Merguez Restaurant
Last inspected: Feb 6, 2026
82
Score
Merguez Restaurant has been inspected eight times since 2022. The most recent visit was on Feb 6, 2026. Diners can read the low risk label as a sign that recent inspections have gone well.
Recent visits have produced comparable findings, with counts hovering near five violations per visit.
“Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food” accounts for the largest share of issues, appearing two times across the record.
Restaurants in Orlando average 79, so Merguez Restaurant is doing better than most peers. There isn't much in the file that would give a customer pause.
8
Inspections
0
Critical latest
0
Major latest
4
Minor latest
Inspection History
Feb 6, 2026
Routine - Food
4 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Basic - Reach-in cooler interior/shelves have accumulation of soil residues. In kitchen, two door cooler
22-16-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. Bowl in cous cous on cookline **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
14-01-5
Basic - Employee personal items stored in or above a food preparation area, food, clean equipment and utensils, or single-service items. Purse on dry storage shelf in kitchen **Corrected On-Site**
40-06-5
Basic - In-use utensil in non-time/temperature control for safety food not stored with handle above top of food within a closed container. Scoop in basmati rice bin
10-01-5
82
Sep 12, 2025
Routine - Food
2 critical violations. 1 major violation. 3 minor violations.
View 6 violations
High Priority - Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license. **Admin Complaint**
50-17-3
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. chicken (98F - Hot Holding). Sitting out less then an hour, operator will reheat to 265°F **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
Intermediate - Paper towel dispenser at handwash sink not working/unable to dispense paper towels. In kitchen **Corrected On-Site**
31B-05-4
Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In cous cous **Corrected On-Site**
14-01-5
Basic - In-use tongs stored on equipment door handle between uses. **Corrected On-Site**
10-20-4
Basic - Plumbing system in disrepair. Faucet not fully connected at handsink in kitchen, still operational
29-08-4
58
Feb 6, 2025
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 3 minor violations.
View 4 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. Employee cut sandwich with bare hands. Operator coached on proper glove usage **Corrective Action Taken**
09-01-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. Bus tubs with beef bones on floor under triple sink **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Chicken in sink no water **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
06-01-5
Basic - Single-service articles not stored inverted or protected from contamination. Aluminum pans on top of crescor **Corrected On-Site**
25-06-4
74
Jul 15, 2024
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 2 major violations. 2 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Proper Eating, Tasting, Drinking, or Tobacco Use
FL-06
Employee Health Policies Present
FL-03
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
Wiping Cloths Properly Used and Stored
FL-41
Food and Non-Food Contact Surfaces Designed and Constructed
FL-50
45
Mar 29, 2024
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 2 minor violations.
View 3 violations
Certified Food Manager Identification
FL-02
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Required Records Available; Shellstock Tags/Labels
FL-14
74
Aug 22, 2023
Routine - Food
1 critical violation. 1 major violation. 2 minor violations.
View 4 violations
Hands Clean and Properly Washed
FL-08
Food Received at Proper Temperature
FL-12
Hot and Cold Water Available; Adequate Pressure
FL-25
Personal Cleanliness
FL-40
58
Apr 17, 2023
Routine - Food
1 major violation. 6 minor violations.
View 7 violations
Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Can opener. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-17: **Time Extended**
22-02-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-17: **Time Extended**
42-01-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Standing water in floor drain/floor drain draining very slowly. At the hand wash sink kitchen area . **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-17: **Time Extended**
29-19-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Open dumpster lid. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-17: **Time Extended**
33-16-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Light not functioning. Hood missing light . **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-17: **Time Extended**
36-62-4
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment in poor repair. Reach in coolers gasket in disrepair. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-17: **Time Extended**
14-11-5
Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2023-04-17: **Time Extended**
33-19-4
67
Jul 1, 2022
Routine - Food
3 critical violations. 3 major violations. 10 minor violations.
View 16 violations
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food, other than whole meat roast, hot held at less than 135 degrees Fahrenheit. couscous (94F - Hot Holding); Eggplant (94F - Hot Holding). Advise operator to reheat till 165 for 15 seconds **Corrective Action Taken**
03B-01-6
High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. cut tomatoes (44F - Cold Holding); Cut lettuce (44F - Cold Holding) advise operator about keeping the reach in cooler lid close. To help bring the product to 41f cookline yogurt (45F - Cold Holding) front counter. Advise operator to move product to another cooler. **Corrective Action Taken**
03A-02-5
High Priority - Employee failed to wash hands before putting on gloves to initiate a task working with food. / advise operator to wash hands for at least 20seconds between changing task
12A-07-5
Intermediate - Employee applied hand antiseptic in place of washing hands as required.
12A-01-4
Intermediate - No chlorine chemical test kit provided when using sanitizer at three-compartment sink/warewashing machine or wiping cloths.
16-37-1
Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products.
05-08-4
Basic - Current Hotel and Restaurant license not displayed.
50-09-4
Basic - Food stored on floor. / Observed bag of onion on floor and chicken on flow **Repeat Violation**
08B-38-4
Basic - Ice buildup in reach-in freezer and/or walk-in freezer.
14-69-4
Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris.
22-08-4
Basic - Light not functioning. Light bulb out
36-62-4
Basic - No handwashing sign provided at a hand sink used by food employees. Next to three comp sink
31B-04-4
Basic - Opened employee beverage container in a cold holding unit with food to be served to customers.
12B-13-4
Basic - Plumbing system improperly installed or repaired.Observed pipe coming from roof draining into 3 comp sink **Repeat Violation**
29-07-5
Basic - Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner. Observed raw chicken thawing at room temperature in 3 comp sink **Corrected On-Site** **Repeat Violation**
06-01-5
Basic - Wet mop not stored in a manner to allow the mop to dry.
42-01-4
29
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Merguez Restaurant last inspected?
The most recent health inspection at Merguez Restaurant on file is from Feb 6, 2026. The public record contains eight inspections in total.
What is the most common violation at Merguez Restaurant?
Across the inspection record, “bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food” has been cited two times, more than any other issue at Merguez Restaurant.
How does Merguez Restaurant compare to other restaurants in Orlando?
Merguez Restaurant most recently scored 82 out of 100, which is higher than the Orlando average of 79.
Has Merguez Restaurant's inspection record improved over time?
Results have been roughly steady. Inspections at Merguez Restaurant have averaged around five violations per visit across the recent record.
What does a low risk rating mean?
A low risk rating at Merguez Restaurant 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 Merguez Restaurant inspected?
Based on the inspection history on file, Merguez Restaurant is inspected around two times per year on average.
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