Want the intel on Washington's buzziest local spots?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to uncover which eateries have been getting a notable uptick in attention 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 extra hot, right now.
Mission Navy Yard
Open since July, this Mexican restaurant and bar is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Mexican" on Yelp.
Citywide, Mexican spots saw review counts increase by a median of 1.6 percent over the past month, but Mission Navy Yard saw a 45.7 percent increase, with a slight upward trend from a 3.5-star rating a month ago to four stars today.
It's not the only trending outlier in the Mexican category: Mi Vida Restaurante has seen a 10.2 percent increase in reviews.
Located near Nationals Park at 1221 Van St. SE, Mission Navy Yard offers nachos, fajitas and other Mexican favorites, along with cocktails and many craft beers on tap. It recently introduced brunch with bottomless mimosas.
Declaration Nats Park
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Capitol Hill's Declaration Nats Park, the pizza spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "pizza" on Yelp increased their review count by a median of 1.6 percent over the past month, Declaration Nats Park bagged a 17.9 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a mixed 3.5-star rating.
There's more that's trending on Washington's pizza scene: &pizza has seen a 5.9 percent increase in reviews.
Open since April at 1237 First St. SE, Declaration Nats Park offers an expansion of the artisanal pizza and drinks menu offered at its older sibling of the same name in Shaw.
The Capital Burger
Mount Vernon Square's The Capital Burger is also making waves. Open since March at 1005 Seventh St. NW, it has seen a 19.1 percent bump in reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.8 percent for all businesses tagged "American (Traditional)" on Yelp.
The offshoot of the Capital Grille steakhouse chain offers gourmet burgers served on a brioche bun, plus hand-cut fries, boozy milkshakes and an extensive wine list. Over the past month, it's maintained a sound four-star rating among Yelpers.
Fancy Radish
Finally, Capitol Hill's Fancy Radish is another restaurant currently on the upswing, this time in the New American category.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp increased review counts by a median of 1.9 percent over the past month, Fancy Radish increased its count by 15.3 percent — and kept its rating consistent at 4.5 stars.
The restaurant debuted in May at 600 H St. NE and offers a seasonal menu of upscale vegetarian fare, as well as natural wines, craft beers and creative cocktails. It's led by James Beard-nominated chefs Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby.
