Merengue Restaurant and Catering INC
790 SW Federal Hwy, Stuart, FL 34994 · Permanent Food Service · License 5301801
What drove the grade
Nonfood-grade grocery bags with labels and font printed used in direct contact with raw meat in reach in freezer
How the score was calculated
- Starting score100
- Violations at the Aug 14 routine inspection1 high priority (fixed on the spot), 1 basic-4
- Safety score96
Our own summary of the public record, not an official state rating. How grades work · Report an error
Inspection history
1 inspection · 1 visitRoutine inspection
- First visitAug 14, 2026 No follow-up needed
Met the state's inspection standards; the inspector didn't need to come back. Any violations cited still count toward the grade.
2 violations found:
Official report, on the Florida DBPR websiteWhat the inspector cited
High priority1
Code 14, Food-contact surfaces designed and maintained: Nonfood-grade grocery bags with labels and font printed used in direct contact with raw meat in reach in freezer
Operator removed
Fixed on the spot
Basic1
Code 06, Food properly thawed: Time/temperature control for safety food thawed in an improper manner.
Observed frozen salmon vacuumed packaged still frozen inside cooler opinion thawing process Operator cut and removed frozen vacuumed packaged salmon and stored properly to thaw
Fixed on the spot
Reading this report
Priority levels
- High priority The problems most likely to make someone sick directly.
- Intermediate Could lead to a high-priority problem if not fixed.
- Basic Best practices and general upkeep.
Terms in the inspectors’ reports
- Time/temperature control for safety food
- Food that has to be kept hot, at 135°F or above, or cold, at 41°F or below, to stay safe: meat, seafood, eggs, dairy, cooked rice and beans, cut melons and the like.