How grading works in New York City.

Start with the local scale

New York City scores restaurants with points, and a LOWER score is better. Each violation adds points. A score of 0–13 earns an A, 14–27 a B, and 28 or more a C. Some inspections show "Grade Pending" while a restaurant waits for a re-inspection. Never compare NYC point totals with another city's numbers.

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.