The Central Virginia Health District released its latest food establishment inspection reports covering inspections conducted March 3–9, 2026.

Inspection activity remained steady this week with 50 total inspections across the region. That included 37 routine inspections, 10 follow-up inspections, two “other” inspections, and one pre-opening inspection.

Sixteen of the routine inspections were conducted at school cafeterias, which typically record fewer violations due to standardized food preparation procedures and consistent oversight.

Routine inspection totals ranged from zero to eight violations, with most establishments falling between 0 and 3 violations.

A notable 17 establishments recorded perfect inspections, while the highest routine totals were recorded at Express Lane #16 (8 violations) and Pizzeria Alessandro (8 violations).

Routine Inspections

A total of 37 routine inspections were conducted during the reporting period.

Zero Violations

The following establishments recorded perfect inspections:

Madison Heights Elementary — Madison Heights
(Routine | March 3) — 0 violations

Appomattox County Primary — Appomattox
(Routine | March 4) — 0 violations

Campbell County Vo-Tech — Rustburg
(Routine | March 5) — 0 violations

Yellow Branch Elementary — Rustburg
(Routine | March 5) — 0 violations

Teachable Moments — 1915 Thomson Dr
(Routine | March 5) — 0 violations

Dunbar Middle School — 1200-1208 Polk St
(Routine | March 5) — 0 violations

Tiger Sun Restaurant — 1008A Commerce St
(Routine | March 5) — 0 violations

Appomattox County Elementary — Appomattox
(Routine | March 6) — 0 violations

Sheffield Elementary — 115 Kenwood Pl
(Routine | March 6) — 0 violations

Amherst Education Center — Madison Heights
(Routine | March 6) — 0 violations

Monelison Middle School — Madison Heights
(Routine | March 6) — 0 violations

Appomattox County High School — Appomattox
(Routine | March 6) — 0 violations

Rustburg Elementary — Rustburg
(Routine | March 9) — 0 violations

Diaz Fusion Kitchen — Appomattox
(Routine | March 9) — 0 violations

Altavista High School — Altavista
(Routine | March 9) — 0 violations

T.C. Miller School — 600 Mansfield Ave
(Routine | March 9) — 0 violations

The Manor House — Amherst
(Routine | March 9) — 0 violations

Low Violation Totals (1–2 violations)

Violations in this range are typically minor and often corrected during or shortly after the inspection.

1 violation

Appomattox Papa Johns — Appomattox (March 3)

Papa Johns — Appomattox (March 3)

Liberty Ridge — 189 Monica Boulevard (March 3)

Appomattox County Middle School — Appomattox (March 5)

Jubilee Family Development Center — 1512 Florida Ave (March 6)

Garbanzo — 1971 University Blvd (March 6)

Montview Market — 1971 University Blvd (March 6)

Shake Smart – Liberty University — 1971 University Blvd (March 9)

Manor House Café 2 — Amherst (March 9)

2 violations

Fort Hill Community School — 1350 Liggates Road (March 3)

Fort Hill Community — 1350 Liggates Road (March 3)

Heritage High School — 3101 Wards Ferry Rd (March 4)

Clam Digger’s — Bedford (March 6)

Moderate Violation Totals (3–7 violations)

Several establishments recorded mid-range totals during routine inspections.

Colonial Hills Golf Club — 1990 Gumtree Road (March 6) — 3 violations

Staunton River Middle School — Moneta (March 9) — 3 violations

The Muse Coffee Co. — 1509 Enterprise Dr (March 3) — 4 violations

Spring Oak — Bedford (March 3) — 5 violations

Highest Violation Totals This Week

The week’s highest totals were recorded at:

Express Lane #16 — 2364 Waterlick Road (March 3) — 8 violations

Pizzeria Alessandro — Huddleston (March 9) — 8 violations

A detailed breakdown of those inspections follows below.

Express Lane #16 Cited for 8 Violations

Express Lane #16
2364 Waterlick Road – Lynchburg
Convenience Store Food Service | Routine Inspection | March 3, 2026
8 violations

Express Lane #16 recorded one of the highest violation totals this week during a routine inspection. Inspectors cited issues involving food handling practices, sanitation, equipment condition, and overall facility cleanliness.

