NYC Restaurant Health Grades Explained — A to C, What They Really Mean
What Grade A, B, and C really mean, how the NYC inspection process works, and what every diner should know before eating out in New York City.
~27,000
Restaurants inspected yearly
~90%
Earn a Grade A
1x/year
Minimum inspection frequency
0-13
Points for Grade A
IN THIS GUIDE
What is a NYC restaurant health grade?
A NYC restaurant health grade is a letter — A, B, or C — assigned by the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) after a routine inspection of a food service establishment. The grade reflects how well the restaurant follows food safety rules designed to protect diners from foodborne illness.
Every restaurant, food cart, and food service establishment that is open to the public in New York City is required to be inspected and to post its grade card in a window visible from the street. This transparency requirement was introduced in 2010 and has since become one of the most recognized food safety systems in the United States.
The grade is determined by a point score. Inspectors assign points for each violation found — and crucially, a lower score is better. A restaurant that receives fewer than 14 points earns a Grade A. A restaurant with 14 to 27 points earns a Grade B. A restaurant with 28 or more points receives a Grade C.
Grade A, B, and C — what each one means
Grade A — Excellent food safety
Score of 0 to 13 points
~90%
of NYC restaurants
A Grade A restaurant has demonstrated very good food safety practices during its most recent inspection. With a score of 13 points or fewer, the restaurant may have minor violations but nothing that poses a significant risk to diners. The vast majority of NYC restaurants — approximately 90% — earn a Grade A.
For diners, a Grade A is the clearest signal that a restaurant takes food safety seriously. All restaurants in our directory that carry a Grade A label have been verified against the NYC DOHMH database.
Grade B — Good, with violations noted
Score of 14 to 27 points
~8%
of NYC restaurants
A Grade B indicates that the restaurant had some food safety violations during its inspection that were significant enough to push the score above 13 points. The restaurant is still permitted to operate but is required to display its Grade B card prominently and will be re-inspected within 30 to 45 days.
Many Grade B restaurants go on to earn a Grade A at their next inspection after addressing the violations found. A Grade B does not necessarily mean a restaurant is unsafe — it means there are areas that need improvement.
Grade C — Serious violations found
Score of 28 or more points
~2%
of NYC restaurants
A Grade C represents significant food safety violations. The restaurant scored 28 or more points, indicating problems that need to be addressed urgently. If violations pose an imminent danger to public health, the DOHMH can order an immediate closure. Grade C restaurants are re-inspected quickly and must address all critical violations.
Grade C restaurants make up a very small percentage of NYC establishments. As a diner, a Grade C card in the window is a clear signal to seek your meal elsewhere until the restaurant addresses its violations and improves its score.
How the NYC restaurant inspection process works
Unannounced initial inspection
Inspections are conducted without advance notice. An inspector from the NYC Department of Health visits the restaurant during operating hours and conducts a comprehensive evaluation of food safety practices, facility conditions, and staff hygiene. The inspection typically takes one to three hours.
Points are assigned for violations
Each violation found during the inspection is assigned a point value based on its severity. Critical violations — such as improper food temperatures, evidence of pests, or contamination — carry more points than general violations. The inspector documents every violation found.
Score determines the grade
If the restaurant scores 0 to 13 points, it receives a Grade A immediately. If it scores 14 or more points, it receives a Grade Pending card and is scheduled for a re-inspection. At the re-inspection, the restaurant is scored again and receives its final letter grade based on the better of the two scores.
Grade card must be posted
The restaurant is required by law to post its grade card in a window or door visible from the street. Failing to post the grade card is itself a violation. The grade card shows the letter grade, the score, and the inspection date.
Annual re-inspection cycle
Grade A restaurants are re-inspected approximately once per year. Restaurants that earned lower grades or had recent violations are inspected more frequently. The inspection record for every NYC restaurant is public data available through NYC Open Data.
What NYC inspectors actually look for
NYC health inspectors evaluate restaurants across several categories. Each violation carries a specific point value — critical violations are worth more points than general violations.
🌡️ Food temperatures
CriticalHot food must be kept above 140°F. Cold food must be kept below 41°F. Improper temperatures are one of the most common critical violations.
🐀 Pest evidence
CriticalEvidence of mice, rats, cockroaches, or flies in food preparation areas is a critical violation that can result in immediate closure.
