Sawa Japanese Steakhouse Tops Week’s Health Inspections With 12 Violations

Five establishments record six or more violations during the week, led by Sawa Japanese Steakhouse with 12, while three establishments complete routine inspections without a violation.

LYNCHBURG, Va. — The Central Virginia Health District conducted food inspections across Greater Lynchburg during the Aug. 31-Sept. 4 reporting period, including 23 routine inspections that resulted in 74 violations.

Sawa Japanese Steakhouse in Forest recorded the week's highest routine-inspection total with 12 violations, followed by Lynchburg Moose Lodge 715 with nine and H and H Restaurant in Big Island with seven. Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #4344 in Moneta and Domino's #8085 in Lynchburg each recorded six violations.

Three establishments completed routine inspections without a violation: Munsey's Smoke Shack in Thaxton, Temple Christian School in Madison Heights and The Childrens Lounge - SML in Moneta.

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: 23
• Total routine-inspection violations: 74
• Zero-violation routine inspections: 3
• Highest routine violation total: 12
• Establishments with six or more violations: 5

Highest Routine Inspection Violation Totals

Sawa Japanese Steakhouse — Forest — 12 violations

Sawa Japanese Steakhouse recorded the week's highest total with 12 violations during its Sept. 1 inspection.

The inspection cited management oversight and employee-health documentation issues, along with two handwashing violations. One employee washed hands in a food-preparation sink, while two employees were observed washing their hands while wearing gloves. A handwashing sink behind the sushi-preparation area was also turned off and lacked paper towels.

Inspectors cited food-storage and glove-use issues and found numerous foods above the required 41°F cold-holding temperature. Cooked pork measured 49°F, sprouts reached 50°F, bamboo shoots 51°F, noodles as high as 56°F, spicy crab 51°F and garlic in oil 78°F. The foods were moved to proper refrigeration.

Sushi rice, boba and cooked chicken held using time rather than temperature were not properly marked. Broccoli was also being cut before washing, to-go cups were being used as scoops in bulk-food containers, and a spray hose at the three-compartment sink could extend below the flood-level rim.

Several violations were corrected during the inspection, and the owner ordered a new three-door cooler. A follow-up was scheduled for Sept. 11.

Lynchburg Moose Lodge 715 — Lynchburg — 9 violations

Lynchburg Moose Lodge 715 recorded nine violations during its Sept. 2 inspection.

The lodge did not have a certified food protection manager on staff, and its employee-health policy and vomiting-and-diarrheal-event cleanup procedures could not be located. VDH provided replacement documents.

An employee was observed handling raw hamburger and then performing other kitchen activities without removing gloves and washing hands. The employee discarded the gloves and washed their hands during the inspection.

The dishwasher was dispensing chlorine sanitizer at 0 ppm, below the required 50 ppm, while another sanitizer solution exceeded 200 ppm before being diluted to 100 ppm. The establishment also lacked chlorine and quaternary sanitizer test strips.

Other violations included the lack of a consumer advisory for hamburgers offered undercooked upon request and a leaking hand sink behind the bar.

H and H Restaurant — Big Island — 7 violations

H and H Restaurant received seven violations during its Sept. 3 inspection.

An ice machine had apparent mildew buildup, while commercially packaged hot dogs were holding at 44°F in a refrigerator. Macaroni salad dated Aug. 22 had been held for 13 days and was discarded during the inspection.

The restaurant also lacked a consumer advisory despite offering undercooked eggs. Inspectors cited unused equipment in storage, a refrigerator with an internal temperature of 45°F, grease and debris buildup in several areas of the kitchen, and excessive grease buildup on the fume hood and equipment.

Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #4344 — Moneta — 6 violations

Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #4344 received six violations during its Sept. 3 inspection.

Multiple handwashing sinks lacked paper towels, raw chicken was stored above a bucket of pickles, and sanitizer at the three-compartment sink was below the required concentration. Those issues were corrected during the inspection.

