Merritt Island — Food Safety Records
Merritt Island, Florida has 96 food establishments with 2,005 inspections on record. 3 establishments were shut down this year. The pass rate is 86.5%, above the state average of 85.8%. Inspections average 5.7 violations per visit.
Largest fine: $800 assessed to Island Hotel of Space Coast in Merritt Island on October 23, 2025.
Data from Florida DBPR. Updated August 2026.
Merritt Island Restaurants: Comparison to Florida State Averages
Merritt Island
86.5%
Pass Rate
86.5%
Florida Average
85.8%
Pass Rate
85.8%
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
2
Closures per 100 Facilities
2
Merritt Island Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longhorn Steaks of Merritt Isl 5078 | 7 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Papa Vito's Pizza Spot | 1 (1 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Burger King | 8 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Red Lobster #0075 | 10 (3 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Merritt Donuts LLC | 4 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Burger King | 9 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Margarita Island Mexican Kitchen and Bar | 13 (5 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| First Watch | 2 (2 high) | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Chipotle Mexican Grill #4661 | 1 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action | |
| Cuba Bistro | 3 | Inspection Completed - No Further Action |
Merritt Island Restaurants: Most Common Health Violations
| Code | Violation | Citations |
|---|---|---|
| 03 | Employee health reporting | 15,958 |
| 08 | Proper hand/arm washing | 15,325 |
| 36 | Proper ventilation | 14,470 |
| 22 | Consumer advisory | 13,857 |
| 14 | Food contact surfaces | 13,741 |
Merritt Island Restaurants: Disciplinary Actions & Fines
Largest Fines (Past 12 Months)
| Date | Business | Fine | Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 23, 2025 | Island Hotel of Space Coast | $800 | 4--2025050528 |
| Jul 15, 2026 | Island Pancake House | $400 | 4--2026032094 |
| Jul 27, 2026 | Tasty K-pot | $400 | 4--2026027381 |
| May 14, 2026 | Hibachi Buffet | $400 | 4--2026022506 |
| Mar 5, 2026 | My Dad's Pizza | $400 | 4--2026010217 |
| 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 |
| Mar 25, 2026 | First Watch | $200 | 4--2026015809 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | Debbies Diner | $160 | 4--2026007999 |
Merritt Island Restaurants: Fire Safety Violations
Most Common Fire Safety Issues
| Issue | Citations |
|---|---|
| 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: Notable Restaurants
Island Hotel of Space Coast
43 inspections
202 violations
3 closures
Island Waterfront Bar and Grill
61 inspections
615 violations
2 closures
Next Level Arcade
46 inspections
397 violations
2 closures
Pepperoni Gril/jack and Harry's
49 inspections
605 violations
My Dad's Pizza
46 inspections
332 violations
Longhorn Steaks of Merritt Isl 5078
26 inspections
146 violations
Merritt Island: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King | 2 | 419 | 1 |
| Arbys | 1 | 61 | 0 |
| Chick-fil-a | 1 | 94 | 0 |
| Five Guys | 1 | 19 | 0 |
| Longhorn Steakhouse | 1 | 146 | 0 |
| Popeyes | 1 | 202 | 0 |
| Subway | 1 | 54 | 2 |
| Wendys | 1 | 158 | 1 |
| Checkers | 1 | 98 | 0 |
| First Watch | 1 | 32 | 0 |
Merritt Island Restaurant Inspections: FAQ
- How many restaurants are in Merritt Island?
- Merritt Island, Florida has 96 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 86.5%. The Florida state average is 85.8%.
- How many restaurants were shut down in Merritt Island this year?
- 3 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.
- How does Merritt Island compare to the Florida state average?
- Merritt Island has a pass rate of 86.5%, which is 0.7 percentage points above the state average of 85.8%. The average violations per inspection is 5.7 compared to the state average of 4.68.
- How often are restaurants inspected in Merritt Island?
- Food establishments in Merritt Island have an average of 20.9 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 $30,000 in fines across 81 disciplinary actions. The average fine is $380 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.
