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P.J.'S MOTEL & RIVER RAT CAFE'
41867 NYS ROUTE 180, CLAYTON, NY 13624
Last inspected Sep 9, 2025
Failed. Did not meet health requirements at the latest inspection. Many failures are fixed and re-inspected within days — check the inspection date.
This source doesn’t issue a letter grade, so CleanPlate derived the status from the reported violation data.
✕
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Inspection history
Sep 9, 2025
✕8 violations
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Improper thawing procedures used
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Critical: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
Sep 19, 2024
✓4 violations
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
Jun 17, 2022
✓5 violations
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
Aug 27, 2021
✓5 violations
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
Aug 29, 2019
✓8 violations
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
Aug 15, 2018
✓6 violations
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- Manual facilities inadequate, technique incorrect; mechanical facilities not operated in accordance with manufacturer's instructions
Sep 5, 2017
✓7 violations
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
Jul 18, 2016
✓Aug 21, 2015
✓8 violations
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
- Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
Jun 16, 2015
✕16 violations
- Critical: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
- Improper storage of cleaning equipment, linens, laundry unacceptable
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
- In use food dispensing utensils improperly stored
- Critical: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Effective measures not used to control entrance (rodent-, insect-proof contruction). Harborage areas available for rodents, insects and other vermin
- Food not protected during storage, preparation, display, transportation and service, from potential sources of contamination (e.g., food uncovered, mislabeled, stored on floor, missing or inadequate sneeze guards, food containers double stacked)
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Critical: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Adequate, leakproof, non-absorbent, vermin-proof, covered containers not provided where needed
- Premises littered, unnecessary equipment and article present, living quarters no completely separated for food service operations, live animals, birds and pets not excluded
Aug 13, 2014
✓3 violations
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
Aug 7, 2012
✓2 violations
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
Aug 23, 2011
✓1 violation
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
Aug 27, 2009
✕5 violations
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Critical: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
Aug 22, 2007
✓Aug 9, 2006
✓Jun 28, 2005
✓Jun 17, 2004
✓Jun 27, 2003
✓Jun 26, 2002
✓Jul 10, 2001
✓Jul 10, 2000
✓
More in Watertown
Source: New York State Department of Health. Data shown unmodified from the official record. See something wrong? Report a data issue.
