Atlanta has gone from Michelin frenzy to dismantling the city’s dining scene. TikTok food critic Keith Lee, that became a hot topic. Mr Lee left some restaurants last week upset by a scorched-earth comment campaign by an army of influencers with 14 million followers. But Atlanta’s Keith Lee moment could have a more profound impact than the appearance of the world’s most authoritative dining guide, and could force some restaurants and unscrupulous actors to rethink their customer service strategies sooner or later. will be forced to do so. Diners were fed up, and apparently so was Keith Lee.
Mr. Lee’s review has since been criticized for poor customer service, restaurant rules meant to disrespect diners, the role of social media influencers as food critics, and how diners themselves influence their restaurant choices. This has sparked a debate over whether there is a need to take responsibility for the same.
Wait, who is Keith Lee?
If you’re not familiar with Lee, you’re not alone. Most people who don’t use TikTok have probably never heard of him. The former mixed martial artist, who has become a sensation on TikTok, says he appreciates the many Black-owned and independent restaurants that encourage people to order takeout and have family members come pick up the food. I try to avoid being noticed or given preferential treatment. He then eats and reviews the meals in his car, each dish he rates on a scale of 1 to 10.
Lee’s honest reviews are simple, relatable, and most importantly, relatable. He’s friendly and considerate in front of the camera, making his reviews feel like honest endorsements from his friends. This approach to food reviews has earned Mr. Lee millions of followers who come for the authenticity he conveys on camera. It also led to him securing partnerships with the following brands: door dash There are also many media appearances.
What happened with Lee in Atlanta?
Lee came to Atlanta from Las Vegas with his family the week the Michelin Guide was published here, and his food review probably got more buzz than even he expected.Visiting 9 restaurants real milk and honey, atlanta breakfast club, lil baby’s seafood menu, Cheers with Lennoxand old lady gangthe Detroit native encountered an eye-watering surcharge (Anyone can buy butter for $1.?) and questionable service rules that are eye-roll-worthy.Even he Left empty-handed (twice) Since takeout was not available, we chose not to eat inside when offered takeout to avoid going in front of people who were still waiting to be seated.
What Lee discovered in Atlanta is something locals already know. The city is home to more than a few club restaurants that have given ATL a bad name by imposing unfair rules on service and takeout, while respecting social media influencers and famous patrons. Locals generally know how to use stores like this. Atmosphere and impact seem to take precedence over food and service there.
Lee called his experience in Atlanta “unique” and “crazy,” but also reminded people why he posts these videos. In one of his last TikToks on the Atlanta issue, Lee concluded by highlighting his three restaurants where he experienced delicious food and service. jamaican jerk biz, juicy jerkand dining experience. All three companies are owner-managed and have limited marketing resources, so they often struggle to attract customers. Lee’s reviews brought customers to these restaurants and sales skyrocketed.
Is drama important? Yes and no.
What Lee does as an amateur food critic is nothing new.
The self-proclaimed food critic has been a part of the restaurant industry for two decades, with personal blogs, sites like Yelp, and social media creating influencers like Lee. Unsurprisingly, the very restaurants that criticize Yelp and its ilk invite social media influencers to their tables as part of their marketing plans, where they eat, drink, and share their experiences (often on video). I often record things.
Responsible social media food influencers may also post a hashtag in their copy that indicates the visit was sponsored or invited by the restaurant, and include that fact as a disclaimer within the post or video. Not all influencers are this transparent about their partnerships with brands and restaurants. Be wary of anything on social media that seems too good to be true. The person on the other side of the camera never utters any negative comments about the restaurant, and it’s all in good fun, pulling on cheese and cupping cocktails with perfectly manicured fingernails. These are just a few signs that the restaurant in question may have paid for some play, so diners keep investigating to decide where and how to spend their time and money. is needed.
Lee seems to be taking a cue from the strategies of professional food critics, trying to remain as anonymous and unbiased as possible during his reviews, in order to experience the same treatment and service as regular diners. He says he doesn’t accept free meals when he’s spotted at a restaurant or asked for preferential treatment. Unlike Lee, professional restaurant critics often make multiple visits to evaluate the consistency of service and food, and do not reveal their findings until after the final visit. Lee does receive messages from restaurants asking for reviews, but he claims he never announces when he will come to the restaurant or if he will come at all.
Of the nine Atlanta and Metro Atlanta restaurants Lee visited, four were well-known tourist attractions with heavy social media promotion, celebrity sponsorship, and hours-long lines, and were more concerned about ambience than food or service. was pushing out. Lee has visited four family-owned restaurants in metro Atlanta. dining experience, juicy jerk, jamaican jerk bizand Bodega — His positive experiences expressed in the individual reviews of these restaurants were largely overshadowed and drowned out by the noise generated online by commenters on the more unfavorable reviews of some other restaurants. I got it.
Even with all the disclaimers in the world telling followers not to leave bad reviews on Google or Yelp or to not contact the restaurant, only one restaurant gets caught up in the Keith Lee drama in Atlanta. I couldn’t do that. After Lee posted a video about his less-than-great experience at Real Milk and Honey in College Park, people confused the unrelated restaurant. Milk and Honey on Cascade Road. As a result, several people apparently left bad reviews online and issued death threats against the erring restaurant’s staff and managers. Even if they were directing their anger at the correct restaurant, this behavior was unacceptable and was rightly condemned by Mr Lee.Now, a visibly frustrated Lee finds himself being criticized for the credibility of his Atlanta restaurant reviews, and he’s at it again. Taken to TikTok in response.
But should Lee and other social media food influencers be held responsible for inadvertently causing damage to the businesses they review? What happens to restaurants like Milk and Honey, which suffer from collateral damage due to misunderstandings? And are there better ways to engage with restaurants whose policies alienate customers who want to support them? Lee’s review sparked a public debate about all of the above.
Restaurant criticism has reached an inflection point, with professional food critics and social media influencers operating in the same circles, and more and more media outlets sharing their critiques to drive reader engagement. increasingly rely on social media platforms. Similarly, diners can now record and share their restaurant experiences, further expanding their role.
At a time when these lines are blurring across restaurant criticism, we see this situation as an exclusive conflict between social media influencers and professional critics supported by publications. That would be easy.
In Atlanta, this is a conflict centered around the past, present, and future of restaurants as the city and metropolitan area continues to evolve as a dining destination. Longtime Atlanta residents will recognize many of the influence-obsessed, atmosphere-focused restaurants that Mr. Lee critiqued. These residents are well aware of the strict rules, restrictions, and dress codes found in such restaurants. Did Lee actually know he was interested in these restaurants before heading to Atlanta, or did he do enough research to know what his dining experience would be like before arriving? Did he just not? Nevertheless, once Lee finished his review, he used his public platform to shout out the quiet part to his 14 million followers: “Do better, Atlanta.” Ta.
After all, the best critiques and food reviews always aim to serve their readers and community. Critics hold those in power accountable. That privileged entity may be a business, restaurant, or employer, or it may be a diner who expects too much or gives too much.
Locals dug into the flood of comments left on Lee’s TikTok reviews and other social media platforms to step up their defense of the ATL restaurant with another proposal, offering Lee a chance to taste it. genuine Atlanta during my next visit. Many also agreed with Lee’s criticism of Atlanta and its food scene. In any case, criticism should focus on loving the city and its restaurants and highlight its strengths, even if it means calling out our beloved city (and some restaurants) for bullshit. You can praise it and talk about its weaknesses.