New Health Inspection Tracker Lets You 'Look Before You Book' Greenwich Restaurants
A newly launched website, the Greenwich Dining Record, is making previously hard-to-access Greenwich Health Department inspection reports available to the public.
The site currently tracks 395 local establishments, covering 1,733 inspections and 2,783 health violations dating back to 2023. By presenting this data in a clean, searchable format, the platform aims to encourage restaurants to maintain higher standards while helping diners make informed decisions on where to eat.
Research summarized on the site Does Publishing Inspection Records Improve Food Safety? suggests this approach works: public disclosure of inspection records consistently leads to better food safety compliance and directly influences consumer choices.
Here is how local spots currently stack up:
Cleanest Records: Chop't Creative Salad Company, Convent of the Sacred Heart Grab & Go Cafe, Tenbaku at Citarella, Sushi Maru Express at Balducci's, and Two Door Restaurant Inc. (Green light).
Most Priority Violations: Asiana Cafe, George Italian Seafood & Steakhouse, Abis Japanese Restaurant, Polpo Restaurant, and Elm Street Oyster House. (Note: Don't write these off immediately, as many priority items are corrected promptly.)
Most Improved: Valbella Restaurant, Versailles Bistro, Glenville Pizza Restaurant, L'Escale Restaurant, and Jersey Mike's Subs.
Declining Records: Abis Japanese Restaurant, Steam, Polpo Restaurant, Rebeccas, and Elm Street Oyster House. (Check recent status updates before reserving.)
Between the Lines: Before you make your next dining reservation in town, visit greenwichdining.com to look before you book.