About This Site

Supporting Transparency, Community Health, and Mindful Dining

This site brings together publicly available restaurant and food facility inspection reports from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in a standardized format.

Coverage Area

There are currently two search modes:

1. Facility Name- Search by restaurant/facility name.

2. Address- Search by restaurant/facility address. Street number and name work best.

In Pennsylvania, multiple jurisdictions are responsible for inspecting restaurants and food facilities. Our goal is to make these public records easier to access in one place and to present inspections in a consistent format so families and community members can stay informed.

This site is an independent educational resource and is not affiliated with any government agency. The information is provided subject to our Terms & Conditions of Use.

Note: Data for some townships and municipalities within Delaware County are not currently available, such as the Township of Marple, which, in October 2022, obtained a court injunction forbidding the Delaware County Health Department from inspecting restaurants and food facilities in those jurisdictions. See DCHD Press Release and Commonwealth Court Decision in No. 330 C.D. 2024.

Why Can't I Find a Particular Restaurant?

We make every effort to include all publicly available inspection reports, but there are some limitations. First, as noted above a few jurisdictions do not publish their inspection reports online. Second, Erie County allows searching only by address, not facility name. Although we are building our own index of Erie restaurants by name, while that is in progress, you will need to search by address for complete Erie coverage. Finally, the inspection reports for some restaurants are published under a different facility name than you might expect. Try searching by the restaurant's address (using the address search mode) to see if the restaurant you are looking for is listed under a different name. If you find such a case, please email admin@restaurantswatch.com with the name you were searching for and the facility name as it is listed in our database, and we will update our records to reflect that alternative name.

How Restaurant Inspections Work in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, restaurant inspections are conducted either by the state Department of Agriculture or by independent local health departments. In Southeastern Pennsylvania, inspections are typically performed by local county or city health departments.

Inspectors are trained public health professionals who evaluate compliance with the Pennsylvania Food Code and/or applicable local food regulations. Inspections typically include review of:

Food temperature control
Handwashing and hygiene practices
Prevention of cross-contamination
Cleaning and sanitation procedures
Facility maintenance and equipment condition

Most restaurants receive routine inspections at least once per year. Additional inspections may occur if violations are identified or if complaints are filed.

Understanding Types of Violations

Not all violations carry the same level of risk.

Risk Factor Violations

These relate directly to preventing foodborne illness and may include:

Improper hot or cold food holding temperatures
Inadequate handwashing
Cross-contamination between raw and ready-to-eat foods
Bare-hand contact with ready-to-eat food

These issues are often corrected during the inspection.

Good Retail Practice Violations

Good Retail Practices relate to maintenance and sanitation, such as:

Cleaning schedules
Labeling
Equipment repair
Facility upkeep

While important, these may not represent an immediate food safety hazard.

Important Context: Inspections Are Not All the Same

Inspection programs in Pennsylvania are administered independently by local health departments or the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, depending on the restaurant or food facility's location. If you'd like more information, see the Food Safety Jurisdiction Search Page.

Inspectors apply professional judgment when conducting inspections and documenting findings. Enforcement approaches, documentation styles, and areas of emphasis may vary by jurisdiction and by inspector.

While Pennsylvania has adopted the FDA Food Code, some local jurisdictions — such as the City of Philadelphia — operate under their own food regulations applicable within their boundaries.

Because of these differences:

Reports from different jurisdictions may not be directly comparable
Documentation styles and enforcement approaches may vary
A single inspection provides a snapshot in time and may not reflect long-term conditions

For a fuller picture, reviewing inspection history over time is often more meaningful than focusing on a single report.

Restaurant Comments

We allow food establishments to submit an official response to inspection reports displayed on this site. These responses may provide additional context, describe corrective actions taken, and help community members better understand how issues were addressed. Restaurants may search for their inspection reports and submit comments via the Restaurant Portal. Restaurant comments are governed by our Restaurant Comment Policy.

How to Use This Information Thoughtfully

Inspection reports are tools for awareness and context.

When reviewing a report, consider:

Was the issue corrected during the inspection?
Is there a pattern of repeat violations?
Has the facility shown improvement over time?
Are the violations primarily high-risk or maintenance-related?

Many restaurants are small businesses and valued community partners. The majority work diligently to serve safe food and respond promptly when issues are identified.

Food safety regulations are detailed and complex. The Pennsylvania Food Code is based on the FDA Food Code (2022), a comprehensive document that spans more than 600 pages, including appendices. Maintaining consistent compliance requires ongoing training, attention to detail, and operational discipline.

Inspection systems are designed to promote continuous improvement. Transparency supports better practices, stronger partnerships, and healthier communities — not punishment.

A Mindful Approach to Dining Out and Ordering In

Food safety is one part of overall family health.

Being informed allows families to make thoughtful choices while continuing to enjoy shared meals, celebrations, and community experiences.

Dining out and ordering in can absolutely be part of a healthy lifestyle. Awareness simply helps us participate more intentionally.

Our Perspective

We believe:

Healthy habits are built through education, not alarm
Public health works best when communities collaborate
Small improvements over time matter

By bringing inspection information together in one place, we hope to support transparency, encourage safe practices, and strengthen community health across Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Public Records Notice

All inspection reports displayed on this site are public records published by the respective local health departments. This site republishes publicly available government information for educational purposes.

For the most complete and current information, please consult the official website of the issuing health department. Please read our full Terms & Conditions of Use for more information.

Thank you for supporting transparency, thoughtful dining, and healthy families.