The ice-machine deflector had apparent mold buildup, sanitizer test strips could not be located, and a pocket knife and opened cigarettes were found on an active food-preparation counter. The personal items were removed during the inspection.

Domino's #8085 — Lynchburg — 6 violations

Domino's #8085 received six violations during its Sept. 3 inspection.

A container of pineapple was found in a handwashing sink, and a badly dented pizza wheel with missing metal was discarded during the inspection. Both hand sinks were draining slowly, with one also having a cracked seal.

Inspectors also cited damaged flooring near food-preparation areas, a dried spill beneath front storage racks and a wet mop left in the mop sink, where drain flies were observed.

Zero-Violation Routine Inspections

Munsey's Smoke Shack — Thaxton
Sept. 4 | Mobile Food Unit

Temple Christian School — Madison Heights
Sept. 2 | Educational Facility Food Service

The Childrens Lounge - SML — Moneta
Aug. 31 | Child Care Food Service

Routine Inspection Results

12 Violations

• Sawa Japanese Steakhouse — Forest — Sept. 1

Nine Violations

• Lynchburg Moose Lodge 715 — Lynchburg — Sept. 2

Seven Violations

• H and H Restaurant — Big Island — Sept. 3

Six Violations

• Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #4344 — Moneta — Sept. 3
• Domino's #8085 — Lynchburg — Sept. 3

Four Violations

• Ruby Tuesday — Bedford — Sept. 1

Three Violations

• New Yamazato of 228 — Madison Heights — Sept. 3
• Market at Main — Lynchburg — Sept. 3
• Weenie Stand #1 — Lynchburg — Sept. 2
• Boonsboro Elementary School — Lynchburg — Sept. 2
• Subway #11920 — Bedford — Sept. 1

Two Violations

• Bacon St. Bagels — Lynchburg — Sept. 2
• The Maple Leaf Tea Room — Lynchburg — Sept. 2
• The Summit Lynchburg Assisted Living — Lynchburg — Sept. 2
• Campbell County Vo Tech-USDA School Feeding Site — Rustburg — Sept. 1
• Phillin Philly Mobile Unit #2 — Lynchburg — Aug. 31
• The Courthouse Cafe — Rustburg — Aug. 31

One Violation

• William Marvin Bass School — Lynchburg — Sept. 4
• New London Academy — Forest — Sept. 3
• Pizza Hut #4566 — Lynchburg — Sept. 2

Zero Violations

• Munsey's Smoke Shack — Thaxton — Sept. 4
• Temple Christian School — Madison Heights — Sept. 2
• The Childrens Lounge - SML — Moneta — Aug. 31

Additional Inspections

Follow-Up Inspections

Centra Rehabiliation Hospital LLC — Lynchburg
Sept. 4 | Follow-Up

La Cocina de las catrachitas — Lynchburg
Sept. 3 | Follow-Up

Fairfield Inn & Suites — Lynchburg
Sept. 2 | Follow-Up

Fleming Mountain Grill LLC — Lynchburg
Sept. 2 | Follow-Up

La Carreta #3 — Lynchburg
Sept. 1 | Follow-Up

Papa Gallo — Lynchburg
Aug. 31 | Follow-Up

La Carreta #6 — Forest
Aug. 31 | Follow-Up

Bacon St. Bagels Mobile Unit — Lynchburg
Aug. 31 | Follow-Up

First Watch — Lynchburg
Aug. 31 | Follow-Up

THAI 99 Kitchen — Lynchburg
Aug. 31 | Follow-Up

Pre-Opening Inspections

Pink Lady Espresso LLC — Gladys
Sept. 4 | Pre-Opening

Other Inspections

Burger King #1218 — Forest
Aug. 31 | Other

Across the 23 routine inspections, inspectors cited 74 violations, with three establishments completing their routine inspections without a violation.