The Health Department inspects the approximately 27,000 restaurants in New York City to monitor their compliance with food safety regulations. Inspectors observe how food is prepared, served and stored and whether restaurant workers are practicing good hygiene. They check food temperatures, equipment maintenance and pest control measures.
Violations found during inspections carry point values, and a restaurant’s score corresponds to a letter grade. The point/grade cut-offs are the same as for mobile food vending letter grading, with fewer points corresponding to a better grade:
"Grade Pending" means that on both the initial inspection and reinspection, the restaurant received 14 or more points. Following the reinspection, the restaurant can post "Grade Pending" or the letter grade while they have the opportunity for an administrative hearing to determine the final grade.
Sanitary violations are issued when the safety of the food being prepared and served is threatened. Sanitary violations displayed in red text are the most critical violations. Examples of sanitary violations include food being held at an unsafe temperature and evidence of mice. Sanitary violations are scored and contribute to a restaurant’s grade. No other violations are scored or contribute to the grade. Examples of non-scored violations include failing to display the Health Department-issued permit and not posting the restaurant's letter grade.
You can submit a complaint online through 311 to report: