Greater Lynchburg Food Inspections: Val's Comfort Kitchen Records 8 Violations

Val's Comfort Kitchen records eight violations and Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken records six, while 15 of 38 establishments complete routine inspections without a violation.

LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Central Virginia Health District conducted food inspections across Greater Lynchburg during the Sept. 14-21 reporting period, including 38 routine inspections that resulted in 65 violations.

Val's Comfort Kitchen in Lynchburg recorded the week's highest total with eight violations, followed by Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken with six. El Habanero Mexicano and Bentley Commons each recorded five violations.

Fifteen establishments completed routine inspections without a violation.

Editor's Note: Inspection reports are snapshots in time. Many violations are corrected during the inspection, and establishments may address additional items before follow-up visits.

📊 Weekly Inspection Summary

• Routine inspections: 38
• Total routine-inspection violations: 65
• Zero-violation routine inspections: 15
• Highest routine violation total: Val's Comfort Kitchen — 8

Highest Routine Inspection Violation Totals

Val's Comfort Kitchen — Lynchburg — 8 violations

Val's Comfort Kitchen recorded eight violations during its Sept. 16 routine inspection.

The restaurant did not have an active certified food protection manager, and inspectors could not initially verify employee health policy training. A kitchen handwashing sink near the dishwashing area was also out of service.

Inspectors found an open bag of frozen fish with frost and condensation and six significantly dented cans. The fish was discarded and the cans were separated from other food. Raw eggs and packaged smoked turkey legs were also stored above ready-to-eat foods and were rearranged during the inspection.

The restaurant's dish machine registered 0 ppm sanitizer, prompting the establishment to use its three-compartment sink with chlorine sanitizer until the machine could be repaired.

Temperature-related violations included cooked onions at 85°F, meatloaf sauce at 82°F and pork chops at 124°F, all below the required 135°F for hot holding. Beef livers held on ice were measured at 52°F to 55°F, above the 41°F cold-holding limit. Corrective actions were taken during the inspection.

Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken — Lynchburg — 6 violations

Hangry Joe's Hot Chicken recorded six violations during its Sept. 14 routine inspection.

The restaurant did not have an active certified food protection manager and required handwashing reminder signs were missing from the men's restroom and a hand sink near the fryers.

Inspectors found macaroni and cheese at 46°F in a prep unit operating at 44°F, above the 41°F cold-holding limit. The food was moved to the walk-in refrigerator, and management was directed to have the unit serviced.

The restaurant also lacked test strips for its quaternary ammonium sanitizer, and the women's restroom did not have a covered trash receptacle. The cold-holding violation was corrected during the inspection.

El Habanero Mexicano and Bentley Commons recorded five violations each. Bistro Bros. Q Deli and Runk & Pratt Willow Ridge followed with four each.

Three violations were recorded at Champs, The Filling Station, Jefferson Forest High School and Pink Lemonade. Four establishments recorded two violations, while four recorded one.

Routine Inspection Results

Zero-Violation Routine Inspections

Amherst Elementary School — Amherst
Sept. 21 | Educational Facility Food Service

Temperance Elementary School — Amherst
Sept. 21 | Educational Facility Food Service

Huddleston Elementary School — Huddleston
Sept. 21 | Educational Facility Food Service

Leesville Road Elementary — Lynchburg
Sept. 21 | Educational Facility Food Service

Rustburg High School — Rustburg
Sept. 21 | Educational Facility Food Service

Split Rail Ice Cream And Treats — Bedford
Sept. 18 | Mobile Food Unit

Heritage Elementary — Lynchburg
Sept. 18 | Educational Facility Food Service

Brookville High — Lynchburg
Sept. 17 | Educational Facility Food Service

Concord Elementary School — Concord
Sept. 17 | Educational Facility Food Service

Southern Love & Grace Kitchen Creations — Moneta
Sept. 17 | Mobile Food Unit

Tomahawk Elementary — Lynchburg
Sept. 17 | Educational Facility Food Service

Yellow Branch Elementary — Rustburg
Sept. 16 | Educational Facility Food Service

Margie's Coffee Spot — Moneta
Sept. 16 | Carry Out

Rustburg Elementary School — Rustburg
Sept. 15 | Educational Facility Food Service

Rustburg Middle School — Rustburg
Sept. 15 | Educational Facility Food Service

5 Violations

El Habanero Mexicano — Lynchburg
Sept. 17 | Mobile Food Unit

Bentley Commons — Lynchburg
Sept. 15 | Long Term Care and Other Custodial Living Centers

4 Violations

Bistro Bros. Q Deli LLC — Lynchburg
Sept. 17 | Full Service Restaurant

Runk & Pratt Willow Ridge — Lynchburg
Sept. 17 | Long Term Care and Other Custodial Living Centers

3 Violations

Pink Lemonade — Forest
Sept. 19 | Mobile Food Unit

Champs — Lynchburg
Sept. 18 | Carry Out

The Filling Station — Amherst
Sept. 16 | Full Service Restaurant

Jefferson Forest High School — Forest
Sept. 15 | Educational Facility Food Service

Horizon Behavior Health Community Crisis Receiving Center — Lynchburg
Sept. 15 | Long Term Care and Other Custodial Living Centers

2 Violations

Wendy's - Memorial — Lynchburg
Sept. 18 | Fast Food

Heritage High School — Lynchburg
Sept. 18 | Educational Facility Food Service

Forest Middle School — Forest
Sept. 17 | Educational Facility Food Service

Smith Mtn. Lake Moose — Bedford
Sept. 16 | Full Service Restaurant

Liberty High School — Bedford
Sept. 14 | Educational Facility Food Service

Moore's Country Store — Lynchburg
Sept. 14 | Fast Food

1 Violation

Brookville Middle — Lynchburg
Sept. 21 | Educational Facility Food Service

Dunbar Middle School — Lynchburg
Sept. 18 | Educational Facility Food Service

School Of Business — Lynchburg
Sept. 18 | Convenience Store Food Service

Forest Elementary School — Forest
Sept. 16 | Educational Facility Food Service

Quality Inn — Lynchburg
Sept. 15 | Continental Breakfast

Elizabeth's Early Learning Center — Lynchburg
Sept. 14 | Child Care Food Service

Additional Inspections

Follow-Up Inspections

Taco Bell #39767 — Bedford
Sept. 21 | Follow-Up

Bacon St. Bagels Mobile Unit — Lynchburg
Sept. 21 | Follow-Up

Fiesta Tapatia — Forest
Sept. 18 | Follow-Up

Taqueria "La Tradicional" — Lynchburg
Sept. 16 | Follow-Up

Weenie Stand #1 — Lynchburg
Sept. 15 | Follow-Up

New Doc's Kitchen — Lynchburg
Sept. 15 | Follow-Up

THAI 99 Kitchen — Lynchburg
Sept. 14 | Follow-Up

Pre-Opening Inspections

Glenwood Deli — Huddleston
Sept. 21 | Pre-Opening

The Mingo Coffee Co — Lynchburg
Sept. 18 | Pre-Opening

Chipotle Mexican Grill — Madison Heights
Sept. 17 | Pre-Opening

Other Inspections

Dog On It Mobile Unit #2 — Lynchburg
Sept. 21 | Other

Vincent Van Gogh Cafe — Forest
Sept. 14 | Other