Keith Lee Blasts Washington, D.C.’s Food Scene, Says One Restaurant’s Food ‘Almost Smells Inedible’

Keith Lee Blasts Washington, D.C.’s Food Scene, Says One Restaurant’s Food ‘Almost Smells Inedible’

Keith Lee isn’t holding back his thoughts about Washington, D.C.’s restaurant scene.

The TikTok food critic, known for his candid and often viral reviews, recently shared his less-than-stellar experience after visiting several eateries in the nation’s capital.

Keith Lee

Despite visiting around a dozen spots, Keith Lee and his family decided to only post about three of them, citing that many of the reviews wouldn’t have been “constructive.”

In a TikTok post shared Monday (Aug. 26), Keith Lee explained,

“A lot of those videos, in my opinion, aren’t constructive.”

One of the most telling moments came when Lee shared a clip of a scrapped review, where he is seen holding a to-go platter with whiting, sweet potatoes, and mac and cheese.

He didn’t mince words about the food’s unappealing odor, stating,

“The smell of this… insane! It smells like shellfish, it smells like frozen fish. It smells almost inedible.”

Lee criticized the restaurant’s “unprofessional” service, noting that the worker preparing his food didn’t wash their hands or wear gloves while dealing with money, which contributed to his disappointing experience.

 

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In addition to the specific incidents, Lee highlighted a broader issue he observed during his D.C. food tour—an overemphasis on alcohol.

In an earlier post, he stated,

“It’s been very hard to find restaurants in my opinion. All the restaurants are geared directly towards alcohol. If you don’t drink, it seem like it’s slim pickings.”

The content creator’s critique largely resonated with social media users, with many agreeing with his latest assessment.

One Instagram user commented,

“At this point, he’s shown himself to be fair; no matter the city! Don’t get mad cuz y’all food spots suck!”

Another shared a similar sentiment, saying,

“I love his honesty and I hope the Keith Lee effect creates some change around the food industry in the DMV because he’s not lying. It sucks. We just used to it.”

A third commenter expressed relief that someone finally addressed the issue:

“I’m glad somebody finally said it. These places push liquor to ensure you’re too drunk to care about how mid the food is. Speaking as a transplant from Chicago (where the food is exceptional). I have been SUFFERING.”

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Do you agree with Keith Lee’s thoughts on D.C.? Let us know in the comments below!