TikToker Keith Lee’s reviews hold a lot of weight in the food industry.
Last week, Lee posted a video about a Las Vegas pizzeria, Frankenson’s and owner Frank Steele, who had no idea what the Keith Lee effect would do for his ailing business.
“I had this guy come in and didn’t know who he was, and I started talking to him because I like talking to all my customers. I asked him where he was from and what he did for work and that’s when he said he was a food critic,” Steele told KTNV. Just a few hours later, Frankenson’s phone was ringing off the hook. “Our phone never stopped ringing. I’ve sold more lemon pepper wings in the last two days than I have in the past four months. I made more garlic knots yesterday and the day before than I’ve ever made,” Steele said.
A single positive review from Lee can turn the fortune of a flagging food establishment around overnight—and last week, a slew of reviews of a few of Atlanta’s best-loved eateries caused the critic to be one of the top trending topics of 2023, but who is Keith Lee?
@keith_lee125 Frankensons Pizzeria Taste test ???? would you try it ? ???? #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee
Who Is Keith Lee?
Born and raised in Detroit, Michigan, Lee moved to Las Vegas, Nevada with his family.
Lee, a pro-MMA fighter, is currently making headlines across the country as a well-known food critic. He recently made his way to metro Atlanta and visited nine restaurants. Lee’s is widely known for rating businesses based on customer service, marketing and food. He has amassed 14 million viewers on TikTok and over 600 million views. Lee not only reviews large restaurant chains and theme parks, he regularly reviews mom-and-pop restaurants for his audience.
Lee’s wife, Ronni Lee, is a fellow content creator who often appears in Keith’s videos. The couple became engaged in 2020, though they’ve been together for quite some time. They share two daughters, Karter and Riley.
During quarantine, Lee began cooking on camera for his followers and shortly after, YouTube channel People vs. Food approached him to collaborate— and the rest, as they say, is history.
Lee, who considers himself a true foodie, has his eyes on much more than a burgeoning TikTok page—Lee is hoping to go on tour with his content and, eventually, have his own television show—and the the recent backlash over his most recent stop may be the just the catalyst needed to thrust Lee right into the mainstream spotlight.
@keith_lee125 Atlanta Food Tour Recap ???? would you try it ? ???? #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee
Atlanta in Uproar
Lee recently took suggestions from viewers and people who reached out to him, asking him to review specific restaurants in the City of Atlanta
The restaurants were as follows: The Atlanta Breakfast Club, The Seafood Menu, Juci Jerk, The Real Milk and Honey, The Dining Experience Atlanta, The Bodega, Jamaican Jerk Biz, Old Lady Gang and Toast On Lenox.
However, Lee’s not-so-favorable reviews garnered national attention, spotlighting Atlanta’s culinary offerings and sparking a debate as to whether the city is more style over substance.
While Lee may have ruffled some feathers with his recent review, some restaurants report a massive increase (some as high as 900%) after being featured in one of his popular reviews.
@keith_lee125 Jamaican Jerk Biz taste test ???? would you try it ? ???? #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee
“I don’t think I’m a food reviewer per se, or an influencer or a content creator. By definition that’s what I am,” Lee told TODAY. “I’m not in competition with anybody. I’m not in the same category with anybody. I’m in my own lane. There’s no traffic in my lane. There’s nobody over here but me. So I kind of just pay attention to myself.”
