DATA SOURCES
Where our data comes from
NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH)
What data we pull
Restaurant inspection grades, numeric inspection scores, inspection dates, violation histories, and business operational status.
How we process it
We pull the full DOHMH inspection dataset from NYC Open Data and match each record to our restaurant listings by name and address. We retain the most recent inspection grade, the cumulative inspection score, and the inspection date. Restaurants without a current grade are flagged but still included in the directory.
Coverage
100% of restaurants in our directory have been cross-referenced against the DOHMH database. Approximately 92% have a current letter grade (A, B, or C). The remaining 8% are pending re-inspection or are newly opened.
Google Maps Platform
What data we pull
Business names, addresses, latitude/longitude coordinates, user ratings, review counts, phone numbers, websites, working hours, cuisine types, and business photos.
How we process it
Restaurant listings are sourced via the Google Maps Places API. We geocode every address to obtain precise coordinates for map placement. Ratings and review counts are captured at the time of data collection and represent a snapshot. We do not fabricate or modify user ratings.
Coverage
100% of our 8,835 restaurants have verified Google Maps listings. Over 99% have latitude/longitude coordinates. Approximately 85% have phone numbers and 70% have listed websites.
NYC Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (NTA) GeoJSON
What data we pull
Neighborhood boundaries, neighborhood names, and borough assignments for all NYC neighborhoods.
How we process it
We use the official NYC NTA boundary files from the Department of City Planning to assign every restaurant to its correct neighborhood using point-in-polygon geospatial matching. This ensures that neighborhood pages reflect the actual city-defined boundaries, not approximations.
Coverage
100% of geocoded restaurants are assigned to an NTA-defined neighborhood. We cover all 5 boroughs and over 190 distinct neighborhoods.
AI-Assisted Dietary Tagging (Claude API)
What data we pull
12 dietary classification tags: vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, keto, paleo, halal, kosher, dairy-free, nut-free, raw-food, whole-foods, and low-calorie.
How we process it
We use Claude (claude-haiku-4-5 for bulk classification, claude-sonnet-4-20250514 for quality review) to analyze each restaurant's cuisine type, name, menu indicators, and publicly available information to assign dietary tags. Tags are applied conservatively — a restaurant is only tagged if it genuinely specializes in or is certified for that dietary category. Halal and kosher tags require evidence of certification, not merely menu items that happen to comply. Every AI-generated tag is subject to manual spot-check review.
Coverage
100% of restaurants have been processed through the dietary tagging pipeline. Approximately 65% of restaurants have at least one dietary tag. The most common tags are vegetarian-friendly (38%), halal (12%), and gluten-free options (11%).
SCORING SYSTEM
How we calculate the Health Score
Every restaurant in our directory receives a Health Score from 0 to 100. This score is not a subjective editorial rating — it is a weighted composite derived from verifiable data points. Here is the exact formula:
Inspection Grade
Grade A = 40 pts, Grade B = 25 pts, Grade C = 10 pts, No grade = 0 pts. This is the single most important factor because it reflects the official NYC Health Department assessment of food safety and sanitation.
Dietary Diversity
Up to 20 points based on the number and relevance of dietary tags. Restaurants with verified certifications (halal, kosher) or dedicated dietary options (fully vegan, dedicated gluten-free kitchen) score higher than those with incidental compliance.
Hidden Gem Bonus
10 points awarded to restaurants that qualify as hidden gems. This rewards high-quality restaurants that may not have mass-market visibility but deliver exceptional experiences.
User Rating
Scaled from the Google Maps rating. A 5.0 rating = 10 pts, 4.0 = 6 pts, 3.0 = 2 pts, below 3.0 = 0 pts. Ratings are interpolated linearly within each bracket.
Track Record
Up to 10 points based on the restaurant's inspection history over time. Restaurants that have maintained a Grade A across multiple inspection cycles receive the full 10 points. A single grade drop reduces this proportionally.
Maximum possible score: 40 + 20 + 10 + 10 + 10 = 100 points
HIDDEN GEMS
How we identify hidden gems
Hidden gems are restaurants that deliver outstanding quality but have not yet achieved widespread recognition. We identify them algorithmically using three strict criteria — all three must be met:
Rating of 4.5 or higher
The restaurant must have a Google Maps rating of at least 4.5 out of 5.0, indicating consistently excellent customer experiences.
Fewer than 200 reviews
The restaurant must have fewer than 200 Google Maps reviews, indicating it has not yet reached mass-market awareness.
Currently operational
The restaurant must be confirmed as currently operating. Closed or temporarily shuttered restaurants are excluded.
DATA FRESHNESS
How often we update our data
NYC DOHMH inspection grades and scores are refreshed weekly from the NYC Open Data portal to reflect the latest inspection results.
Google Maps ratings, review counts, and business status (open/closed) are updated monthly to keep our listings current.
Dietary tags are re-evaluated quarterly. New restaurants added to the DOHMH database are processed through our full pipeline within 30 days of appearing in the city data.
User-submitted corrections are reviewed within 48 hours and applied to the database if verified.
Found an error in our data?
Our data is only as good as the sources we pull from and the processes we apply. If you spot an inaccuracy — a wrong grade, a missing dietary tag, a closed restaurant still listed — we want to know.
Report a data issue →