Most Central Virginia Restaurants Earn Clean Reports; Two Flagged for Safety Issues

Central Virginia Food Establishment Inspections October 6 – 11, 2025

The Central Virginia Health District released inspection reports for restaurants, schools, and mobile food units across the region this week. Most facilities passed with strong marks for sanitation and food safety, while a few were cited for temperature control, handwashing, or storage issues that required immediate correction.

Perfect Scores

Several businesses and school cafeterias earned perfect inspections with zero violations, including The Village Deli (Rustburg), Taqueria Ashley (85 Alum Springs Road), Butts-Up BBQ Mobile (Concord), Arby’s #7651 (21717 Timberlake), Poppie Allen’s Kettle Corn (Appomattox), Clarkboys Kettle Corn (418 Oakridge Blvd), Anointed Hands (Madison Heights), Ice Cream Obsession (Altavista), and Hardman’s Smoke Stack Mobile (Madison Heights).

Minor and Moderate Violations

Inspections showing just one violation included Quality Suites (Altavista), Bedford Primary School, Wendy’s (Altavista), Goodview Elementary, and Original Italian Pizza Mobile (Madison Heights).

Establishments with two to four violations included Star East (Rustburg), Bedford Elementary, Staunton River Middle (Moneta), Wendy’s (Appomattox), Liberty High School (Bedford), Staunton River High (Moneta), and Frankly Delicious Dogs (1194 Hamler Road).

Most of these involved small labeling, temperature, or storage corrections that were addressed during inspection.

Higher Violation Totals

Montvale Elementary (Montvale) and Burger King #1203 (2424 Memorial Ave) recorded six and seven violations respectively, mainly tied to temperature holding and sanitizing procedures.

The most significant findings of the week came from La Patrona (20 Sunny Bank Dr, Moneta) and A Heavenly Sandwich (11876 Leesville Road, Evington), which led all inspections for total violations.

La Patrona (20 Sunny Bank Drive, Lynchburg)

Inspection date: October 8, 2025 — 11 violations

The La Patrona mobile food unit was cited for several sanitation, equipment, and temperature-control issues. Inspectors found packages of raw chicken stored in the handwashing sink, which made the sink inaccessible. Water temperatures for both the hand sink (86°F) and the three-compartment sink (102°F) were below state requirements of 100°F and 110°F, respectively. The owner was advised that the water heater may require an upgrade to meet demand.

Additional issues included mold-like buildup inside the ice maker, a weak sanitizer solution testing below 10 parts per million, and a dirty meat grinder last used the previous day. The operator corrected the sanitizer concentration on-site, achieving a safe range of 100 PPM after dilution.

Inspectors also noted that prepared foods lacked date labels, raw pork was being thawed improperly in a pot of water, and a cutting board was heavily scratched and discolored. The mobile unit’s waste tank seal was broken, and overhead lighting in food prep areas was insufficient due to burned-out bulbs.

An air-conditioning unit was also leaking water into buckets positioned above the sink, creating a contamination risk. The owner was instructed to service or remove the unit and repair lighting before the next inspection.

A follow-up inspection was scheduled for October 14 to verify corrections. The unit remains permitted and operational.

A Heavenly Sandwich (11876 Leesville Road, Evington)

Inspection date: October 7, 2025 — 14 violations

The Heavenly Sandwich restaurant received the week’s highest number of violations. Inspectors observed handwashing failures, cross-contamination risks, and facility maintenance issues during a routine inspection.

The owner was seen moving directly from taking customer payments to food preparation without washing hands. Both hand sinks lacked paper towels, and one was blocked by cleaning tools. Inspectors also found raw ground beef stored above shell eggs and produce in a cooler, unlabeled cooked items, and uncovered containers of food throughout the kitchen.

Additional concerns included dead flies near grease storage, dirty wiping cloths left on counters, and food debris buildup inside coolers. The restaurant’s only restroom was out of order, several ceiling tiles in the dishwashing area were missing, and chemicals were stored near food preparation areas.

Temperature checks found most foods cold-held properly between 36°F and 41°F, but meatballs (49°F) and ground beef (56°F) being reheated were below the required 165°F and were discarded. A standing cooler reading 56.5°F prompted an order to remove perishable items until it is repaired.

Inspectors also noted that the restaurant’s fire suppression system tag dated back to 2015 and must be serviced. The owner stated that pest control occurs monthly and agreed to correct all deficiencies. The restaurant remains permitted and will receive a follow-up visit within two weeks.

Follow-Up and Pre-Opening Inspections

Follow-up inspections were completed for Express Lane #7 (Appomattox), Subway #4162 (2154 Wards Road), Taqueria Rosita #2 (14465 Wards Rd), Colca’s Chicken LLC (1213 Greenview Dr), Thomas Jefferson Elementary (1255 Patriot Pl), Marshal’s Bar & Grill (Appomattox), and El Cazador (Altavista) to verify corrections.

Pre-opening inspections were also conducted for Rack Em Up Sports (Bedford) and Vincent Van Gogh Café (1208 Perrowville Rd), while Phillin Philly Mobile, Boonies, and Philippine Delight & More underwent other routine visits.

Health inspections are conducted regularly by the Virginia Department of Health to ensure that food establishments, schools, and mobile vendors meet state sanitation and safety standards.

For complete inspection details see below or visit the Central Virginia Health District website.