MILWAUKEE - A cook was smoking over customer's food, and a restaurant on Milwaukee's south side wasn't practicing good hand washing.

It's busy even after the lunch rush at New China Buffet near 27th and Loomis, but in the kitchen, inspectors saw an employee cooking with a cigarette in his mouth.

There were also hand washing problems. A cook coughed in his hands, and another employee smoked. Neither one washed up.

New China Buffet was also ordered to do some cleaning. The inspector said, "The level of sanitation is inadequate."

There was mold in the ice machine, and the restaurant was told to do more to prevent cross contamination of food, something that could make customers sick.

The back door was ajar during the inspection, and when we showed up. Inspectors ordered it closed to prevent mice and flies in the restaurant.

The owner claims they are in the process of replacing the back door. He also said employees clean every night.

That cook smoking in the kitchen? The owner claims he was fired that day.