The ABCs of Eating in NYC

New York has thousands upon thousands of great restaurants. Every cuisine under the sun, and then some. But…you should really watch where you eat. Really.

The A B C’s of where to eat in NYC

Tourists, this one is for you. We know where to eat.

Here in the big city we have a pretty easy-to-understand grading system that should help you decide where you should or shouldn’t eat. It went into effect a little more than one year ago and it’s pretty useful. I pay attention to the grades posted and you should too.

It’s simple. A is good. B means there’ve been issues. C is bad. “Grade Pending” is a crap shoot (hopefully not literally).

A = Good

“A” means the restaurant is clean and has passed its inspection. The restaurant had 0 to 13 points for sanitary violations. The restaurant will be reinspected in about a year.

“B” means there are violations that need to be addressed; needs improvement. The restaurant had 14-27 points for sanitary violations. The restaurant will be reinspected in five to seven months.

B = Proceed with Caution

The dreaded “C” — stay away. Lots of violations. I’ve seen a few of these, but not too many. The restaurant had 28 or more points for sanitary violations. The restaurant will be reinspected in three to five months.

Different violations carry different weights in points. More severe violations, obviously, are worth more points. Less is more in this contest.

C = Stay Away!

It’s important to know, too, that if a restaurant scores really high, it can be immediately be shut down by the health department.

“GRADE PENDING” means it’s either a good place because the owners got a bad rating earlier and took it to heart and did everything under the sun to make improvements, they’re just waiting for a reinspection; OR a bad place that’s been flagged and possibly previously SHUT DOWN for too many violations. i.e. Proceed with caution. Only because the grade pending sign doesn’t really explain WHY the grade is pending. Unless you’ve walked by and noticed the place was shut down, you don’t really know. It also could be that the restaurateur is challenging its latest grade (which means it was less than an “A”).

Grade Pending: maybe you should, maybe you shouldn’t…

Unfortunately, just by looking at the grade posted on the window doesn’t tell you much about what’s happened here previously. But…there is a way to find out.

The City of New York posts its inspection findings online — by neighborhood, cuisine, grade and more. All you have to do is enter the name of the restaurant and you’ll get its grade. (click on link above to go there automatically).

I kind of go by the motto “that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.” I’ll eat at a “B” or a “grade pending.” My friend Rick avoids anything less than an “A”…(food snob or scaredy cat, I can’t decide which).

The restaurants are supposed to prominently display their rating. Most do. Those with poorer grades tend to put the rating in a corner of a window or in an area blocked by shrubbery.

Not every single NYC eating establishment is graded. Mobile food vending units — Food Trucks — temporary food service establishments — street fair booths —  food service establishments operated by primary or secondary schools, hospital-operated cafeterias, correctional facilities, charitable organizations (including soup kitchens or other prepared food distribution programs), or food service establishments operated by not-for-profit membership organizations, which serve food only to their members are not graded. So, I guess, eat at your own risk. I’ve eaten at many of the types listed above without a problem.

The grading system isn’t perfect. But at least it helps. Bon Appetit!