In the News Merritt Island
See all 17 stories ↓
Merritt Island Mexican Restaurant Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
Margarita Island Mexican Kitchen on Merritt Island drew 8 high-severity violations in July, including food from unapprov…
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- Merritt Island Mexican Restaurant Racked Up 8 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Merritt Island Pancake House Cited for 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Merritt Island Hibachi Buffet Logged 10 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Merritt Island Sandwich Shop Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations, Stayed Open
- Merritt Island Cuban Cafe Stayed Open With 6 High-Severity Violations
- Wiseguys Pizzeria Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations in April 2026, Stayed Open
- Kelsey's Pizza Racked Up 9 High-Severity Violations in June and Stayed Open
- Umpa's Diner Hit With 6 High-Severity Violations in April, Stayed Open
- Merritt Island Sake Bar Stayed Open With 6 High-Severity Violations, Including Unapproved Food Sources
- Merritt Island Cafe Had Food Contamination and Raw Meat Undercooked, Stayed Open
- Merritt Island Sushi Spot Logged 8 High-Severity Violations in April, Stayed Open
- Chick-fil-A on Merritt Island Racked Up 6 High-Severity Violations in April and Stayed Open
- Island Pancake House Emergency-Closed for Rodents, Roaches and Flies in Merritt Island
- Merritt Island Pancake House Racked Up 7 High-Severity Violations and Stayed Open
- Merritt Island Hibachi Restaurant Had 8 High-Severity Violations in April, Stayed Open
Merritt Island Restaurants & Food Establishments (95)
Hibachi, Sushi, Ramen, Bento, Boba Tea
700 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY #3, Merritt Island
31 inspections · 294 violations · Last: Apr 2026Steak N Shake
790 E MERRITT ISLAND CAUSEWAY, Merritt Island
30 inspections · 282 violations · Last: Mar 2026Yaakuza Japanese Thai Sake Bar
925 N COURTENAY PKWY #8, Merritt Island
35 inspections · 276 violations · Last: Apr 2026Pacific Rim
300 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island
26 inspections · 256 violations · Last: Mar 2026Burger King
380 E. MERRITT ISLAND CAUSEWAY, Merritt Island
35 inspections · 253 violations · Last: Jul 2026Joy Luck Restaurant
125 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY #117, Merritt Island
28 inspections · 252 violations · Last: Apr 2026Cuba Bistro
233 CROCKETT BLVD, Merritt Island
23 inspections · 238 violations · Last: Jul 2026Tropical Smoothie Cafe
700 MERRITT ISLAND CAUSEWAY E, Merritt Island
22 inspections · 234 violations · Last: Dec 2025Nitro Restaurant
225 SYKES CREEK PKWY, Merritt Island
34 inspections · 227 violations · Last: Mar 2026Causeway Diner
3712 N COURTENAY PKWY #102 & 104, Merritt Island
30 inspections · 224 violations · Last: Mar 2026Tijuana Flats Burrito Co.
76 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY #104, Merritt Island
33 inspections · 215 violations · Last: May 2026Lauchpad Bar and Grill
2700 HARBORTOWN DR STE A, Merritt Island
26 inspections · 212 violations · Last: Sep 2025Island Gecko Grill
773 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island
27 inspections · 210 violations · Last: Mar 2026Carrabba's Italian Grill
60 PALMETTO AVE, Merritt Island
27 inspections · 209 violations · Last: Mar 2026Cozy Corner Cafe
2425 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island
23 inspections · 205 violations · Last: Apr 2026Whisk and Grind
370 N CORTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island
31 inspections · 203 violations · Last: Mar 2026Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen
116 W MERRITT ISLAND CSWY, Merritt Island
33 inspections · 202 violations · Last: Jul 2026Red Lobster #0075
215 E MERRITT ISLAND CSWY, Merritt Island
26 inspections · 194 violations · Last: Jul 2026Hibachi Buffet
735 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island
19 inspections · 189 violations · Last: Jun 2026China Star
89 E MERRITT AVE, Merritt Island
25 inspections · 186 violations · Last: Apr 2026