Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood
Last inspected: Jan 23, 2026
100
Score
Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood has been inspected six times since 2024. The latest inspection on file is from Jan 23, 2026. A low risk rating suggests inspectors haven't found much to be concerned about lately.
Performance has remained roughly level over recent inspections, averaging near 11 violations each time.
The most common issue across all inspections has been “no handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used”, showing up four times.
The city-wide average for Cape Coral sits at 77, putting Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood on the better side of that line. The file should reassure diners considering a visit.
6
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
0
Minor latest
Inspection History
Jan 23, 2026
Routine - Food
No violations found.
100
Jan 22, 2026
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 8 minor violations.
View 13 violations
High Priority - Vacuum breaker missing at hose bibb or on fitting/splitter added to hose bibb attached to three compartment sink faucet and hose bibb at end of cook line across from walk in cooler. **Warning**
29-34-4
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed quaternary ammonium concentration at 400+ppm. Educated operator on proper concentration of sanitizer. Operator redid sanitizer. Rechecked concentration at 200 ppm. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
41-27-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed sauce 50F cold hold, cut cabbage 49F cold hold, cooked lobster 48F cold hold in produce whole fish walk in cooler. Educated operator on maintaining temperature at 41F or below. Operator moved foods to colder part of walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Can opener. Operator cleaned can opener. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
22-02-4
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. Hand wash sink in back food prep area. Educated operator on maintaining paper towel dispenser. Operator placed napkins at hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31B-05-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense salsa. Educated operator on using scoops with handles. Operator removed cup. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
14-01-5
Basic - Clam/scallop or other shells purchased from a supplier reused to serve food. Stop Sale. Operator discarded shells. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
25-34-4
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Observed shoes stored in hot holding unit used for storage of bread crumbs and spices. Operator removed shoes. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
40-06-5
Basic - Employee with no hair restraint while engaging in food preparation. Cooks. **Warning**
13-03-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed boxes of frozen seafood stored on floor in walk in freezer. **Warning**
08B-47-4
Basic - In-use ice scoop stored on top of ice machine in walk in cooler between uses. Operator removed ice scoop. **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
10-12-5
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Handwashing sink at cook line. Educated operator on the importance of having hand wash signs. **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with pink-like substance on walk in cooler curtains. Operator had employee clean curtains. **Corrective Action Taken** **Warning**
23-03-4
35
Oct 2, 2025
Routine - Food
4 critical violations. 3 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed quaternary ammonium concentration at 400+ppm. Educated operator on proper concentration of sanitizer. **Repeat Violation**
41-27-4
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. Observed chlorine concentration at 0 ppm. Operator changed sanitizer. Rechecked concentration at 100 ppm. **Corrected On-Site**
22-41-4
High Priority - Toxic substance/chemical improperly stored. Observed utensils stored inside sanitizer bucket. Operator removed knives and washed, rinsed, and sanitized. **Corrected On-Site**
41-10-4
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cut melon 44F cold hold, chowder 48F cold hold, cut cabbage 45F cold hold, and pasta 46F cold hold less 4 hours in produce walk in cooler. Operator turned down walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand wash sink used to rinse cloth. Educated operator on hand wash only. **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No chlorine chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
16-37-1
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels in back food prep area.
31B-05-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense sauce. Operator removed cups. **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - Ceiling/ceiling tiles/vents soiled with accumulated dust, above dishmachine. Operator cleaned ceiling. **Corrected On-Site**
36-34-5
Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Operator removed beverage. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-07-4
Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting.
24-08-4
Basic - In-use spatula stored in cracks between pieces of equipment.
10-17-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed water temperature at 100F. Educated operator in maintaining water at 135F or above. **Repeat Violation**
10-07-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Hand wash sink at cook line. Educated operator on importance of having hand wash signs. **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust on table underneath oven at end of cookline. Operator cleaned. **Corrected On-Site**
23-03-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers. Upright double door reach in cooler at end of cook line. Operator placed employee beverages on bottom shelf. **Corrected On-Site**
12B-13-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Educated operator on keeping buckets off of floor. Operator placed bucket inside of another bucket. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-38-4
25
Apr 3, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 5 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 17 violations
High Priority - Raw animal food stored over/not properly separated from ready-to-eat food. Observed tray of raw lobster stored over ready to eat mashed potatoes. Observed bag of raw chicken stored in same container with cooked sausage in walk in cooler. Operator moved raw chicken to different location. **Corrected On-Site**
08A-05-6
High Priority - Wiping cloth sanitizer solution exceeds the maximum concentration allowed. Observed quaternary ammonium concentration at 400+ppm.
