Every restaurant in New York has a grade. Lots of people decide where to eat based on those grades but what do they really mean? Where do they come from?

Students from Lyons Community School worked with CUP teaching artist Leigh Davis to go behind the letters. They interviewed restaurant owners and workers from neighborhood joints and Michelin-starred sensations, spoke with inspectors from the Department of Health, and paid a visit to the Public Advocate's office. They took what they learned about the system (especially who's apt to go through smoothly, and who'll have a tough time navigating it) and made a booklet on making the grade.

This tasty project made its debut on Wednesday, June 19th. Students spoke about their process and lead a Q & A on the grading system in the dining room of Colors, the only restaurant in New York that is cooperatively owned and operated by its workers.