Want the inside word on Boston's most talked-about local spots?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to analyze which local businesses have been getting extra attention this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Boston 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 getting plenty of attention this spring.
Alcove
Open since October 2018, this cocktail bar, wine bar and traditional American spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Wine Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, wine bars saw a median 1.6 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Alcove saw a 25.6 percent increase, maintaining a superior four-star rating throughout. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis Alcove's review count increased by more than 160 percent.
Located at 50 Lovejoy Wharf in North End, Alcove offers brunch, lunch and dinner. On the menu, you'll find a raw bar selection, cheese and charcuterie plates, appetizers like crispy head-on shrimp and main plates. Try the pan-seared sea bream, with golden quinoa, roasted broccolini and sauce vierge.
Milkweed
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Mission Hill's Milkweed, the popular cocktail bar and New American and breakfast and brunch spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp saw a median 1.9 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Milkweed bagged a 6.6 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a strong 4.5-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 2.1 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance.
There's more that's trending on Boston's New American scene: City Winery has seen a 5.8 percent increase in reviews.
Open at 1508 Tremont St. (between Carmel and Sewall streets) since August 2017, Milkweed offers breakfast until 4 p.m. every day. Try the breakfast tacos, with warm flour tortillas, garlic refried black beans, cheddar jack cheese, chorizo and pork sausage, scrambled eggs and chipotle aioli.
Nahita Cocktails and Cuisine
Bay Village's Nahita Cocktails and Cuisine is also making waves. Open since September 2018 at 100 Arlington St. (between Columbus Avenue and Piedmont Street), the cocktail bar and Asian fusion spot has seen a 15.6 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.4 percent for all businesses tagged "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp. Over the past month, it's maintained a mixed 3.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Nahita Cocktails and Cuisine offers shareable plates, like guacamole with house-made tortilla chips and prawn tempura. You'll find sashimi and ceviches, tacos and main plates, like Sudado de Pescado Chifa, a Peruvian-Chinese steamed whole fish.
This story was created automatically using local business data, then reviewed and augmented by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.
