TAMPA, Florida — For the third year in a row, we're back at China Buffet, a restaurant, according to state records, was shut down for the third time and fined $2,000 for violations that could make customers sick.
The restaurant is located at 1245 E Fowler Avenue in Tampa not far from USF. Every time we show up, employees say we can take a look around the buffet.
"You can take a look, you can take a look okay," said a manager who called himself Chen.
But for some reason they don't want us looking in the kitchen where your food is made.
"Don't make a picture… don't make a picture," shouted an employee who ran up behind us as we approached the kitchen door.
On our visit in 2013, Chen, who called himself the manager, said the issues were now under control.
"No problem. We do cleaning, and we do pest control."
But state records show a habitual pattern of REPEAT violations.
China Buffet was shut down most recently Sept. 29 with 55 violations including raw fish stored over ready to eat items, a sneeze guard missing on the buffet line, no soap at an employee hand sink, along with live roach activity on a shelf with wood bowls and drink mixes at the wait station, near the seafood hot holding area, under the coffee maker, in a box of plastic wrap, and near the ice machine. The inspector also reported finding rodent droppings in a drawer under the coffee station.
When asked about why the restaurant had been shut down so many times, the same employee who did not want our camera in the kitchen shouted, "I don't know!!!! Don't ask me… Don't ask me!!!"
Instead, we asked customers.
"That's crazy," said Vicki Barnett. That's a lot of violations."
Barnett and her husband got up and tried to leave after spotting our camera and hearing about problems in the kitchen.
"We didn't finish our meal because we saw you guys," said Barnett.
An employee chased them outside demanding $42 for the buffet even though they didn't finish eating.
10 News never recommends customers leave a restaurant without paying, but those customers did ask management to see a copy of their latest inspection report. Unfortunately, the manager refused in violation of Florida law.
Should those customers be required to pay, even after learning about the list of health code violations? We'd love to hear from you in the comments section below or on our 10 News Facebook page.
