You may have heard about the TikTok review that promoted the creation of a new option on Chipotle’s menu, but did you know about what happened with the local pizzeria in Las Vegas? The restaurant, Frankensons, was struggling to even pay rent when a TikTok review changed everything.
Local Pizzeria is Featured in a TikTok Review
Frank Steele of Las Vegas, Nevada was concerned about his family-owned business, a local pizzeria called Frankensons that was struggling after just four months of being opened. But according to his employees, the problem wasn’t the food. It was the lack of money for marketing.
The restaurant had looked into marketing, receiving an offer from an influencer who quoted Frankensons $2,600 for a review. Unfortunately, at the time was struggling to even pay their rent in Las Vegas, bringing in only $400 on their best day.
That’s when an employee stepped in and reach out to up-and-coming TikTok influencer, keith_lee125.
According to Lee, the employee reached out via email, explaining that Frankensons’ food was delicious but the restaurant was not getting business.
“The email read, ‘I’m an employee at Frankensons Pizzeria,'” said Lee on his TikTok review. “It’s really slow. We really can’t afford rent, but we would love for you to come and try the food.”
Check out Lee’s TikTok review here:
@keith_lee125 Frankensons Pizzeria Taste test 💕 would you try it ? 💕 #foodcritic ♬ original sound – Keith Lee
Lee told his viewers, “I didn’t charge absolutely anything, and I bought my own food. This taste test is to really see: Is it really the marketing, or is the food bad?”
According to his review, Steele was there to serve Lee when he visited, and Lee had a good first impression of Steele saying, “Frank was so dope. He took his time, he was patient.”
But Steele’s friendly nature was genuine. He didn’t know who Lee was when he entered the local pizzeria.
“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,” explained the restaurant owner. “I asked him where he was from and what he did for work and that’s when he said he was a food critic.”
Luckily for Frankensons’ the food was a great experience, too. According to Lee, he paid $86.73 for the food, purchasing pizza, garlic knots, an Italian sub, and Frankensons’ wings, among some other items. And it apparently was worth every penny.
After eating some of a lemon pepper chicken wing, Lee said in his TikTok review of the local pizzeria, “This is one of the best wings I’ve ever had, this is a 10.”
And Lee seemed to be honest, saying he didn’t love the ranch or the fries.
Thankfully for Frankensons, this TikTok review went viral and made the local pizzeria famous. As I write this, Lee’s review has 7.7 million views, nearly 69,000 shares, and nearly 68,000 comments.
So how did it impact Frankensons?