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P.J.'S MOTEL & RIVER RAT CAFE'
41867 NYS ROUTE 180, CLAYTON, NY 13624
Last inspected Sep 9, 2025
Official source: New York State Department of Health (health.ny.gov) · All data sources
Failed. Did not meet health requirements at the latest inspection. Many failures are fixed and re-inspected within days — check the inspection date.
This inspection record doesn’t carry an official letter grade — some health departments never issue one, and others (like NYC) post it after a grace period — so CleanPlate derived the status from the reported violation data. If the department posts an official grade, it replaces this automatically.
✕
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This establishment failed its most recent health inspection. Review the record below before ordering.
The record, in plain English
CleanPlate holds 22 inspections on record for P.J.'S MOTEL & RIVER RAT CAFE', spanning July 2000 to September 2025 — every one straight from New York State Department of Health.
Its standing slipped since the previous visit — from passed to failed. A follow-up inspection usually rechecks the issues found.
The most recent inspection noted 8 violations, 1 of them a critical item — the kind tied directly to foodborne-illness risk.
Every sentence above is computed directly from the official record — CleanPlate adds no opinions. How our grading works →
Inspection history
Sep 9, 2025
✕8 violations
- Improper thawing procedures used
- 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 of equipment not clean
- Critical: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
- 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)
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
Sep 19, 2024
✓4 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 of equipment not clean
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
Jun 17, 2022
✓5 violations
- Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- 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
- 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 27, 2021
✓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)
- 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
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
Aug 29, 2019
✓8 violations
- Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- 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
- 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)
- Food contact surfaces not washed, rinsed and sanitized after each use and following any time of operations when contamination may have occurred
Aug 15, 2018
✓6 violations
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- 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
- 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
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- 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)
- 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
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
Jul 18, 2016
✓Aug 21, 2015
✓8 violations
- 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)
- Lighting and ventilation inadequate, fixtures not shielded, dirty ventilation hoods, ductwork, filters, exhaust fans
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Wiping cloths dirty, not stored properly in sanitizing solutions
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- 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)
Jun 16, 2015
✕16 violations
- Improper storage of cleaning equipment, linens, laundry unacceptable
- Accurate thermometers not available or used to evaluate refrigerated or heated storage temperatures
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- 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)
- Single service items reused, improperly stored, dispensed, not used when required
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- In use food dispensing utensils improperly stored
- Critical: Canned foods found in poor conditions (leakers, severe dents, rusty, swollen cans)
- Premises littered, unnecessary equipment and article present, living quarters no completely separated for food service operations, live animals, birds and pets not excluded
- Adequate, leakproof, non-absorbent, vermin-proof, covered containers not provided where needed
- Critical: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
- Handwashing facilities inaccessible, improperly located, dirty, in disrepair, improper fixtures, soap, and single service towels or hand drying devices missing
- Non-food contact surfaces and equipment are improperly designed, constructed, installed, maintained (equipment not readily accessible for cleaning, surface not smooth finish)
- Critical: Toxic chemicals are improperly labeled, stored or used so that contamination of food can occur.
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
- Plumbing and sinks not properly sized, installed, maintained; equipment and floors not properly drained
- Critical: Cooked or prepared foods are subject to cross-contamination from raw foods.
- Improper use and storage of clean, sanitized equipment and utensils
- Floors, walls, ceilings, not smooth, properly constructed, in disrepair, dirty surfaces
- Non food contact surfaces of equipment not clean
Aug 22, 2007
✓Aug 9, 2006
✓Jun 28, 2005
✓Jun 17, 2004
✓Jun 27, 2003
✓Jun 26, 2002
✓Jul 10, 2001
✓Jul 10, 2000
✓
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Source: New York State Department of Health (health.ny.gov). Data shown unmodified from the official government record. CleanPlate is an independent service, not affiliated with any government agency. See something wrong? Report a data issue.