NYC Dining · Health Inspection Guide
NYC Restaurant Letter Grades Explained
What the A, B, C and "Grade Pending" cards in NYC restaurant windows actually mean — how the score is calculated, how often inspections happen, and how to look up any restaurant. Based on the official NYC Department of Health inspection data.
Quick answer: Every NYC restaurant is scored at unannounced Health Department inspections, with points added for each violation — so a lower score is better. Grade A = 0–13 points, B = 14–27, and C = 28 or more. About 20,000 of New York City's graded restaurants currently hold an A.
A
0–13 pts
20,464 in NYC
B
14–27 pts
1,744 in NYC
C
28+ pts
419 in NYC
Z
Pending
1,027 in NYC
NYC restaurants inspected, by borough
10,299Manhattan
6,820Brooklyn
6,057Queens
2,371Bronx
938Staten Island
NYC Restaurant Grades: By the Numbers (2026)
86.5% of graded NYC restaurants currently hold an A — that is 20,464 of 23,654 graded establishments. Manhattan leads the five boroughs; Queens has the lowest A-grade share.
| Borough | Restaurants graded A |
|---|---|
| Manhattan | 88.0% |
| Staten Island | 87.5% |
| Brooklyn | 87.3% |
| Bronx | 86.8% |
| Queens | 82.8% |
A-grade share by cuisine type (largest categories):
| Cuisine | Restaurants graded A |
|---|---|
| Donut shops | 98.3% |
| Coffee & tea shops | 93.2% |
| American | 90.4% |
| Italian | 89.6% |
| Bakeries & desserts | 88.1% |
| Caribbean | 78.3% |
Source: NYC Restaurant Voice analysis of NYC DOHMH restaurant inspection data, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do NYC restaurant letter grades (A, B, C) mean?
New York City restaurants are scored on health-code violations during unannounced inspections by the Department of Health (DOHMH). A lower score is better. Grade A = 0 to 13 points (best), Grade B = 14 to 27 points, Grade C = 28 or more points. The grade card must be posted in the restaurant window. Across NYC, the overwhelming majority of graded restaurants — about 20,464 of 23,654 — currently hold an A.
What does "Grade Pending" mean at a NYC restaurant?
Grade Pending means the restaurant was inspected and scored below an A (14+ points), but has chosen to contest the result at a hearing instead of immediately posting a B or C. While the appeal is pending, it displays a "Grade Pending" card. It is not a fresh A — it signals the most recent inspection found enough violations to fall short of an A. After the hearing, a final letter grade is assigned.
How is a NYC restaurant inspection score calculated?
Each health-code violation carries a point value. Inspectors add up points for every violation found during the visit — so a higher score means more (or more serious) violations. Critical violations (those most likely to cause foodborne illness, like improper temperatures or pest activity) carry more points. The total determines the letter grade: 0–13 = A, 14–27 = B, 28+ = C.
How often are NYC restaurants inspected?
Most restaurants get at least one unannounced inspection per year. Restaurants that score poorly are re-inspected more frequently — typically within a few months — until they earn an A. New restaurants are inspected shortly after opening. So a recent A grade reflects a current, real inspection, not a one-time event from years ago.
What is a critical violation vs. a non-critical violation?
A critical (or "public health hazard") violation is one most likely to contribute to foodborne illness — for example, food held at unsafe temperatures, evidence of mice or roaches, or a sick food handler. Non-critical (general) violations are sanitary or maintenance issues, like a non-functioning thermometer or improper storage. Critical violations weigh more heavily in the score.
Can a NYC restaurant be closed by the Health Department?
Yes. If an inspector finds conditions that pose an imminent public-health hazard — such as a serious pest infestation, no hot water, or sewage problems — the Health Department can order the restaurant closed on the spot. It can only reopen after a re-inspection confirms the hazards are corrected. Closures are separate from letter grades.
What does a "Z" grade mean on the inspection record?
A "Z" in NYC inspection data indicates a grade-pending status — the restaurant scored below an A and is awaiting the outcome of a hearing or a re-inspection. In our citywide snapshot, about 1,027 restaurants are in this grade-pending state at any given time.
Is a Grade A restaurant guaranteed to be clean and safe?
A Grade A means that at the most recent inspection, the restaurant had few violation points (0–13). It is a strong, official signal — but it is a snapshot from one inspection date, not a live guarantee. Conditions can change between inspections. The grade reflects health-code compliance, not food quality, taste, or service.
How can I look up a specific NYC restaurant's grade?
Use our free restaurant-grade lookup tool to search any of the 26,515 inspected NYC restaurants by name, neighborhood, or borough. You will see the latest letter grade, the inspection score, the number of inspections on record, and how many critical violations were found. The data comes directly from the NYC Department of Health open dataset.
Why do some NYC restaurants have no grade posted?
A restaurant may show no letter grade if it has not yet had its first graded inspection (common for new openings), if it operates under a category that is not letter-graded, or if its grade is currently pending a hearing. Inspection results may still exist in the public record even when no A/B/C card is displayed.
Which NYC borough has the most A-rated restaurants?
Based on the latest NYC Department of Health grades, Manhattan has the highest share of A-rated restaurants at 88.0%, followed by Staten Island (87.5%), Brooklyn (87.3%), and the Bronx (86.8%). Queens has the lowest share among the five boroughs at 82.8%. Citywide, 86.5% of graded NYC restaurants currently hold an A — that is 20,464 of 23,654 graded establishments.
Which types of NYC restaurants have the best health grades?
Among common NYC restaurant categories, donut shops have the highest share of A grades at 98.3%, followed by coffee and tea shops (93.2%), American restaurants (90.4%), Italian restaurants (89.6%), and bakeries (88.1%). Caribbean restaurants have one of the lower A-grade shares among large categories at 78.3%. These figures are from NYC Restaurant Voice analysis of the official Department of Health inspection dataset.
Source: NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) Restaurant Inspection Results, NYC OpenData. Figures reflect the latest grade on record per restaurant as of May 2026. Grades reflect health-code compliance at the time of inspection, not food quality.