Queens, NY — Merilia Cafe Restaurant Corp, located at 64-16 Roosevelt Avenue in Queens, received a score of 43 points during a health inspection conducted on February 13, 2026, placing the establishment in Grade C territory. Inspectors documented 2 critical violations and 10 non-critical violations during the visit.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) released the inspection data on February 16, 2026.
What Inspectors Found
The most significant finding involved improper cold holding temperatures. Inspectors cited the restaurant for holding cold time/temperature control for safety (TCS) food items above 41°F. Under FDA Food Code guidelines, cold TCS foods must be maintained at 41°F or below to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. When cold foods are held above this threshold, the risk of foodborne illness increases.
The second critical violation involved the absence of properly scaled and calibrated thermometers in food preparation and hot/cold holding areas. Without accessible and accurate thermometers, kitchen staff cannot reliably verify that TCS foods are being cooked, cooled, reheated, and held at safe temperatures. This violation is directly connected to the cold holding issue, as proper temperature monitoring equipment is essential for maintaining food safety.
Inspectors also documented conditions conducive to pests on three separate citations, noting that the establishment was not free of harborage or conditions that could attract rodents, insects, or other pests. These findings indicate multiple areas of the restaurant where pest-friendly conditions were present.
Additional non-critical violations included improper thawing procedures, which can compromise food safety when frozen items are not defrosted using approved methods such as refrigeration, running water, or as part of the cooking process.
The restaurant was cited four times for failing to maintain original nutrition fact labels or ingredient labels for cooking oils, shortenings, margarine, or bulk food items. Maintaining manufacturer documentation on site is required for proper ingredient tracking and allergen identification.
Inspectors also noted on two separate citations that required public health postings were missing, including the "Choking first aid" poster, the "Alcohol and Pregnancy" warning sign, and signage related to resuscitation equipment including exhaled air resuscitation masks and latex gloves.
Food Safety Context
NYC Health Code Article 81 establishes the regulatory framework for food service establishments in New York City. Temperature control is a foundational element of food safety, and the FDA Food Code specifies that cold TCS foods must be held at 41°F or below. Foods held in the temperature danger zone between 41°F and 135°F can support rapid bacterial growth, with pathogens potentially doubling in number every 20 minutes under certain conditions.
The requirement for calibrated thermometers ensures that food service workers can actively monitor and verify safe temperatures throughout all phases of food handling. Without this equipment, temperature-related violations may go undetected until an inspection occurs.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Merilia Cafe Restaurant Corp in the DOHMH database. This may indicate the establishment is relatively new, recently changed ownership, or that earlier records are not reflected in the current dataset.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City assigns letter grades to restaurants based on violation points accumulated during inspections. The scoring system works as follows:
- Grade A: 0 to 13 points
- Grade B: 14 to 27 points
- Grade C: 28 or more points
Merilia Cafe Restaurant Corp's score of 43 points falls into the Grade C range. Restaurants that receive a Grade B or C on an initial inspection may request a re-inspection to improve their score. Grade scores reflect conditions observed on the specific date of inspection and may not represent current conditions.
Consumers can look up any New York City restaurant's inspection history and current grade through the DOHMH restaurant inspection database, available online. The inspection data used in this report is public record maintained by DOHMH.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Merilia Cafe Restaurant Corp including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.