hygiene sign before reappearing on the other side of the window.
In the reflection of the window, several people can be seen filming the creature. All the commotion outside seemed to spook the rat, which then jumped into a potted plant on the ground below before disappearing.
Some TikTok users found the ironic sighting humorous, joking, “That’s the chef!” and “That’s just the Ratatouille guy, he’s cool.”
But rodent infestations are no laughing matter for Mayor Eric Adams, who has appointed a “rat czar” to combat the stubborn pests in Manhattan, where rats are rampant.
Although the rats are something of a spectacle for some – including tourists who take a special nighttime sightseeing route to rodent-infested areas – city officials have created new trash guidelines and an interactive “rat information portal” or “rat map.” to try to suppress the growing rat population.
Officials praised their recent efforts, claiming reports of rat sightings have dropped significantly compared to recent years.
Before the city began its campaign against the animals from January to April 2022, New Yorkers called 311 to report 7,400 rat sightings – up from an estimated 6,510 during the same period in 2021.
But this year, rat calls to 311 fell 26% in June compared to the same month last year.
There was also a 15% decline in the 12-month period between May 2022 and May 2023.
Dixon Place, a nonprofit arts venue with a full bar, also had a violation in April 2018 when an inspector found problems accessing cleaning spaces and equipment.
Department of Health records from the time show that “non-food contact surfaces or equipment are not properly maintained and/or are not properly sealed, raised, spaced, or movable to allow accessibility for cleaning on all sides across and under the device.”
The venue, which describes itself as “an artistic incubator since 1986,” has attracted a range of talent over the years from various genres of theater, dance, music, puppetry, circus arts, literature and the like, according to its website houses fine arts.
The bar menu at Dixon Place does not include food, only drinks such as specialty cocktails, wine and beer.
Dixon Place did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment on Sunday.