Unsure where Denver's insiders are 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 eateries have been getting outsized attention this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Denver 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 worth exploring, right now.
Super Mega Bien
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Five Points's Super Mega Bien, the bar and Latin American spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Bars" on Yelp saw a median 2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Super Mega Bien bagged a 12.9 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a convincing 4.5-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 1.4 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance.
Open at 1260 25th St. since last May, Super Mega Bien offers family-style dim sum entrees. Look out for the chipotle honey-glazed roasted duck served with housemade flour gorditas and pickled cabbage, and the crispy pork shoulder served with arroz con habichuelas, heirloom tomato pico and Puerto Rican pan de agua. (Here is the full menu.)
Tokyo Premium Bakery
Platt Park's Tokyo Premium Bakery is also making waves. Open since September at 1540 S. Pearl St., the bakery, which offers coffee and tea, sandwiches and more, has seen a 16.8 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.2 percent for all businesses tagged "Sandwiches" on Yelp.
There's more than one hotspot trending in Denver's sandwich category: Safta has seen a 13.4 percent increase in reviews.
Tokyo Premium Bakery offers both sweet and savory baked goods as well as caffeinated beverages. Over the past month, it's maintained a sterling five-star rating among Yelpers.
The Bindery
Highland's well-established The Bindery is currently on the upswing in the New American category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp saw a median 2.4 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, this wine bar and New American and breakfast and brunch spot increased its by 9.7 percent—and kept its rating consistent at four stars. Review counts increased by more than 190 percent on a month-to-month basis.
Open for business at 1817 Central St. since 2017, the business offers wide selection of fare across breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner.
In the morning, score some avocado toast with tomato and egg and pair it with a coffee or tea. Lunch sandwiches include the grilled ham and white cheddar cheese with grilled onions and the classic Rueben.
In the evening, hone in on popular dinner options such as braised pork shank with purple kale or the gnocchi and braised oxtail pasta dish. Pair it with a signature cocktail or glass of wine of your choosing. (Visit the website here for more information and a full line of offerings.)
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.
