Curious where Chicago'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 local businesses have been getting outsized attention this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Chicago 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 increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots are worth exploring, right now.
VU Rooftop Bar
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about VU Rooftop Bar, the lounge and New American spot, which offers tapas and more, is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp saw a median 2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, VU Rooftop Bar bagged a 33.3 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a strong four-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 1.4 times more reviews than expected based on its past performance.
Open at 133 E. Cermak Road, Floor 22 (between Michigan and Cottage Grove avenues), since October 2018, VU Rooftop Bar offers items such as sea scallops, fried oysters and flatbread, according to the menu.
Shawarma Stop
Lakeview's Shawarma Stop is also making waves. Open since August 2018 at 947 W. Wellington Ave. (between Wilton and Sheffield avenues), the Mediterranean spot has seen a 33.3 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.7 percent for all businesses tagged "Mediterranean" on Yelp.
Shawarma Stop offers wraps, soups and salads, according to the menu. Over the past month, it's maintained a sound 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Parlor Pizza Bar
The Near North's Parlor Pizza Bar is the city's buzziest pizza spot by the numbers.
The pizza spot, which opened at 405 N. Dearborn St. on December 2018, increased its new review count by 29.7 percent over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 1.9 percent for the Yelp category "Pizza."
It's not the only trending outlier in the pizza category: Middle Brow Bungalow has seen a 23.3 percent increase in reviews.
Parlor Pizza Bar offers a wide selection of pizzas, salads, burgers and more. Check out the full menu here.
80 Proof
Old Town's 80 Proof is currently on the upswing in the bar category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Bars" on Yelp saw a median 2 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, this bar and New American spot increased its new reviews by 17.2 percent—with its Yelp rating declining slightly from 4.5 stars to four stars. Review counts increased by more than 280 percent on a month-to-month basis.
There's more abuzz in the world of Chicago bars: Mesler has seen a 14.9 percent increase in reviews.
Open for business at 1500 N. Wells St. (between Burton Place and North Avenue) since June 2018, the business offers cocktails, bar snacks and more. The full menu can be viewed here.
Big Boss Spicy Fried Chicken
Open since January, this chicken shop, which offers sandwiches, chicken wings and more, is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Sandwiches" on Yelp.
Citywide, businesses tagged "Sandwiches" saw a median 1.7 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Big Boss Spicy Fried Chicken saw a 45.7 percent increase, maintaining a superior four-star rating throughout.
Located at 2520 S. Halsted St. (between Archer and 55th avenues) in Bridgeport, Big Boss Spicy Fried Chicken offers items like the Big Boss Sandwich and the Curry Chicken Meal Box, according to the menu.
Eli's Ark
Is Wicker Park's Eli's Ark on your radar? According to Yelp review data, the patisserie/cake shop, which offers gelato, desserts and more, is getting plenty of attention.
While businesses categorized as "Desserts" on Yelp increased their media new review count by 2.2 percent over the past month, Eli's Ark nabbed a 21.6 percent increase in reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a convincing 4.5-star rating.
Located at 1843 W. North Ave. (between Honore Street and Elk Grove Avenue.), Eli's Ark offers animal-themed cones.
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.
