Viral food critic Keith Lee recently embarked on a culinary tour in Atlanta, exploring the city’s renowned food spots and smaller businesses seeking exposure.
Known for his anonymous reviews, Lee orders food, eats it outside the restaurant to maintain anonymity, and provides an authentic rating on a scale of 10. Lee’s first stop was the Atlanta Breakfast Club, where he found the food and customer service acceptable but expressed disappointment with the restaurant’s rules.
These rules included no space to order upon arrival, the requirement to place one order for the entire table, and an inability to accommodate add-ons. Lee’s critique sparked a debate about Atlanta’s restaurant culture among social media users.
The Seafood Menu Restaurant and Takeout, owned by Atlanta rapper Lil Baby, was Lee’s next destination. Unfortunately, Lee couldn’t indulge due to his shellfish allergy, but he allowed his wife and sister to taste-test the food. They gave a moderate rating, noting issues with seasoning, thickly battered catfish, and overly tart lemonades.
Lee then visited Juci Jerk Restaurant after receiving a heartfelt message from the owner’s best friend. Lee and his family left a stellar review, praising the tender, well-seasoned food and excellent customer service.
This positive review greatly benefited the restaurant, attracting more customers. However, Lee’s visit to The Real Milk and Honey on Main Street in College Park turned sour when he claimed the staff refused to serve his family due to deep cleaning despite the open doors.
The team recognized him later, but Lee declined their service due to the initial treatment. Despite this, Lee encouraged his audience to give the restaurant grace and not judge solely based on his experience. The Real Milk and Honey’s response, including a now-deleted video from the CEO claiming not to know Lee, drew criticism on social media.
Lee’s final stop was The Dining Experience in Fairburn, where he discovered exceptional food and top-notch customer service. He believed the restaurant’s emptiness was due to a lack of marketing and hoped his review would help alleviate that issue.
To show his appreciation, Lee left a generous tip of $1,000 on the bill and another $1,000 for the waiter. Since his review, The Dining Experience has seen increased foot traffic. In his latest study, Lee enjoyed The Bodega on Main Street in College Park, describing it as “nostalgic fun.” While Lee’s tour highlighted flaws in Atlanta’s restaurant culture, it also brought significant visibility and new customers to small businesses striving to fulfill their restaurant dreams.
Overall, Keith Lee’s reviews shed light on Atlanta’s food scene, both its strengths and weaknesses, and have had a positive impact on the city’s local businesses.
