How grading works in Montgomery County.

Start with the local scale

Montgomery County, Maryland (Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Germantown and more) records each inspection as Pass, Fail, or Closed, and checks a list of key food safety items. Items marked "Not In Compliance" or "Corrected Onsite" are shown as violations; the ones most likely to cause foodborne illness (like food temperatures, handwashing, and pests) are marked critical.

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.