Rodents, insects close Merritt Island bar and grill
Here's the breakdown for recent health inspections in Brevard County, for the week of July 17-23, 2023. Please note that some more recent, follow-up inspections may not be included here.
For a complete list of local restaurant inspections, including violations not requiring warnings or administrative action, visit our Brevard County restaurant inspections site.
You can use the database to search by county or by restaurant name.
Florida's restaurant owners are not required to post restaurant inspection results where guests can see them. So every week, we provide that information for you.
Disclaimer: The Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation describes an inspection report as a 'snapshot' of conditions present at the time of the inspection. On any given day, an establishment may have fewer or more violations than noted in their most recent inspection. An inspection conducted on any given day may not be representative of the overall, long-term conditions at the establishment.
For full restaurant inspection details, visit our Brevard County restaurant inspection site.
Which Brevard County restaurants got perfect scores on their health inspections?
These restaurants met all standards during their July 17-23 inspections and no violations were found.
Be Backs Lounge, 2668 Aurora Road, Melbourne **
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwich Store #2119, 3670 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beach
Pig and Whistle, 240 N. Orlando Ave., Cocoa Beach**
Texas Roadhouse, 1181 Malabar Road, Palm Bay**
** Restaurants that failed an inspection and aced a follow-up inspection in the same week
Not closing: Twisted Birch in Rockledge isn't closing; owner plans seafood restaurant in Cocoa
321 Flavor Bites: Melbourne restaurant earns Wine Spectator award, plus Summer of Waffles
Which Brevard restaurants were temporarily closed by inspectors?
These restaurants failed their July 17-23 inspections and were temporarily closed. Follow-up inspections are required.
The Island Waterfront Bar and Grill
1891 E. Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island
Complaint Inspection on July 20
Facility Temporarily Closed: Operations ordered stopped until violations are corrected.
22 total violations, with seven high-priority violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 3 live flying insects in kitchen **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
High Priority - Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. Over cook line and service aisle. Operator discarded **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. In walk in cooler. Raw fish and raw chicken in containers stored over ready to eat foods(cooked ham). **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
High Priority - Rodent activity present as evidenced by rodent droppings found. Observed 6 rodent droppings in beer storage area. Observed 5 rodent droppings in dry storage area. Observed 8 verifiable rodent droppings beneath/behind/near cook line equipment **Warning**
High Priority - Rodent rub marks present along walls/ceilings. Along pipes behind interior ice machine **Warning**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. All temperature control items in main reach in cooler beneath service window. SEE STOP SALE LETTER
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In main reach in cooler beneath service window cut lettuce (57F - Cold Holding); cut tomatoes (56F - Cold Holding); sliced cheese (56F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (58F - Cold Holding); mahi (53F - Cold Holding); grouper (53F - Cold Holding). All food items have been in unit for over 4 hours. SEE STOP SALE **Warning**
New restaurant alert: Titusville barbecue joint adds coastal flair to smoked meats
Mad for mangos: Merritt Island mango groves draw customers from all over Central Florida
Which Brevard County restaurants had high priority violations?
Breakfast in Havana
2251 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne
Routine Inspection on July 21
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Seven total violations, with four high-priority violations
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. Dishwasher 00ppm for chlorine operator set up triple sink **Warning**
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on April 1st **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Stop Sale issued on time/temperature control for safety food due to temperature abuse. ham (62F - Cold Holding); Swiss cheese (61F - Cold Holding); stayed in cooler overnight see stop sale
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. ham (62F - Cold Holding); Swiss cheese (61F - Cold Holding); see stop sale kept in cooler over night
Express Cafe & More
425 North Drive, Melbourne
Routine Inspection on July 18
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Five total violations, with two high-priority violations
High Priority - From initial inspection : High Priority - Ready-to-eat, time/temperature control for safety food marked with a date that exceeds 7 days after opening/preparation. Sliced tomatoes found dated 4/21 operator had cut them this morning and forgot to change date. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-18: **Time Extended**
High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. sausage (98F - Hot Holding), operator began rapid reheat Sausage retemp at 168F **Corrected On-Site** **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-07-18: **Time Extended**
Fiesta Bar and Grill
837 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
22 total violations, with three high-priority violations
High Priority - Food with mold-like growth. See stop sale. On shredded cheese 3lbs **Corrective Action Taken**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. There live flying insects in kitchen Two live at bar Next unannounced per Christal woods
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on April 1st, 2023 **Corrected On-Site**
Game Over Retro Arcade and Bar
2565 W. New Haven Ave., West Melbourne
Routine Inspection on July 20
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Five total violations, with one high-priority violation
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on April 1st, 2023, please visit dbpr website to renew **Admin Complaint**
Gourmet Cheese Steak & Pizza Co Inc
775 S. Babcock St., Melbourne
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
16 total violations, with four high-priority violations
High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. cooked onions and peppers (55F - Cooling);
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired April 1st, 2023 **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw burgers over ready to eat fries in reach in white freezer
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. cheese (54F - Cold Holding); whole milk cheese (51F - Cold Holding); raw beef (52F - Cold Holding) **Warning**
Harvest Thyme Kitchen
601 E. New Haven Ave., Melbourne
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Five total violations, with one high-priority violation
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. License expired on April 1st, 2023 **Corrected On-Site**
Kona Poke
1675 W. New Haven Ave., Melbourne
Routine Inspection on July 21
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Four total violations, with one high-priority violation
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food identified in the written procedure as a food held using time as a public health control has no time marking and the time removed from temperature control cannot be determined. See stop sale. Timers weren't set for four hour hold, operator corrected for time **Corrected On-Site**
Murdock's Bistro and Char Bar
600 Brevard Ave., Cocoa
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
17 total violations, with five high-priority violations
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. One (1) live fly in dish washing area, destroyed and area sanitized, corrected. 4-5 live flies in floor drain area, bartender destroyed flies added vinegar to stop them flies and clean the area. Per dist office D. Corey, next day callback **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. In reach in cooler unit raw beef stored over unwashed heads of lettuce, corrected **Warning**
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Uncontinues/ undercooked chicken wings pastored over raw beef and pork in reach in cooler, corrected **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. prepared on site queso cheese ; left on counter since 200-215 pm (62F) cooked on site onions found holding on counter since 215pm, ; (84F - Cold Holding) placed in reach in freezer to rapid chill. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Chemicals and food items stored together on floor under stairs.
