Appomattox Restaurant Hit with Roach Infestation, Lax Food Safety Practices in Inspection

Caterpillar Clubhouse in Madison Heights and McAlister's Deli on Wards Ferry Posts Zero Violations Observed.

According to the Central Virginia Health District, inspectors conducted 34 food establishment inspections between June 2–9. These included 24 routine inspections, 8 follow-ups, and 5 categorized as “Other.” Two establishments earned clean reports with zero violations, while on the opposite end, two locations were cited with 18 and 9 violations, respectively prompting heightened scrutiny and corrective action.

Two Establishments had Zero Violations

On the top side of violations were Rail Yard Restaurant in Appomattox and Mi Patron on Perrowville Rd.

Rail Yard Restaurant

1957 Church Street Appomattox, VA 24522

Rail Yard Restaurant Hit with 18 violations observed.

The Rail Yard Restaurant in Appomattox was cited for eighteen violations during a routine health inspection on June 3, raising food safety and sanitation concerns. Among the findings: an active roach infestation, expired food items, and broken refrigeration units being supplemented with melting ice.

Inspectors observed live roaches in various stages of development crawling on the kitchen floors and walls, along with dead roaches scattered throughout food prep and storage areas. Drain flies were also spotted near the mop sink. The restaurant’s sticky traps were full, and inspectors urged the owner to increase pest control visits beyond the current bi-monthly schedule.

Food safety practices were also lacking. Staff were seen entering and exiting the kitchen and switching tasks without washing their hands. One handwashing sink was being misused to hold a rag and food debris, and another was leaking onto the floor. The restaurant had no certified food protection manager on-site, and the person in charge was described as lacking basic knowledge of food safety requirements.

Temperature control issues were widespread. Inspectors noted macaroni salad, potato salad, and tomatoes in a prep unit that exceeded the safe cold-holding threshold of 41°F. The owner admitted the prep unit had been down for days and was relying on ice to keep food cold—an approach that clearly wasn’t working. Other foods, like diced chicken and mac and cheese in a reach-in cooler, were also too warm. Expired foods were found as well, including ranch dressing dated May 17 and boiled eggs from May 22—well past the allowable seven-day limit for prepared foods.

The kitchen itself was in disrepair. A greasy catch pan under the stove and a mold-covered oil-cleaning bucket were attracting pests. Rubber spatulas were melted, a cutting board was overly worn, and food and boxes were stored directly on the floor. Damaged surfaces, poor lighting, and deteriorating infrastructure—including a hand sink pulling away from the wall and holes around pipes—rounded out a long list of physical facility concerns.

Inspectors warned that many violations were repeat offenses and emphasized the need for urgent corrective action. Without improvement, the restaurant risks receiving a formal Notice of Alleged Violation.

Mi Patron

1208 Perrowville Rd

Mi Patron in Forest Faces Mold, Equipment, and Repeat Violations in Health Inspection

Mi Patron, a popular full-service Mexican restaurant chain in Greater Lynchburg, saw its Perrowville Road location in Forest cited for multiple sanitation and food safety violations during a June 3 inspection—including repeat offenses that could pose health risks if not promptly corrected.

One of the most critical issues involved the restaurant's dishwashing machine, which was found to be dispensing no detectable chlorine—rendering it ineffective at sanitizing food-contact surfaces. While the team quickly switched to a manual three-compartment sink procedure, the broken machine will require servicing.

In the kitchen, inspectors observed mold-like buildup on the ice machine's deflector panel, a serious contamination risk. The problem was resolved on-site, pointing to a need for stronger routine cleaning. In another sanitation lapse, handwashing sinks were misused—filled with ice, dirty pans, and cleaning rags—undermining their critical role in food safety. Handwashing signs were also missing in all restrooms.

Food handling practices raised red flags as well. While temperature checks on items like shredded chicken and cheese sauce were acceptable, there was no date marking system in use, despite the facility having labels available. As a repeat violation, the inspector emphasized that food held over 24 hours must be properly labeled and discarded within seven days to avoid spoilage or contamination.

Facility maintenance issues included a hole in the wall, damaged tiles, and poor caulking in the women's restroom—conditions that could harbor pests or bacteria. The mop sink was also out of order and not draining. An aging, rusted microwave was found with peeling paint and is scheduled for replacement.

While some issues—like a clean fume hood and properly held food temperatures—were noted as positive, the report ultimately underscored that these persistent sanitation and documentation lapses must be addressed promptly. The Virginia Department of Health gave Mi Patron up to 90 days to resolve physical facility issues and 10 days to implement required food safety procedures like date marking.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the remainder of the results:

• Six establishments had one violation.
• Five had two violations.
• Three had three violations.
• Two had four violations.
• One had five violations.
• One had six violations
• Two had seven violations
• Mi Patron on Perrowville Rd had 9 violations and Ball Yard Restaurant in Appomattox had 18 violations.

All inspections reported for June 2-9:

The restaurants near the bottom to where there were no violations observed are due to the nature of the inspections including Follow-Up, Other, and Pre-Opening.

Learn More About Health Department Inspection Articles

If you choose to dive into the details of these listings, please read "Restaurant Health Inspections: What You Can Learn Before Dining Out in Greater Lynchburg," dated May 21, 2024. This story outlines the details of local Health Department Inspections and the results of those reports.