Merritt Island — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS

Overview

Merritt Island, Florida has 128 food establishments with 1,937 inspections on record. 4 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 87.4%, above the state average of 86%. Inspections average 5.7 violations per visit.

Most recent closure: Tasty K-pot in Merritt Island, shut down April 15, 2026 for rodent activity.

Largest fine: $800 assessed to Papa John's Pizza #449 in Merritt Island on January 5, 2026.

Data from Florida DBPR (restaurants) and FDACS (retail food). Updated May 2026.

128Facilities
1,937Total Inspections
4Closures 2026
87.4%Pass Rate
5.7Avg Violations

Most-Inspected Facilities

BusinessInspectionsViolationsClosures
Island Hotel of Space Coast 42 197 3
Island Waterfront Bar and Grill 61 615 2
Next Level Arcade 46 397 2
Papa Vito's Pizza Spot 29 132 2
Subway 25830 17 54 2

Merritt Island Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages

Merritt Island 87.4% Pass Rate 87.4%
Florida Average 86% Pass Rate 86%
Merritt Island 5.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 5.7
Florida Average 4.7 Avg Violations / Inspection 4.7
Merritt Island 3.13 Closures per 100 Facilities 3.13
Florida Average 1.37 Closures per 100 Facilities 1.37

Merritt Island Restaurants: Recent Closures (1)

DateBusinessReason
Tasty K-pot Rodent activity

Merritt Island Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)

DateBusinessViolationsResult
Island Pancake House 1 (1 high) Emergency Order Callback Not Complied
Island Pancake House 0 Emergency Order Callback Complied
Island Pancake House 18 (5 high) Emergency order recommended
Bagel World & Deli 1 (1 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Alfredo Paradiso 0 Call Back - Complied
Joy Luck Restaurant 6 (1 high) Inspection Completed - No Further Action
Alfredo Paradiso 10 (1 high) Warning Issued
Shenanigans 2 Warning Issued
Alfredo's Paradiso Kitchen 2 Inspection Completed - No Further Action
China Star 5 Inspection Completed - No Further Action

Merritt Island Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations

Merritt Island Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines

84Actions on Record
$31,740Total Fines
$387Avg Fine
$1,200Largest Fine
37Facilities Fined

Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)

DateBusinessFineCase
Jan 5, 2026 Papa John's Pizza #449 $800 4--2025085829
Jun 9, 2025 Island Hotel of Space Coast $800 4--2025027499
Oct 23, 2025 Island Hotel of Space Coast $800 4--2025050528
Mar 5, 2026 Mimmos Pizza & Ristorante $400 4--2026010217
May 20, 2025 Kelsey's Pizza $400 4--2025027402
Sep 18, 2025 Outback Steakhouse $400 4--2025038900
Nov 13, 2025 Chalkies Billiards & Sports $320 4--2025046069
Oct 22, 2025 Burger King $200 4--2025072083
Aug 7, 2025 Mimmos Pizza & Ristorante $200 4--2025046517
Jul 1, 2025 Papa John's Pizza #449 $200 4--2025046120

Merritt Island Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations

34Fire Violations
25Facilities Cited

Most Common Fire Safety Issues

IssueCitations
Fire extinguisher in red zone 13
Exit blocked or locked 6
Propane tank stored inside building 5
Cooking without hood suppression 5
Other fire safety violation 5

Merritt Island Retail Food: FDACS Inspection Records

In addition to restaurants, Florida's Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects grocery stores, markets, gas station food sections, and other retail food establishments. Merritt Island has 35 FDACS-regulated facilities with 54 inspections on record and 29 stop-sale orders issued.

35Retail Facilities
54FDACS Inspections
29Stop-Sale Orders

Merritt Island FDACS: Recent Stop-Sale Orders

A stop-sale order prohibits a retail food establishment from selling specific products found to be unsafe, improperly stored, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code. Products may be embargoed, destroyed, or returned to the distributor.

DateFacilityProductReason
Island-smoke-shop-422602 Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Chapter 5K-4: Food deemed adulterated.
Island-smoke-shop-422602 Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Chapter 5K-4: Food deemed adulterated.
Island-smoke-shop-422602 Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.10 Adulterated.* Chapter 5K-4: Food deemed adulterated.
Stop N Go Food Mart Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 581.217 Distribution and Retail Sale of Hemp Extract. * Attractive to Childre…
Stop N Go Food Mart Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 581.217 Distribution and Retail Sale of Hemp Extract. * Attractive to Childre…
Stop N Go Food Mart Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 581.217 Distribution and Retail Sale of Hemp Extract. * Attractive to Childre…
Stop N Go Food Mart Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 581.217 Distribution and Retail Sale of Hemp Extract. * Attractive to Childre…
Stop N Go Food Mart Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 581.217 Distribution and Retail Sale of Hemp Extract. * Attractive to Childre…
Stop N Go Food Mart Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 581.217 Distribution and Retail Sale of Hemp Extract. * Attractive to Childre…
Stop N Go Food Mart Brand Name: (Lot #:) FS 500.04; FS 500.11 Misbranded.* Labeling

