MERK'S BAR & GRILL
193 North Causeway
New Smyrna Beach, Florida, 32169
Bouchelle Island
Volusia County County
Overall Food Safety Rating
★½☆☆☆ (1.9/5)
Based on 6 health inspection reports
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Nearby Locations
All Inspection Reports
Inspection on 2/12/2025
High Priority
0
Intermediate
1
Basic
5
Total
6
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 16-23-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-12: **Time Extended**
- 24-08-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic cups **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-12: **Time Extended**
- 23-03-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom prep table dish area Fan behind steamer Broken glass in deck cooler in the deck bar Interior bar cooler **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-12: **Time Extended**
- 33-34-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Storage area not maintained clean and organized. Back fenced area - fryers filled with water and grease with grease on the ground, other unused items in the area **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: Unused items in the area, grease on the ground, fryers covered with tarp. **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-12: **Time Extended**
- 36-27-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated black substance, grease, food debris, and/or dust. Dish area, three compartment sink, behind ovens **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: Wall behind dish area and three compartment sink cleaned, behind oven soiled, wall behind oven in disrepair. **Time Extended** **Corrective Action Taken** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-12: **Time Extended**
- 53A-01-7:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Jack Jessica **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: Jessica **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-12: **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 2/12/2025 revealed 6 total violations (0 high priority, 1 intermediate, 5 basic).
Inspection on 2/10/2025
High Priority
1
Intermediate
1
Basic
5
Total
7
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 16-23-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: **Time Extended**
- 24-08-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic cups **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: **Time Extended**
- 23-03-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom prep table dish area Fan behind steamer Broken glass in deck cooler in the deck bar Interior bar cooler **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: **Time Extended**
- 33-34-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Storage area not maintained clean and organized. Back fenced area - fryers filled with water and grease with grease on the ground, other unused items in the area **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: Unused items in the area, grease on the ground, fryers covered with tarp. **Time Extended**
- 36-27-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated black substance, grease, food debris, and/or dust. Dish area, three compartment sink, behind ovens **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: Wall behind dish area and three compartment sink cleaned, behind oven soiled, wall behind oven in disrepair. **Time Extended** **Corrective Action Taken**
- 01D-01-5:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Ahi tuna, no species listed **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: **Time Extended**
- 53A-01-7:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Jack Jessica **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2025-02-10: Jessica **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 2/10/2025 revealed 7 total violations (1 high priority, 1 intermediate, 5 basic).
Inspection on 2/7/2025
High Priority
3
Intermediate
4
Basic
13
Total
20
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 16-23-4:Basic - Accumulation of lime scale on the inside of the dishmachine. **Warning**
- 12B-07-4:Basic - Employee beverage container on a food preparation table or over/next to clean equipment/utensils. Cookline **Warning**
- 08B-49-4:Basic - Employee personal food not properly identified and segregated from food to be served to the public. Indoor bar cooler **Warning**
- 13-07-4:Basic - Employee wearing jewelry other than a plain ring on their hands/arms while preparing food. Watches **Warning**
- 24-08-4:Basic - Equipment and utensils not properly air-dried - wet nesting. Plastic cups **Warning**
- 08B-38-4:Basic - Food stored on floor. - Oil under handsink - bag in the box soda next to deck waitstation **Corrected On-Site** **Warning**
- 33-19-4:Basic - Garbage on the ground and/or pad around dumpster. **Warning**
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Bottom prep table dish area Fan behind steamer Broken glass in deck cooler in the deck bar Interior bar cooler **Warning**
- 08B-39-4:Basic - Raw fruits/vegetables not washed prior to preparation. Employees sitting in the dining room pulling lemons and limes from whole cardboard cases and cutting. Advised to rinse prior to cutting if not already doing so and not to return washed produce to cardboard storage **Warning**
- 25-05-4:Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Open case of cups stored outside in fenced area. **Warning**
- 33-34-4:Basic - Storage area not maintained clean and organized. Back fenced area - fryers filled with water and grease with grease on the ground, other unused items in the area **Warning**
- 36-27-5:Basic - Wall soiled with accumulated black substance, grease, food debris, and/or dust. Dish area, three compartment sink, behind ovens **Warning**
- 21-08-4:Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. 50-100 ppm quat per operator strips **Warning**
- 22-41-4: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. 0 ppm cl **Warning**
- 01D-01-5:High Priority - Nonexempt fish offered raw or undercooked has not undergone proper parasite destruction. Fish must be fully cooked or discarded. Ahi tuna, no species listed **Warning**
- 03E-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food reheated for hot holding not reaching 165 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 seconds within 2 hours. In steam table chicken soup 145F, Alfredo/cream sauce 133-144F **Warning**
- 03D-15-4:Intermediate - Food being cooled by nonapproved method as evidenced by inadequate rate of cooling during time of inspection. Meatloaf 46-47F (cooling ambient at 10:15 ); At 10:55 46-47F mashed potatoes 53 F (cooling ambient at 10:15 ); At 10:55 53F. **Warning**
- 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not easily accessible for employee use at all times. Kitchen, front blocked by prep table and trash can. Employees moved the table over a foot, **Warning**
- 53A-01-7:Intermediate - Manager or person in charge lacking proof of food manager certification. Jack Jessica **Warning**
- 08A-28-4:Intermediate - Partially cooked raw animal food is not separated from ready-to-eat food. Wings in walk in cooler **Warning**
Food safety inspection conducted on 2/7/2025 revealed 20 total violations (3 high priority, 4 intermediate, 13 basic).
