WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — What started as a last-resort TikTok post about their struggling business turned into a life-changing visit from one of social media's biggest food critics.
"I was ready to give up. I was ready to tell my husband Mario that, 'You know what? I'm done. Let's just call it quits,'" said Veronica Tiznado, co-owner of Tacos Y Mariscos Ofelia.
The restaurant had just reopened after being closed for two weeks due to financial difficulties. When business remained slow, Veronica posted their story on TikTok, hoping to attract maybe 50 customers.
Instead, the video went viral, reaching 5 million views in a day. Thousands of viewers began tagging Keith Lee, a food critic with 16.7 million TikTok followers and 2.3 million Instagram followers.
"He had never seen so many people tag him in a video," Tiznado said. "He just stopped everything he was doing and took a flight immediately over here."
Lee flew to Atlanta and drove two hours to Warner Robins to visit the restaurant. During his visit, he paid $6,000 to cover three months of rent and left an additional $900 for other customers' meals.
"I can't even talk because ... I'm almost crying a little bit inside of me," said Mario Tiznado, describing the moment Lee offered to help.
The restaurant is already experiencing what's being called the "Keith Lee Effect" — a surge in business following his visits. The owners say their phones haven't stopped ringing, with dozens of calls coming in even on their day off.
"Our phones don't stop going off, people don't stop coming in," Veronica said. "I'm hoping that we can finally be where we want to be."
The family-run restaurant has already hired two new servers to handle the increased customer traffic. Corporate groups are planning visits, and the parking lot that was once empty is now filling up with customers.
For the Tiznados, Lee's visit represents more than just temporary help.
"You're a blessing to my family," Veronica said of Lee. "You gave us hope, you gave us the opportunity to bring my restaurant back to life."
Tacos Y Mariscos Ofelia began as a small operation, with Mario selling food at construction sites before moving to a food truck at Smiley's in Macon. The restaurant is truly a family business, with their teenage children — ages 17 and 14 — helping to serve customers. Now they say they are hopeful to stay open for good.