🧼 Personal hygiene
CriticalFood workers must wash hands properly and frequently. Improper hand hygiene is a common and serious violation.
🏗️ Facility conditions
GeneralWalls, floors, ceilings, and equipment must be clean and in good repair. Facility condition violations are typically general rather than critical.
📦 Food storage
CriticalFood must be stored properly to prevent contamination. Raw meat must be stored below ready-to-eat foods. Improper storage is a frequent violation.
🏷️ Food labeling
GeneralFood must be properly labeled with contents and dates. Unlabeled food or food past its use-by date is a violation.
What to do if your favorite restaurant has a B or C grade
Finding out that a restaurant you love has a Grade B or C can be unsettling. Here is what to consider:
Check the inspection date
A Grade B from two years ago is very different from a Grade B last month. Restaurants improve. Look at when the grade was issued and whether a re-inspection has happened since.
Look at the specific violations
The NYC Open Data portal shows the specific violations found. A Grade B from a facility condition issue is less concerning than a Grade B from a food temperature or pest violation.
Check if a re-inspection is pending
A "Grade Pending" sign means the restaurant is waiting for its re-inspection score. This is not the same as a permanent grade and the restaurant may well earn an A at the follow-up.
Consider the restaurant's history
A restaurant that has earned Grade A consistently for years and recently received a B is different from one with a pattern of poor scores. Consistency matters.
How to find a NYC restaurant health grade
There are three ways to find the health inspection grade for any NYC restaurant:
Look in the restaurant window
Every NYC restaurant is legally required to post its grade card in a window visible from the street. The grade card shows the letter grade, inspection score, and date.
Search our directory
We display the current NYC health inspection grade on every restaurant listing page in our directory — alongside the inspection date and score. We pull this data directly from the NYC DOHMH Open Data database.
Search our directory →NYC Open Data portal
The complete inspection history for every NYC restaurant is available at data.cityofnewyork.us. You can search by restaurant name and see every past inspection, including the specific violations found at each visit.
Frequently asked questions
What does a Grade A mean for a NYC restaurant?+
A Grade A means the restaurant scored 0 to 13 points during its NYC Health Department inspection. Lower scores are better. Grade A restaurants have very good food safety practices and are the safest choice for diners. Approximately 90% of inspected NYC restaurants earn a Grade A.
What does a Grade B mean for a NYC restaurant?+
A Grade B means the restaurant scored 14 to 27 points during its inspection. This indicates some food safety violations were found but the restaurant is still permitted to operate. Grade B restaurants must post their grade card prominently. They are re-inspected within 30 to 45 days.
What does a Grade C mean for a NYC restaurant?+
A Grade C means the restaurant scored 28 or more points. This indicates serious food safety violations. The restaurant may be closed immediately if violations pose an imminent health hazard. Otherwise it is re-inspected quickly. Grade C restaurants represent a small minority of NYC establishments.
How often are NYC restaurants inspected?+
NYC restaurants are inspected at least once per year by the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH). Restaurants that score poorly are re-inspected more frequently. New restaurants are inspected within their first year of operation.
What happens if a restaurant fails its NYC health inspection?+
If a restaurant scores 14 or more points it receives a Grade Pending card instead of a letter grade and is re-inspected within 30 to 45 days. If it scores 28 or more points it may be closed immediately or required to fix violations before re-inspection. The restaurant can appeal its score.
Can a restaurant be open with a Grade B or C?+
Yes — restaurants can operate with a Grade B or Grade C unless the violations pose an immediate danger to public health. In those cases the Health Department can order immediate closure. Restaurants with Grade B or C are re-inspected quickly and have the opportunity to improve their score.
Where can I look up a NYC restaurant health inspection record?+
You can look up any NYC restaurant inspection record through the NYC Open Data portal at data.cityofnewyork.us. Our directory also shows the current grade, inspection date, and score for thousands of NYC restaurants directly on each listing page.
What do inspectors actually check during a NYC restaurant inspection?+
NYC health inspectors check food temperatures, food handling procedures, pest evidence, personal hygiene of staff, facility conditions, and proper labeling of food. Each violation is assigned a point value. Minor violations are worth fewer points than critical violations.
Browse only Grade A restaurants in NYC
Our directory shows the NYC health inspection grade on every listing. Filter to Grade A only across all 5 boroughs and every dietary need.
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