Allison Byrd went out to empty the trash at her newly opened Georgie’s Kitchen takeout eatery one Sunday and when she returned their were 50 people in the lobby.
“It was amazing,” Byrd said.
Byrd had hit the culinary jackpot because of a visit by wildly popular food influencer Dam Gram, aka David Milton.
That morning Milton had posted a rave video review of Byrd’s soul food made from her late mother’s recipes.
That day they “sold every crumb,” and for months, in addition to her regular fans, people who saw the review poured in to Manchester for a taste from as far away as Delaware, Rhode Island, and New Jersey. Many have become regulars, including a man from Springfield, Massachusetts, who has been coming every other day.
“When we first opened we had a steady business, but after Dam Gram it skyrocketed. We were selling out every day,” Byrd said. “He changed my life. He helped put us on the map.”
Influencers are a huge factor these days in moving the needle for businesses in countless industries through the use of social media.
Food is a biggie.
Milton, a full-time information technology manager by day, has more than 130,000 Instagram followers and more than 83,000 on TikTok.
Byrd said the posts by Milton reached 408,000 people and got 16,000 shares.
“It was incredible,” Milton said of Byrd’s food. “All the food I was able to try was outstanding.”
He especially loved the wings and smothered pork chops.
Milton, who’s becoming more and more recognizable because of his popularity, said he made an unannounced visit to Georgie’s Kitchen after someone contacted him about their extraordinary food.
In a high-quality video showcasing many dishes up close, Milton bites into a chicken wing and urges people to check out the place.
“These fried wings are absolutely crazy,” he says in the video. “All of the sides were insane.”
He’s a regular-looking guy, understated, no gimmicks, but there’s something in the way he takes those bites that rings so genuine.
“I’m a pretty straightforward guy. That’s what resonates with people,” he said.
A rush of customers following one of his reviews often occurs, but “It’s not something I can guarantee,” he said. Byrd’s rush has lasted months.
Milton started his restaurant reviewing side gig/hobby nine years ago before the influencer industry became so powerful.
“Today content creation is a big thing. I don’t think I’m doing anything different than nine years ago,” but it’s all spreading further, he said.
Milton said he was inspired to do reviews originally because he often heard the lament, “There’s nothing to do in Connecticut.”
“There’s a lot of great food here,” foodie Milton said.
Ever so humble, Milton said, “People knowing who I am is kind of surprising.”
Milton says he reviews everything from the “sketchy-looking” food trucks to the restaurants with James Beard Award-winning chefs.
Milton says he has great respect for the one percent who actually carry out their dream to open a food establishment. It’s hard work, he said, and most of them are trying to support a family.
If he doesn’t like the food at an eatery he samples, Milton just doesn’t run anything rather than hurt a business.
“For sure there are places I’ve visited that don’t meet my expectations,” in which case “I shelf it,” he said.
But when he likes it, the world listens.
His posts spark lots of viewer interaction and he responds, with kindness and humility, even to the snarky, a review of his interactions show.
He does two or three reviews a week and has more requests than he can fulfill.
“I tell people to be patient,” he said when they request a visit.
Georgie’s Kitchen opened Feb. 17 at the Hilliard Mills in Manchester, a building housing a variety of businesses. Milton visited two weeks later.
Byrd’s 1,248-square-foot takeout space is inside the building on the first floor.
Byrd, who has had a lot of obstacles and heartbreak in life, was already known for her tasty soul food in the Hartford area when she opened this latest place.
She once had a small restaurant on Franklin Avenue that quickly became popular, but she had to leave because of complications with a relative involved in the business.
She then delved into catering while waiting for a spot in a food court, but that wasn’t moving fast enough. Then she found the Manchester location.
Her menu of her late mom Georgina “Georgie” Byrd’s recipes are made with generational love.
The offerings include fried chicken, fish, shrimp, smothered pork chops, collard greens, candied yams, cornbread, red velvet waffles and a mac and cheese customers rave about.
Additional fast sellers are hot honey wings and sweet chili salmon.
The mac and cheese that customers can’t get enough of is made with secret ingredients to give it some “razzle dazzle,” Byrd said. For dessert there’s banana pudding, peach cobbler, cake in honor of her late favorite aunt.
Byrd has seen more than her share of heartbreak.
In 2015, she lost her mother, in 2021 she had a stillborn son, and in 2022 her older brother — her biggest cheerleader — died from COVID-19. She previously lost another brother, but still has her dad, 92, who visits the eatery.
Milton spoke with Allison after he ate there and heard her personal story, which he said touches his heart.
“She (Allison) makes labor-intense food with a lot of love,” Milton said. “With the obstacles she’s faced, most people would have quit by now.”
Her mom had always wanted to open a restaurant, but health issues got in the way.
In addition to running the takeout eatery, Allison Byrd works as a psychiatric aide, but hopes to leave that job soon.
“It has its challenges some days, but it still feels rewarding,” Byrd said of her business. “I’m keeping my mother’s dream alive. My mother’s and brothers’ presence are felt here”
Milton said he can definitely tell when food is made with “love, passion.”
Georgie’s Kitchen is open Wednesday through Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
