WASHINGTON – Viral TikToker and food critic Keith Lee visited DC restaurant Jerk at Nite and left a generous tip as well as payment for 200 plates for folks in the community.

The Caribbean restaurant recently experienced an electrical fire at its H Street branch in Northeast DC. During his last visit, Lee left a $2,000 tip, which the restaurant said it plans to use toward repairs at the location.

FOX 5 spoke with JC Whitting, the restaurant’s PR and media specialist, who told the story of Jerk at Nite and how it all started in a dorm room at Howard University. Whitting explained that owner and Howard graduate Denville Myrie started cooking and selling food in his dorm room after noticing there was a need for good late-night meals on campus.

From there, the business grew into a food truck and then into a brick-and-mortar store in DC. Myrie and his business partner Kadeem Tood, both Howard University graduates, found a way to expand to three locations.

The company had initially learned that Lee was going to the DMV and decided to try their luck by contacting him and writing him an email telling him his story and the recent tragedy. Little did they know that their luck would be a direct hit.

Whitting said Lee visited the restaurant on Thursday, returned and entered the restaurant, introduced himself and his family and took photos.

The restaurant recently posted on Instagram that it will be giving away 200 free plates that Lee paid for.