Merritt Island — Food Safety Records: DBPR & FDACS
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.
Most-Inspected Facilities
| Business | Inspections | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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)
| Date | Business | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Tasty K-pot | Rodent activity |
Merritt Island Restaurants: Recent Inspections (Last 30 Days)
| Date | Business | Violations | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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
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 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.
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.
| Date | Facility | Product | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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)
| Chain | Locations | Stop-Sale Orders | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ollies Bargain Outlet | 1 | 0 | 4 |
| Target | 1 | 15 | 249 |
| Starbucks | 1 | 77 | 1,170 |
| Walgreens | 1 | 1 | 743 |
Merritt Island: Notable Restaurants
Island Hotel of Space Coast
42 inspections
197 violations
3 closures
Island Waterfront Bar and Grill
61 inspections
615 violations
2 closures
Next Level Arcade
46 inspections
397 violations
2 closures
Kelsey's Pizza
47 inspections
592 violations
Mimmos Pizza & Ristorante
46 inspections
332 violations
Island Pancake House
31 inspections
156 violations
Merritt Island: Restaurant Chains (DBPR)
| Chain | Locations | Violations | Closures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burger King | 2 | 402 | 1 |
| Five Guys | 1 | 19 | 0 |
| McDonalds | 1 | 73 | 0 |
| Sonic Drive-in | 1 | 127 | 0 |
| Tijuana Flats | 1 | 208 | 0 |
| Arbys | 1 | 61 | 0 |
| Chick-fil-a | 1 | 94 | 0 |
| Longhorn Steakhouse | 1 | 139 | 0 |
| Red Lobster | 1 | 184 | 0 |
| Taco Bell | 1 | 94 | 1 |
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.
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Merritt Island Restaurants & Food Establishments (125)
Courtenay Marathon FDACS Retail
3095 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island
FDACS Retail Food · 123/Convenience Store Limited FSA Fruitful Living Orchard FDACS Retail
255 E Crisafulli RD, Merritt Island
FDACS Retail Food · 710/Limited Poultry and EggHayes Meats FDACS Retail
285 Fortenberry RD, Merritt Island
FDACS Retail Food · Grocery Store < 15,000 sq ftBj's Wholesale Club # 0120 FDACS Retail
415 E Merritt Ave, Merritt Island
FDACS Retail Food · SupermarketMerritt Island Dd LLC FDACS Retail
2445 N COURTENAY PKWY, Merritt Island
FDACS Retail Food · Retail Bakery w/FS