Key observations included:

• Inspectors noted the facility requires a deep cleaning, citing heavy buildup of food and grime beneath kitchen equipment as well as grease accumulation on cooking surfaces.
• Mud was observed tracked throughout the lobby and a strong odor was reported in the men’s restroom.
• A kitchen employee was observed changing tasks multiple times without changing gloves and touched her face before continuing food preparation.
• Bacon and sausage were observed partially cooked without an approved written procedure for noncontinuous cooking. The practice was discontinued during the inspection.
• A container of brown gravy dated February 17 was found in a cooler and discarded for exceeding the seven-day storage limit.
• Torn gaskets were observed on a hot holding unit.
• Food debris was observed inside a reach-in freezer.
• An employee’s personal belongings were stored on a food preparation table next to a reach-in cooler.

Inspectors indicated a follow-up inspection will take place by June 3, 2026 to ensure the sanitation issues are corrected. Health officials also plan to provide management with a self-inspection checklist.

Temperature checks during the visit showed most food items within safe ranges, including hot-held foods such as chili at 213°F and fried chicken at 163°F, while cold-held foods such as relish, slaw, and tomatoes were maintained between 38°F and 41°F.

Pizzeria Alessandro Cited for 8 Violations

Pizzeria Alessandro & Grilled LLC
6724 White House Road – Huddleston
Full Service Restaurant | Routine Inspection | March 9, 2026
8 violations

Pizzeria Alessandro recorded one of the highest violation totals this week during a routine inspection. Inspectors cited issues involving food storage practices, labeling procedures, sanitation monitoring, and pest concerns.

Key observations included:

• What appeared to be mouse droppings were observed beneath shelving in the basement dry storage area, prompting discussion with management about monitoring and pest control if needed.
• Multiple varieties of raw meat were stored above ready-to-eat foods such as cheese and sauces, creating a potential cross-contamination risk.
• Several food items did not have required date markings, making it difficult to track how long foods had been stored.
• A food preparation employee was observed washing hands in a three-compartment sink rather than the designated handwashing sink.
• Several foods—including flour, frozen breaded fish, and raw chicken—were stored uncovered, increasing contamination risk.
• A gallon of milk was stored directly on the floor of the walk-in refrigerator before being moved to a shelf.
• The menu did not include an asterisk next to items offered undercooked, such as steak and prime rib, directing customers to the required consumer advisory.
• The facility had a sanitizer dispensing system but did not have testing strips to verify sanitizer concentration.

During the inspection, some issues were corrected on site, including moving food items off the floor and covering exposed foods. Management indicated additional corrections—including labeling procedures and obtaining sanitizer testing strips—would be implemented within the required timeframes.

Temperature checks during the inspection showed foods generally within safe ranges, including chicken cooking at 176°F, pasta sauce holding at 155°F, and cold-held foods such as lettuce, tomatoes, and pasta maintained between 34°F and 41°F.

Inspectors also discussed proper utensil storage practices, ensuring food scoops are stored with handles out of food, and safe thawing procedures for vacuum-packaged fish to reduce potential food safety risks.

Follow-Up Inspections

Follow-up visits were conducted to verify corrections at:

Health and Rehab Center — Appomattox
Lynchburg Health & Rehabilitation — 5615 Seminole Ave
Gunny’s Tavern — 12130 E. Lynchburg-Salem Turnpike
Country Cooking by Irene — 1219 Main St
Koto Japanese Steakhouse — 2118 Wards Rd
Mi Patron — 1208 Perrowville Rd
Inka Grill — 912 Main St
Hissho Sushi @ Liberty — 1971 University Blvd
Corner Burger — 1208 Perrowville Rd
Pizza Hut Express – Tinney — 1971 University Blvd

Other Inspections

Centra PACE — Bedford
The 505 — Huddleston

Pre-Opening Inspection

Tina & Lexi’s Tacos — Bedford

Weekly Summary

Inspection activity across Greater Lynchburg totaled 50 visits this week, with routine inspections accounting for the majority of activity.

Seventeen establishments recorded perfect inspections, while most routine inspections clustered between zero and three violations.

The highest routine totals were recorded at Express Lane #16 and Pizzeria Alessandro, each posting eight violations.

Common inspection themes observed by inspectors included temperature control, sanitation practices, food storage procedures, and facility maintenance — areas that are frequently revisited during follow-up inspections.