02 / Intelligence

A score is
only the beginning.

Before deciding what a restaurant inspection means, check the authority, date, findings and follow-up.

RECORD-READING ASSISTANT

Should I
eat here?

Use this short guide to identify the next question to ask about a record. It cannot determine the safety of a specific restaurant.

Begin with the source.

Choose the situation that matches the information you have. The guide will suggest what to verify next.

THE READING FRAMEWORK

Four questions
worth asking.

01 / AUTHORITY

Who issued it?

Find the health department behind the record and its explanation of the local grading system.

02 / TIME

When was it observed?

An inspection documents a visit. Read its date and look for more recent inspections or follow-up reports.

03 / FINDINGS

What actually happened?

Read the listed findings and corrections. A single label can conceal important context.

04 / Keep community opinions separate from the official record.

Read our methodology