How grading works in Chicago.

Start with the local scale

Chicago does not give letter grades or numeric scores. Each inspection is marked Pass, Pass w/ Conditions (violations found that must be corrected, but the business may stay open), or Fail. Some records, like "Out of Business" or "No Entry," describe the visit rather than food safety.

A score is not universal

Never compare results between cities. Some departments add points for violations, others use pass/fail, and a lower score can mean a better result.

Read beyond the latest result

Check the inspection date, each recorded violation, and any follow-up inspection. Closures and re-inspections are labeled in each restaurant’s history.