Salty Sisters Bar & Grill
24 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Six total violations, with two high-priority violations
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 500+ppm. Operator diluted to 200ppm **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In flip top reach in cooler on cook line cut tomatoes (53F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (53F - Cold Holding); cut lettuce (53F - Cold Holding); raw beef (56F - Cold Holding). **Warning**
Subway
111 George J. King Blvd., Cape Canaveral
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Five total violations, with two high-priority violations
High Priority - Employee touched soiled surface and then engaged in food preparation, handled clean equipment or utensils, or touched unwrapped single-service items without washing hands. Employee was on the phone wearing gloves then began to assist a customer without Stopping to wash hands and change gloves
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 500+ppm
Taqueria El Sabor De Mexico Corp
1990 Michigan Ave. Suite B, Cocoa
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
Eight total violations, with three high-priority violations
High Priority - Raw animal foods not properly separated from each other in holding unit based upon minimum required cooking temperature. Raw chicken stored over raw beef in make table reach in cooler unit, corrected. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. No ambient air thermometer in unit. 2 glass door reach in cooler unit, per operator items were pulled from walk in cooler this morning at 7am; cooked on site pinto beans ; (53F - Cold Holding); cooked on site beef (53F - Cold Holding); cooked on site pulled/ shredded pork (51F - Cold Holding); shredded cheese (54F - Cold Holding) all items placed in walk in cooler to rapid chill, not enough time left in inspection to monitor temp for cooling. **Warning**
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Spray bottles window stored on cutting board, corrected **Corrected On-Site**
Taqueria El Tesoro
710 W. King St. Unit 115, Cocoa
Routine Inspection on July 19
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
13 total violations, with three high-priority violations
High Priority - Employee touching ready-to-eat food with their bare hands - food was not being heated as a sole ingredient to 145 degrees F or immediately added to other ingredients to be cooked/heated to the minimum required temperature to allow bare hand contact. Establishment has no approved Alternative Operating Procedure. Observed employee dishing hot rice to plate, using bare hands to form rice in plate, reeducted and corrected.
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Repacked items in reach in freezer unit not in correct storage order, raw fish and beef stored over plantains
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with unwashed produce. Who,e raw shell eggs stored in bowl with opened produce, corrected
Zarrella's Italian & Wood Fired Pizza
8801 Astronaut Blvd. No. 103, Cape Canaveral
Routine Inspection on July 21
Follow-Up Inspection Required: Violations require further review, but are not an immediate threat to the public.
19 total violations, with six high-priority violations
High Priority - Container of medicine improperly stored. Over food prep table. Operator moved **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength. Discontinue use of dishmachine for sanitizing and set up manual sanitization until dishmachine is repaired and sanitizing properly. 10ppm. Operator primed and ran again 100ppm **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Observed 12 live flying insects in kitchen areas Observed 4 live flying insects in mop sink area Observed 4 live flying insects in prep area **Warning**
High Priority - Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing. Do not use equipment/utensils not properly sanitized. 500+ppm. Operator diluted 200ppm **Corrected On-Site**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. In flip top of main reach in cooler on cook line nearest server station cut tomatoes (52F - Cold Holding); ricotta (56F - Cold Holding); marinara (51F - Cold Holding); mozzarella (48F - Cold Holding). **Warning**
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. In steamwell lemon butter (108F - Hot Holding); pizza sauce (110F - Hot Holding); Thai chili sauce (113F - Hot Holding). Operator stated that it was heated at 9am then placed in well. Well not on **Warning**
What agency inspects restaurants in Florida?
Routine regulation and inspection of restaurants is conducted by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The Department of Health is responsible for investigation and control of food-borne illness outbreaks associated with all food establishments.
How do I report a dirty restaurant in Florida?
If you see abuses of state standards, report them and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation will send inspectors. Call the Florida DBPR at 850-487-1395 or report a restaurant for health violations online.
Get the whole story at our restaurant inspection database.
What does all that terminology in Florida restaurant inspections mean?
Basic violations are those considered against best practices.
A warning is issued after an inspector documents violations that must be corrected by a certain date or within a specified number of days from receipt of the inspection report.
An administrative complaint is a form of legal action taken by the division. Insufficient compliance after a warning, a pattern of repeat violations or existence of serious conditions that warrant immediate action may result in the division initiating an administrative complaint against the establishment. Says the division website: "Correcting the violations is important, but penalties may still result from violations corrected after the warning time was over."
An emergency order — when a restaurant is closed by the inspector — is based on an immediate threat to the public. Here, the Division of Hotels and Restaurants director has determined that the establishment must stop doing business and any division license is suspended to protect health, safety or welfare of the public.
A 24-hour call-back inspection will be performed after an emergency closure or suspension of license.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Restaurant, food truck inspections: Melbourne area, July 17-23