Browse all FDACS stop-sale order categories →

Merritt Island FDACS: Most Cited Code Violations

Browse all FDACS violation codes →

Merritt Island Retail Food Chains (FDACS)

ChainLocationsStop-Sale OrdersCitations
Ollies Bargain Outlet 1 0 4
Target 1 15 249
Starbucks 1 77 1,170
Walgreens 1 1 743

All Florida retail food chains →

About FDACS Retail Food Inspections →

Merritt Island: Notable Restaurants

Merritt Island: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)

ChainLocationsViolationsClosures
Burger King 2 402 1
Chipotle 1 5 0
Jersey Mikes 1 113 0
Olive Garden 1 99 0
Steak N Shake 1 282 0
Tropical Smoothie 1 234 0
Arbys 1 61 0
Chick-fil-a 1 94 0
Five Guys 1 19 0
McDonalds 1 73 0

Merritt Island Restaurant Inspections: FAQ

How many restaurants are in Merritt Island?
Merritt Island, Florida has 128 food establishments tracked by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
What is the restaurant inspection pass rate in Merritt Island?
The current pass rate for food establishments in Merritt Island is 87.4%. The Florida state average is 86%.
How many restaurants were shut down in Merritt Island this year?
4 food establishments in Merritt Island have been shut down by health inspectors in 2026.
What are the most common health violations in Merritt Island?
The most frequently cited violations in Merritt Island are: Employee health reporting, Proper hand/arm washing, Proper ventilation.
Which restaurant chain has the most locations in Merritt Island?
Burger King has the most locations in Merritt Island with 2 establishments.
What was the most recent restaurant closure in Merritt Island?
Tasty K-pot in Merritt Island was shut down on April 15, 2026 for rodent activity.
How does Merritt Island compare to the Florida state average?
Merritt Island has a pass rate of 87.4%, which is 1.4 percentage points above the state average of 86%. The average violations per inspection is 5.7 compared to the state average of 4.67.
How often are restaurants inspected in Merritt Island?
Food establishments in Merritt Island have an average of 15.1 inspections on record. Florida DBPR conducts routine inspections based on facility type and risk level.
How much in fines have restaurants in Merritt Island been assessed?
Food establishments in Merritt Island have been assessed $31,740 in fines across 84 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $387 and the largest single fine was $1,200.
How many fire safety violations have been found in Merritt Island restaurants?
34 fire safety violations have been documented across 25 food establishments in Merritt Island. The most common issue is fire extinguisher in red zone.
Are grocery stores and retail food stores in Merritt Island inspected?
Yes. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) inspects retail food establishments — grocery stores, gas station food sections, markets, and convenience stores. Merritt Island, Florida has 35 FDACS-regulated retail food facilities with 54 inspections on record.
How many FDACS stop-sale orders have been issued in Merritt Island?
FDACS has issued 29 stop-sale orders at retail food establishments in Merritt Island. A stop-sale order prohibits a facility from selling specific products found to be unsafe, mislabeled, or non-compliant with Florida food code.

In the News Merritt Island

Merritt Island Restaurants & Food Establishments (125)

Steak N Shake

790 E MERRITT ISLAND CAUSEWAY, Merritt Island

30 inspections · 282 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Yaakuza Japanese Thai Sake Bar

925 N COURTENAY PKWY #8, Merritt Island

35 inspections · 276 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Pacific Rim

300 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island

26 inspections · 256 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Joy Luck Restaurant

125 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY #117, Merritt Island

28 inspections · 252 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Burger King

380 E. MERRITT ISLAND CAUSEWAY, Merritt Island

34 inspections · 245 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Cuba Bistro

233 CROCKETT BLVD, Merritt Island

21 inspections · 235 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Tropical Smoothie Cafe

700 MERRITT ISLAND CAUSEWAY E, Merritt Island

22 inspections · 234 violations · Last: Dec 2025

Nitro Restaurant

225 SYKES CREEK PKWY, Merritt Island

34 inspections · 227 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Causeway Diner

3712 N COURTENAY PKWY #102 & 104, Merritt Island

30 inspections · 224 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Lauchpad Bar and Grill

2700 HARBORTOWN DR STE A, Merritt Island

26 inspections · 212 violations · Last: Sep 2025

Island Gecko Grill

773 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island

27 inspections · 210 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Carrabba's Italian Grill

60 PALMETTO AVE, Merritt Island

27 inspections · 209 violations · Last: Mar 2026

Tijuana Flats Burrito Co.

76 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY #104, Merritt Island

32 inspections · 208 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Cozy Corner Cafe

2425 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island

23 inspections · 205 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Whisk and Grind

370 N CORTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island

31 inspections · 203 violations · Last: Mar 2026

China Star

89 E MERRITT AVE, Merritt Island

25 inspections · 186 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Brasas Grill

325 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY STE O-P, Merritt Island

28 inspections · 185 violations · Last: Apr 2026

Red Lobster #0075

215 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY, Merritt Island

25 inspections · 184 violations · Last: Jan 2026

Hibachi Buffet

735 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island

18 inspections · 176 violations · Last: Feb 2026

Space Coast Golf Club

3915 SAVANNAHS TRL, Merritt Island

32 inspections · 161 violations · Last: Mar 2026