Fairfax County's Health Department inspects about 3,800 food places, Reston included. Reports go online about two weeks later. Questions: 703-246-2201.

Last checked Oct. 18, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Fairfax County Health Department.

Reston has no town health department. Restaurants, fast food places, delis, grocery stores and cafeterias in Reston are inspected by the Fairfax County Health Department’s Division of Environmental Health, which inspects about 3,800 food establishments in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.

Who to call

How to look up a Reston restaurant

  1. Open the county’s food inspection report map.
  2. Search the business name, or move the map to Reston and find it.
  3. Click the name. The available reports appear across the bottom of the screen as downloadable documents.

Reports go online about two weeks after the inspection and stay up for two years, the county says. You no longer need a public records request to see one.

How to read a report

Fairfax County does not give letter grades or numeric scores. Each report shows what the inspector found that day, in four sections:

  • Foodborne illness risk factors and public health interventions: the items most closely tied to people getting sick, such as cooking temperatures, cold holding, handwashing and employee health.
  • Good retail practices: the condition of equipment and the building.
  • Temperature observations: the readings the inspector took.
  • Observations and corrective actions: what was wrong and what the business did or must do about it.

The county code defines a critical item as one that, if not followed, is more likely than other violations to contribute to food contamination, illness or an environmental health hazard.

Method notes

  • One report is a snapshot. The Health Department says a single inspection should not be used to judge a restaurant; the series of results over time gives a more accurate picture.
  • How often: inspections follow a risk-based system. Depending on how complex the food preparation is and the establishment’s history, a place is routinely inspected one to three times every 12 months, plus extra visits as needed.
  • Unannounced: virtually all inspections, except pre-opening and training visits, are unannounced.
  • The rules: Fairfax County, Fairfax City and Falls Church each have ordinances based on the Commonwealth of Virginia Food Regulations and the FDA’s 2017 Food Code.

Closures

When a food establishment poses an imminent health hazard, it must stop operating until the hazard is removed. The county’s enforcement page lists grounds including no water, no utilities, a sewage backup, fire, flood, a pest infestation, contaminated food, inadequate refrigeration and a foodborne illness outbreak. Permits can also be revoked for serious or repeated violations, after a chance to appeal.

The Fairfax County Food Code is being updated

The Health Department is proposing updates to Chapter 43.3, the Food Code of Fairfax County, before sending them to the Board of Supervisors. Public comment on the draft amendment (PDF) closes Monday, Nov. 2 (Health Department).

How we cover inspections

Reston Journal reports inspection results in neutral terms, from the county’s own reports, and links the report. A violation on one visit is not a finding that a restaurant is unsafe. Owners who want to add context can contact us.

Frequently asked questions

How do I look up a restaurant inspection in Reston?

Use the Fairfax County Health Department’s online inspection report map. Search for the restaurant by name or move the map to Reston, then click the name to see its reports from the past two years.

Do Fairfax County restaurants get letter grades or scores?

No. Fairfax County publishes the full inspection report, listing any violations found, instead of a letter grade or numeric score.

How often are restaurants inspected in Fairfax County?

One to three routine inspections every 12 months, depending on how complex the food preparation is and the restaurant’s history, plus other inspections as needed. Almost all are unannounced.

How do I report a restaurant or food poisoning in Fairfax County?

File a complaint through the county’s PLUS system, or report a suspected foodborne illness there or at the Virginia Department of Health’s MyMealDetective.com. Questions: 703-246-2201.