Unsure where Seattle's in-the-know crowd is eating and drinking? It's easy to spot lines out the door, but some underlying trends are harder to see.
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to analyze which restaurants have been most discussed this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Seattle 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, and tracked businesses that consistently increase their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots are extra cool, right now.
Old Stove Brewing
Open since 2017, this microbrewery and pub specializing in seafood is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Seafood" on Yelp.
Citywide, seafood spots saw review counts increase by a median of 1.1 percent over the past month, but Old Stove Brewing saw a 12.1 percent increase, maintaining a superior four-star rating throughout.
Located at 1901 Western Ave., Suite A (between Pike Place and Virginia Street) in Pike Market, Old Stove Brewing offers a variety of light snacks and craft brews. Sip on a stout, an IPA or a golden ale while munching on seafood options such as raw oysters or a salmon pita.
Menya Musashi Niten Ichiryu
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Broadway's Menya Musashi Niten Ichiryu, the ramen joint is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Noodles" on Yelp increased their review count by a median of 4.2 percent over the past month, Menya Musashi Niten Ichiryu bagged a 48.3 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a solid four-star rating.
Open at 1510 Belmont Ave. (between Pike and Pine streets) since November 2018, Menya Musashi Niten Ichiryu offers a wide variety of ramen, including its signature pork and fish broth, braised pork belly, pork cutlets and marinated soft-boiled eggs.
2120
Belltown's 2120 is also making waves. Open since June 2017 at 2120 Sixth Ave. (between Blanchard and Lenora streets), the New American cocktail bar and restaurant has seen a 5.7 percent bump in reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.3 percent for all businesses tagged "American (New)" on Yelp. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis review counts increased by more than 250 percent.
2120 offers an eclectic mix of locally-sourced ingredients and American and Mexican flavors. Expect menu options like dinginess crab, wagyu burgers, frites and mac and cheese. Thirsty? Beer, wine and cocktails are on offer to quench your thirst. Over the past month, it's maintained a strong four-star rating among Yelpers.
