Want the intel 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 a significant increase in 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 increased their volume of reviews to identify statistically significant outliers compared to past performance.
Read on to see which spots are on a hot streak, right now.
My Diner
Open since 2018, this New American and breakfast and brunch spot, which offers seafood and more, is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Seafood" on Yelp.
Citywide, seafood spots saw a median 1.3 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but My Diner saw a 68.8 percent increase, with a slight upward trend from a 3.5-star rating a month ago to four stars today. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis, My Diner's review count increased by more than 370 percent.
It's not the only trending outlier in the seafood category: The Social Register has seen a 19 percent increase in reviews, and Bootleg Special and Eventide - Fenway have seen 9.8 and 6.4 percent increases, respectively.
Located at 455 E. 1st (between I and Vicksburg streets) in South Boston, the eatery offers grilled sandwiches, salads and 1/2-pound burgers. Seafood dishes are served on Fridays. The Fisherman's Platter includes shrimp, scallops and fish, served with onion rings, french fries and coleslaw.
Citrus & Salt
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Back Bay's Citrus & Salt, the well-established cocktail bar and Mexican spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp saw a median 1.9 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Citrus & Salt bagged an 11.7 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, maintaining a convincing four-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining two times more reviews than expected based on its past performance.
Open at 142 Berkeley St. (between Columbus Avenue and Stanhope Street) since 2017, Citrus & Salt offers a raw bar featuring oysters, shrimp and ceviche. The restaurant also offers Mexican dishes, including grilled street corn, barbacoa and grilled chicken tacos.
Cantina Italiana
North End's Cantina Italiana is also making waves. Open since 2005 at 346 Hanover St. (between Fleet and Tileston streets), the popular Italian spot has seen a 2.3 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.2 percent for all businesses tagged "Italian" on Yelp. However, on a month-to-month basis Cantina Italiana's review count increased by more than 370 percent.
There's more than one hot spot trending in Boston's Italian category: Rigoletto Ristorante has seen a 3.9 percent increase in reviews.
The eatery offers Bolognese, ravioli di ricotta, arancini and more. Try the oven-roasted salmon, with sauteed spinach. An extensive wine list is also available. Over the past month, it's maintained a superior four-star rating among Yelpers.
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.
