How Forsyth County grades Winston-Salem restaurants: 90 and up is an A. Of 31 inspections posted for Oct. 5-10, 2026, 30 earned an A. Questions: 336-703-3225.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from Forsyth County Environmental Health and the North Carolina food protection rules. Scores carry legal weight; a score is one inspector’s findings on one visit.
Every restaurant, food truck, meat market and school cafeteria in Winston-Salem is inspected by the Food, Lodging and Institutions section of the Forsyth County Department of Public Health’s Environmental Health division, according to the county. The same team inspects hotels, bed and breakfasts, hospitals, nursing homes, adult care homes, day cares and tattoo parlors, and reviews plans for new food businesses.
Who to call
- Forsyth County Environmental Health: 336-703-3225, 799 N. Highland Ave.
- Look up a score: inspection reports and Facility Search
- Report a problem: the county’s request or complaint form
How to look up a restaurant
The county posts each week’s food establishment inspections, with the score, date and inspector, on its inspection reports page. For older inspections or any other establishment, use the Facility Search button on the same page. Each listing links to the inspection report, which shows the violations the inspector marked and the points taken off.
What the score means
North Carolina scores start at 100 and lose points for each violation. The grade card posted in the restaurant follows the state’s rules:
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 90 to 100 | A |
| 80 to under 90 | B |
| 70 to under 80 | C |
| Under 70 | Permit revoked |
The state’s food establishment rules are on the N.C. Environmental Health Section rules page.
How often places are inspected
Inspection frequency depends on the menu and the people served, according to the county’s inspection process page:
- Risk category I, once a year: no potentially hazardous foods; most often bars or coffee shops.
- Category II, twice a year: limited menus, simple cook-and-serve preparation.
- Category III, three times a year: more complex menus, with some foods cooked ahead, chilled and reheated.
- Category IV, four times a year: the most complex menus with cooking, cooling and reheating, or a highly susceptible population such as children, the elderly or people with weak immune systems.
Last week’s scores
The county posted 31 food establishment inspections for Oct. 5-10, 2026, 19 of them at Winston-Salem addresses. Thirty earned an A, and one earned a B. The average was 96.4, according to the county’s inspection reports page. None scored below 80. One week is a small sample; check the individual report for any place you care about.
How to read the numbers
- A score is a snapshot of one visit. Read the full report to see which violations were marked.
- Food trucks, pushcarts and temporary food stands at events are inspected too.
- For a complaint about a restaurant’s cleanliness or food handling, contact the county; for a suspected foodborne illness, also see a doctor.
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Frequently asked questions
How do I look up a restaurant inspection score in Winston-Salem?
Forsyth County’s Environmental Health section posts the past week’s restaurant inspections on its inspection reports page, and its Facility Search lets you look up any establishment’s scores and full reports.
What is a passing restaurant score in North Carolina?
A score of 90 or more earns an A, 80 to under 90 a B and 70 to under 80 a C. A food establishment that scores below 70 has its permit revoked.
How often are Forsyth County restaurants inspected?
One to four times a year, depending on risk. Bars and coffee shops that serve no potentially hazardous food are inspected once a year; places with complex menus, or that serve children, the elderly or the sick, four times.
How do I report a problem at a Winston-Salem restaurant?
Call Forsyth County Environmental Health at 336-703-3225, or submit a complaint on the county’s online request or complaint form.
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