A Keith Lee review of a restaurant connected to 2 Chainz became the center of a revealing conversation about celebrity privileges, customer service, and the expectations placed on Atlanta restaurants. During an appearance on Kirk Franklin’s “Den of Kings,” the rapper challenged the popular food critic over his assessment of Esco Restaurant & Tapas, questioning whether celebrities should expect the same treatment as everyday customers.
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2 Chainz, whose real name is Tauheed Epps, launched Esco Restaurant & Tapas with business partner Mychel “Snoop” Dillard in 2016. The original Atlanta concept, formerly known as Escobar, combines Southern-inspired dishes, tapas, cocktails, and nightlife. Its Castleberry Hill location sits at 327 Peters Street Southwest.During their conversation, 2 Chainz acknowledged seeing Lee’s restaurant coverage but made it clear that he had some thoughts about the criticism.
“I saw you do my restaurant. I saw you do other people’s restaurants,” 2 Chainz said. “And I really can’t judge it because it’s your opinion.”
The rapper also discussed the work involved in building businesses in Atlanta, where celebrity-owned restaurants have become prominent parts of the city’s dining and entertainment scene.
The brand has expanded beyond its original Atlanta location. Esco’s official website also lists restaurants in the Marietta/Austell area of Georgia, Memphis, Tennessee, and Dallas, Texas. Several locations are operated by independent franchise owners rather than directly by the rapper.
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His restaurant ventures have also included Esco Seafood, a seafood-focused concept developed with Dillard on Edgewood Avenue in Atlanta. The business partners previously operated additional hospitality concepts, including Crave and the Members Only lounge.
However, the Keith Lee review discussion quickly moved beyond one restaurant.
Lee explained that his responsibility is to customers who may visit an establishment because of his recommendation. He argued that entertainers, influencers, and other recognizable figures can experience a completely different level of service from ordinary diners.
“If you Mojo Brookzz, you 2 Chainz, you Desi Banks, you Kirk, if you go in, you going to get a completely different experience than if my mama go in or my wife go in or if anybody in the crowd go in,” Lee said.
To demonstrate his point, Lee described sending his mother-in-law to several Atlanta restaurants before visiting himself.
“I sent my mom-in-law into 10 different restaurants. She couldn’t eat nowhere,” Lee explained. “I go in, table ready right now.”
For Lee, those experiences influence what he considers when reviewing restaurants. He often has family members place orders so employees do not recognize him and provide special attention unavailable to other customers.
“I don’t ever want to put nobody in a situation that they get a different experience only because they not Keith Lee,” he said.
However, 2 Chainz saw celebrity treatment differently.
“I’m an entertainer, and obviously we get perks that other people don’t get,” he said. “I don’t stand in line at the airport. I don’t do none of that because I done work my [expletive] off to do this.”
His argument centered on privileges that can accompany professional success. Lee’s position focused on whether those privileges make a restaurant review less representative of the experience other paying customers receive.
The conversation also turned to Lee’s credibility as a food critic.
2 Chainz questioned whether Lee’s background as a professional mixed martial arts fighter, including years of restrictive dieting and weight management, might affect how he evaluates food.
Lee defended his experience, explaining that athletics introduced him to nutrition and helped develop his interest in cooking. His approach involves more than tasting dishes. He also examines ordering procedures, accessibility, and customer service.
“You ask me to come get my opinion, but then you get upset because my opinion not what you wanted to hear,” Lee said.
The exchange revived memories of Lee’s controversial 2023 Atlanta food tour. During that visit, he documented difficulties obtaining service at several establishments, including Kandi Burruss’ Old Lady Gang and The Real Milk and Honey in College Park.
At Old Lady Gang, Lee described being offered immediate seating after his family had reportedly been told there was a lengthy wait. He declined the preferential treatment.
Although the Keith Lee review referenced by 2 Chainz prompted their discussion, the publicly reported exchange did not establish which Esco dishes Lee criticized, what ratings he assigned, or the specific problems behind his assessment.
