Atlanta dynasty shook up by food vlogger Keith Lee. UFC fighter turned food critic Keith Lee has caused a stir in Atlanta area after sitting in town and reviewing some of the city's most talked about eateries. [00:00:15] Some people applauded him for the honest take on the grub and co sign many of his observations. Here's an example of him calling out preferential treat meant by Atlanta restaurants me. >> Speaker 2: And my family are in Atlanta and currently we are at the Real Milk and Honey. I got it, let's try it and rate it one through ten. [00:00:32] As you can see, I don't have any bags of my hands. We are at the Real Milk and Honey on Main street and College Park. Before we came, we attempted to call our order in. We were greeted with an automatic message that said they do not take call in orders. The automatic message said the only way you could do pickup is through DoorDash. We went through DoorDash. They was closed, but online it said they closed at 5 o'clock. [00:00:48] We went on DoorDash at 4 o'clock but we were already here so we just went inside. I stayed in the car and my family went in and they told them they were closed early for deep cleaning. Yet the door is wide open and it's people still going in and grabbing orders. Now we have no idea if those people order beforehand or what the case is. Also, the people who relayed this message my family said were really nice. [00:01:04] It's just the rules. And so far, being Atlanta, I found some places do have unique rules. To me and my family, the rules just went for us. We just not they target audience. For the record, afterwards I did walk in and they did recognize and they attended the services, but I respectfully declined. I'm a normal person. I pay for my food like everybody else. Yesterday me and my family were at the one music festival. [00:01:19] Somebody who works with Candy Birds walked up to us and said they've been trying to reach us since we got to Atlanta. He said he'd been constantly emailing me and constantly dming me for me to come to Old Lady Gang. I got it. Let's try it and rate it one to ten. As you can see, I don't have any bags in my hands. Me and my family showed up and we attempted the order before we got here. We called the number they had connected on Yelp three times, no answer. [00:01:36] We tried to order through DoorDash and it said it was temporarily closed. So when we pulled up, I sent my family in to order fours. They said on the weekend, due to being busy they don't do any takeout at all? >> Are you doing to go orders? >> Speaker 2: No, we don't do to go orders on the weekend as of late. >> Speaker 2: Okay, so send and dining? >> Speaker 2: Yes. >> Speaker 2: Okay thank you, sweetie. [00:01:52] >> Speaker 2: Which is completely understandable. So what we decided to do is my family is gonna go eat. They're gonna come bring the food out while I'm sitting in the car. So they have no idea I'm here. My family asked how long the wait was to be seated. They said an hour to an hour and a half. >> Yes. >> Speaker 5: Okay. >> Speaker 2: She also said they didn't have any reservations available, so they didn't take down any number, any contact information, nothing. [00:02:09] My family then came and relayed that message to me and I decided to go in myself. We walked in and we were greeted by a nice young lady. And then I met some amazing people who were eating there and we took some pictures. God is amazing. As soon as me and my wife were done taking pictures, the lady said the table was ready. As always, I don't want any special treatment. I want to be treated like everybody else. [00:02:24] I pay for my food like everybody else. I'm a normal person. I'm a normal customer. Things like this is exactly why I do reviews the way I do. Just because I have a certain amount of followers on social media don't make me different from nobody. My mom, my mom in law, my sister, they all paying customers just like me. So I want them to be treated just like me. So I asked how long the wait time has been today. [00:02:40] She said an hour to an hour and a half, so which I didn't ask, how were you able to sit me in five minutes? This is her response. How long we looking for as far as wait time? >> Speaker 2: I'm getting your table set up right now, so about 5 minutes. Nobody on the waitlist I called came so. Now, it's whoever, first come first serve. >> Again, my family just attempted to eat there less than two minutes ago. [00:03:01] I then told her I changed my mind, we're gonna go eat somewhere else. And I said, god bless you and I walked out. >> Speaker 1: So people might be upset. But listen, there are some famous people, especially Cardi B co signed what Lee said. Check out this video where she's telling us this. >> Speaker 5: Like first thing first, right? [00:03:16] I feel like Atlanta restaurants, they don't like to make money. I feel like they don't like people. They don't like their customers. They just don't like it. First thing first, right? You could barely order in Atlanta restaurants. You go like, hey, I would like to make order. [00:03:32] We don't take orders. We don't take orders. It gets to the point that I literally have to name. Like, I have to tell people that order food for me. Like, can you just name drop my name? Because first, and don't, they don't do no pickup orders. They don't do deliveries. They just don't do second, Atlanta restaurants, right? [00:03:51] They be closed on the most random. You go looking for a restaurant on Google and it's like, this look good. They closed that. What do you mean? >> Speaker 1: Listen, while people like Candy Berries, [00:04:08] the owner of old Eddie Gang appreciated Lee's feedback. The owner of the Real Milk and Honey were initially dismissive of it. I got to be honest. Listen, I spent a lot of time in Atlanta, a lot of time in Atlanta because my business is headquartered there. Blackmail voter project. [00:04:23] Sharon, you know this truth. Cardi B and Keith are not wrong. They think it's a badge of honor to give someone special privilege. And what he's saying is absolutely correct. When you do this, you cause more havoc. You make people, people that have been sitting there waiting an hour watch this [00:04:40] person walk in because they may be famous or in this case, Internet famous, and they get the seat immediately. It's absolutely disgusting. That is not how you want to be treated as a customer. I think if we're considering how Michelin star do their reviews, where they're blind reviews. Keith, you've done a wonderful job of showing you that. [00:04:57] Even though you know my face because of who and how I reviews, when you give me that preference or treatment, it's not gonna be beneficial for your brand. And let's be clear. Customer service is not what it is in Orlando, where Disney World is in Orlando, especially on the restaurant screen, Sharon. [00:05:14] >> It's a problem, Mayor, and I love this city. I do not wish to trash it in any way, but we have to speak the truth, okay? You remember when Vegas was known for horrible food? It wasn't that long ago. Collectively, the city cleaned up its act, and now they have five star restaurants. [00:05:30] They invited the best chefs in the best establishments. Atlanta has to do better. Keith Lee is a treasure. He's honest. He's humble. Food is just his passion. And anybody who would dismiss someone like that, I like criticism. [00:05:46] As long as it's honest, you can grow from it. But Cardi's right too, Mayor. They act know we're doing them a favor at some of these restaurants instead of making it a nice customer experience. It's actually ridiculous. I can think of one where you have to go there, wait in line to place your order. [00:06:03] They won't do anything over the phone. Now, come on, is that fair Mayor? >> It's not fair at all. I mean, listen, and New York Times covers some of the effects of this, right? Some restauranteers said they saw results for better or worse after Mr. Lee's visit. One restaurant after a glowing review sold out the first time in the history. [00:06:21] >> Speaker 4: Wow. >> Speaker 1: They had to extend its hours. Another restaurant where Mr. Lee had a frustrating experience is its inbox quickly filled up with vitro and threats. Those are the two sides of what some have called the Keith Lee effect. And I mean, listen, the idea that someone is shedding light on your restaurant, [00:06:39] big are big or small, you should take advantage of that. And that the dismissive nature of what we saw from the Real Milk and Honey is probably why people feel the way they do about that restaurant. And while the food is good, it's only good when you can get it and most of the time you're frustrated with the experience.