As fans of cronuts and cake pops can attest, food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending today?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to discover which local businesses have been getting outsized notice this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Washington businesses on Yelp by category and counted how many reviews each received. Rather than compare them based on number of reviews alone, we calculated a percentage increase in reviews over the past month.
Read on to see which spots are sizzling hot, right now.
Pisco Y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar
Open since September, this gastropub and Peruvian spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, cocktail bars saw review counts increase by a median of 3.1 percent over the past month, but Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar saw a formidable 147.5 percent increase, maintaining a sound 4.5-star rating throughout.
Located in Foggy Bottom at 1823 L St. NW (between North 19th and North 18th streets), Pisco y Nazca Ceviche Gastrobar offers classic Peruvian dishes like ceviche and lomo saltado that pair with Pisco sours and other refreshing cocktails.
Prather's on the Alley
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Mount Vernon Square's Prather's on the Alley, the bar and New American spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Bars" on Yelp increased their review counts by a median of 2 percent over the past month, Prather's on the Alley bagged a 50 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a solid 4.5-star rating.
There's more that's trending on Washington's bar scene: Magnolia Kitchen & Bar has seen a 29.4 percent increase in reviews, and Yard House has seen a 12.6 percent bump.
Open since July at 455 I St. NW, Suite 100 (between North Fifth and North Fourth streets), Prather's on the Alley offers wine by the glass, beer and house cocktails alongside modern American cuisine like hangar steak, grilled cheese and tomato soup, and steelhead salmon.
Poca Madre
Downtown's Poca Madre is also making waves. Open since June at 777 I St. NW (between North Seventh and North Eighth streets), the Mexican spot has seen a 29.1 percent bump in reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2 percent for all businesses tagged "Mexican" on Yelp.
There's more than one hot spot trending in Washington's Mexican category: Espita Mezcaleria has seen a 4 percent increase in reviews.
Poca Madre offers upscale Mexican fare like hamachi ceviche and duck tacos al pastor in rustic, colorful digs. Over the past month, it's maintained a superior 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Gravitas
Finally, Eckington's Gravitas is on the upswing in the New American category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp increased review counts by a median of 2.3 percent over the past month, this New American spot increased its count by 34.4 percent — and kept its rating consistent at 4.5 stars.
The restaurant, which debuted in July at 1401 Okie St. NE (between North Fenwick and North 16th streets), offers a tasting menu of refined American cuisine that incorporates high-end and seasonal ingredients.
