As fans of cronuts and cake pops can attest, food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending today?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to discover which local businesses have been on the tips of diners' tongues 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, 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 this spring.
District Doughnut And Coffee
Open since last August, this spot to score doughnuts and coffee is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Coffee & Tea" on Yelp.
Citywide, coffee and tea spots saw a median 2.5 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but District Doughnut and Coffee saw a 26.8 percent increase, with a slight downward trend from a 4.5-star rating a month ago to four stars today. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis District Doughnut and Coffee's review count increased by more than 300 percent.
Located at 5 Market Square SW at The Wharf, District Doughnut and Coffee offers locally-roasted Compass Coffee (in drip or cold brew styles only) and hot teas to go with its creative, seasonally-inspired doughnuts.
Karma Modern Indian
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about downtown Washington's Karma Modern Indian, the well-established cocktail bar and Indian spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp saw a median 2.8 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Karma Modern Indian bagged an 11.6 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a sound 4.5-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 5.7 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance.
There's more that's trending on Washington's cocktail bar scene: Sotto has seen a 6.8 percent increase in reviews.
Open at 611 I St. NW (between North Sixth and North Seventh streets) since December 2017, Karma Modern Indian uses premium liquors to make its signature and classic cocktails, which you can enjoy alongside the upscale and creative cuisine created by the India-born chef.
Yard House
Chinatown's Yard House is also making waves. Open since April 2018 at 812 Seventh St. NW (between North H and North I streets), the bar and New American restaurant has seen an 8.7 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.6 percent for all businesses tagged "Bars" on Yelp. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis Yard House's review count increased by more than 210 percent.
Yard House has more than 100 taps pouring a huge selection of craft beer in styles that range from light wheat beers to strong, dark ales. The food menu samples from international cuisines, while also offering American pub favorites like steaks and burgers. Over the past month, it's maintained a convincing four-star rating among Yelpers.
Chatter
Finally, the appropriately named Chatter in Friendship Heights's is one of the city's buzziest breakfast and brunch spot by the numbers.
The traditional American spot at 5247 Wisconsin Ave. NW, which is owned by former ESPN broadcast Tony Kornheiser and used to be called Chadwicks, increased its new review count by 8.1 percent over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 2 percent for the Yelp category "Breakfast & Brunch." It outperformed the previous month by gaining 1.8 times more reviews than expected based on past performance.
Chatter offers a brunch menu that starts with egg dishes and French toast, runs through soups, salads and burgers and ends with locally-made craft beer on tap, five-dollar Bloody Mary's and bottomless mimosas.
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.