41-27-4
Intermediate - Establishment has no written procedures for employees to follow in response to a vomiting or diarrheal event where the vomit or diarrhea is discharged onto surfaces in the establishment. Provided with written procedures. **Corrected On-Site**
11-27-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed hand wash sink installed dishwash area use to fill sanitizer buckets. Educated operator on hand wash sink only. Operator removed bucket. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No proof provided that food employees are informed of their responsibility to report to the person in charge information about their health and activities related to foodborne illnesses. Operator completed form. **Corrected On-Site**
11-26-1
Intermediate - No quaternary ammonium chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink installed back food prep area. Educated operator on importance of having hand soap. Operator placed soap at hand wash sink.**Corrected On-Site** **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-03-4
Basic - Food not stored at least 6 inches off of the floor. Observed bucket of packaged raw calamari stored in floor in dishwash area. Operator placed calamari on counter. **Corrected On-Site**
08B-47-4
Basic - Ice scoop handle in contact with ice. **Corrected On-Site**
10-08-5
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed water temperature at 122F. Educated operator in maintaining water at 135F or above. Operator placed container on stove. **Corrective Action Taken** **Repeat Violation**
10-07-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Hand wash sink at cook line and hand wash sink in back food prep area. Educated operator on importance of having hand wash signs. Operator placed sign at hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Single-service cups improperly stored on floor in back food prep area.
25-05-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed packaged frozen raw calamari thawing in standing water on floor in dishwash area.
06-01-5
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour bin in back food prep area. Educated operator on the importance of labeling. Operator labeled flour. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
02D-01-5
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Educated operator on keeping buckets off of floor. Operator placed bucket on counter. **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
21-38-4
Basic - Carbon dioxide/helium tanks not adequately secured in back food prep area near hand wash sink.
51-11-4
Basic - Condensation or other drainage not disposed of according to law. Observed water dripping from pipe from ceiling into floor above dishwash area.
28-02-4
27
Oct 1, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 5 major violations. 6 minor violations.
View 12 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Observed cut melon 44F cold hold, American cheese 45F cold hold less than 4 hours. Operator moved time/temperature control for safety foods to colder part of walk in cooler and turned down walk in cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times. Observed hand wash sink in back food prep area blocked by fry oil collection machine and flour bin.
31A-09-4
Intermediate - Handwash sink used for purposes other than handwashing. Observed plastic container stored inside hand wash sink at cook line. Operator removed plastic container. **Corrected On-Site**
31A-11-4
Intermediate - No paper towels or mechanical hand drying device provided at handwash sink. Hand wash sink at cook line and hand wash sink in back food prep area. Operator placed paper towels at hand wash sink. **Corrected On-Site**
31B-02-4
Intermediate - No soap provided at handwash sink. Hand wash sink in back food prep area.
31B-03-4
Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris. Can opener. Educated operator on cleaning can opener daily. **Repeat Violation**
22-02-4
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses.
10-20-4
Basic - In-use utensil stored in standing water less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. Cook line.
10-07-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Hand wash sink in back food prep area. Educated operator on the importance of having a hand wash sign. **Repeat Violation**
31B-04-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers.
12B-13-4
Basic - Wiping cloth sanitizing solution stored on the floor. Cook line.
21-38-4
Basic - Working containers of food removed from original container not identified by common name. Flour bin in back food prep area.
02D-01-5
39
Mar 22, 2024
Food-Licensing Inspection
1 critical violation. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 5 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Contact Surfaces Clean and Sanitized
FL-22
Sewage and Wastewater Properly Disposed
FL-27
Approved Thawing Methods Used
FL-31
Toxic Substances Properly Identified, Stored, Used
FL-32
58
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood on file is from Jan 23, 2026. The public record contains six inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood?
Across the inspection record, “no handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used” has been cited four times, more than any other issue at Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood.
How does Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood compare to other restaurants in Cape Coral?
Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood most recently scored 100 out of 100, which is higher than the Cape Coral average of 77.
Has Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood have averaged around 11 violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood means inspectors found minimal or no significant issues at the most recent visit. Most facilities at this tier have a clean recent inspection report.
How often is Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Fish Tale Grill by Merrick Seafood is inspected around three times per year on average.
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