Inspection on 8/28/2024
High Priority
1
Intermediate
0
Basic
3
Total
4
Disposition: Met Inspection Standards
Inspection Details:
- 22-08-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-28: **Time Extended**
- 33-11-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-28: **Time Extended**
- 36-27-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wall/ floor soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall, cookline Floor, main bar **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-28: **Time Extended**
- 03D-02-5:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Black beans 47-49F, overnight in covered plastic container **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: No black beans to temp **Time Extended** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-28: Taco meat 45-51F cooling from previous day in triple cooler . Operator discarded, **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 8/28/2024 revealed 4 total violations (1 high priority, 0 intermediate, 3 basic).
Inspection on 8/23/2024
High Priority
2
Intermediate
1
Basic
3
Total
6
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 22-08-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: **Time Extended**
- 33-11-4:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: **Time Extended**
- 36-27-5:Basic - - From initial inspection : Basic - Wall/ floor soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall, cookline Floor, main bar **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: **Time Extended**
- 03D-02-5:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Black beans 47-49F, overnight in covered plastic container **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: No black beans to temp **Time Extended**
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - - From initial inspection : High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. - Sauerkraut 45F, deli meat 48F. Underneath in main cooler. Removed from walk in cooler and moved underneath less than 2 hours before. - blue cheese and ranch portions up to 54F. Above fill line. Operator discarded - fish dip, deli meats 44-46F overnight. Left bottom triple cooler overnight. Operator moved to walk in cooler **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: - Deli meat 46f - ranch 47f - fish dip 47f **Admin Complaint**
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - - From initial inspection : Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Light buildup ice machine baffle Light buildup blade guard for slicer Vegetable dicer **Warning** - From follow-up inspection 2024-08-23: **Time Extended**
Food safety inspection conducted on 8/23/2024 revealed 6 total violations (2 high priority, 1 intermediate, 3 basic).
Inspection on 8/21/2024
High Priority
5
Intermediate
4
Basic
9
Total
18
Disposition: Follow-up Inspection Required
Inspection Details:
- 14-01-5:Basic - Bowl or other container with no handle used to dispense food. In black beans **Warning**
- 06-09-1:Basic - Commercially processed reduced oxygen packaged fish bearing a label indicating that it is to remain frozen until time of use no longer frozen and not removed from reduced oxygen package. **Warning**
- 22-08-4:Basic - Interior of oven/microwave has accumulation of black substance/grease/food debris. **Warning**
- 33-11-4:Basic - Missing drain plug at dumpster. **Warning**
- 23-03-4:Basic - Nonfood-contact surface soiled with grease, food debris, dirt, slime or dust. Top back exterior oven Reach in cooler fan covers **Warning**
- 08B-32-4:Basic - Potatoes in 5 gallon bucket rinsed with water at thwart outdoor mop sink. Employee was instructed to re-rinse them inside **Warning**
- 25-05-4:Basic - Single-service articles improperly stored. Cases on the floor in the storage room **Warning**
- 36-27-5:Basic - Wall/ floor soiled with accumulated grease, food debris, and/or dust. Wall, cookline Floor, main bar **Warning**
- 21-08-4:Basic - Wiping cloth quaternary ammonium compound sanitizing solution not at proper minimum strength. 0 ppm **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
- 03D-02-5:High Priority - Cooked/heated time/temperature control for safety food not cooled from 135 degrees Fahrenheit to 41 degrees Fahrenheit within 6 hours. Black beans 47-49F, overnight in covered plastic container **Warning**
- 35A-02-6:High Priority - Live, small flying insects in kitchen, food preparation area, food storage area and/or bar area. Approximately 15, main bar **Repeat Violation** **Warning**
- 41-24-4:High Priority - Pesticide-emitting strip present in food prep area. Dichlorvos emitting strips in the bar **Warning**
- 08A-02-6:High Priority - Raw animal food stored over or with ready-to-eat food in a freezer - not all products commercially packaged. Raw shrimp over onion rings. Upright freezer **Warning**
- 03A-02-5:High Priority - Time/temperature control for safety food cold held at greater than 41 degrees Fahrenheit. - Sauerkraut 45F, deli meat 48F. Underneath in main cooler. Removed from walk in cooler and moved underneath less than 2 hours before. - blue cheese and ranch portions up to 54F. Above fill line. Operator discarded - fish dip, deli meats 44-46F overnight. Left bottom triple cooler overnight. Operator moved to walk in cooler **Warning**
- 22-02-4:Intermediate - Food-contact surface soiled with food debris, mold-like substance or slime. Light buildup ice machine baffle Light buildup blade guard for slicer Vegetable dicer **Warning**
- 31A-09-4:Intermediate - Handwash sink not accessible for employee use at all times.outside bar, blocked by rack **Warning**
- 53A-05-6:Intermediate - No currently certified food service manager on duty with four or more employees engaged in food preparation/handling. A list of accredited food manager certification examination providers can be found at http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/hotels-restaurants/food-lodging/food-manager/ **Warning**
- 05-08-4:Intermediate - No probe thermometer provided to measure temperature of food products. **Warning**
Food safety inspection conducted on 8/21/2024 revealed 18 total violations (5 high priority, 4 intermediate, 9 basic).