Wondering where New Orleans'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 a noteworthy uptick in attention this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at New Orleans 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 on a hot streak this spring.
Cru by Chef Marlon Alexander
Open since earlier this year, this lounge and cocktail bar, which offers tapas and more, is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, cocktail bars saw a median 2.9 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Cru by Chef Marlon Alexander saw a 63.2 percent increase, maintaining a superior 4.5-star rating throughout. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis Cru by Chef Marlon Alexander's review count increased by more than 200 percent.
It's not the only trending outlier in the cocktail bar category: Hot Tin has seen an 8.1 percent increase in reviews.
Located at 535 Franklin Ave. in Marigny, Cru by Chef Marlon Alexander offers small seafood-focused plates like crab cakes and tuna tartare. On the menu, there's also caviar, pasta and steak. For casual fare, look for fried chicken sandwiches and burgers.
Que Rico! Cuban Cafe
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about East Riverside's Que Rico! Cuban Cafe, the cafe and Cuban and Spanish spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Cafes" on Yelp saw a median 3.8 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Que Rico! Cuban Cafe bagged a 26.3 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a terrific five-star rating.
Open at 4200 Magazine St. since 2018, Que Rico! Cuban Cafe offers its signature Cuban-style po'boy and fried ham and cheese croquettes. For veggie lovers, there are plant-based options on the menu.
Auction House Market
Central Business District's Auction House Market is also making waves. Open since February 2018 at 801 Magazine St., the food court and New American spot, which offers coffee and tea and more, has seen an 8.8 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.5 percent for all businesses tagged "American (New)" on Yelp.
Auction House Market offers 10 diverse food vendors, from Long Chim Thai Street Food to Coast Roast Coffee & Tea to macaron company Mac & Moon. Over the past month, it's maintained a strong 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Melba's
St. Roch's well-established Melba's is currently on the upswing in the sandwich category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Sandwiches" on Yelp saw a median 1.8 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, this Cajun/Creole spot, which offers chicken wings and sandwiches, increased its by 4.2 percent—with its Yelp rating declining slightly from four stars to 3.5 stars.
Open for business at 1525 Elysian Fields Ave. since 2017, the business offers a wide selection of meat and seafood-focused po'boys. There's also platters of baked chicken, catfish and shrimp. On the drink list, look for boozy daiquiris.
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.
