How to Check Restaurant Health Inspections in NYC

Who Conducts NYC Restaurant Inspections

The NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) is the agency responsible for all food service inspections in New York City. Inspectors examine restaurants, food carts, and all food-serving establishments for violations related to food handling, storage, sanitation, and pest control. These inspections occur unannounced and follow FDA food safety guidelines. DOHMH publishes all inspection results publicly to promote transparency and consumer protection.

Where to Find NYC Inspection Scores Online

The official NYC Health Department website (nyc.gov/health) hosts the searchable restaurant grading database where you can look up any establishment's inspection history by name, address, or cuisine type. Simply navigate to the 'Restaurant Grades' section and enter the restaurant details. You'll receive a full inspection report showing the letter grade (A, B, or C), violation count, violation types, and inspection dates. For faster, real-time access across multiple sources, platforms like Panko Alerts aggregate DOHMH data alongside 25+ other government food safety sources.

Understanding NYC Letter Grades and Violation Points

DOHMH assigns grades based on a point system: A grades (0–13 violation points) indicate excellent conditions, B grades (14–27 points) suggest some violations requiring corrective action, and C grades (28+ points) denote serious violations. Critical violations—such as improper food temperature, pest evidence, or cross-contamination—are weighted more heavily. Restaurants have the right to request re-inspection after correcting violations. Checking the specific violation types listed (not just the letter grade) gives you deeper insight into a restaurant's actual food safety practices.

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