Want the inside word on Phoenix's most happening local spots?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to analyze which restaurants have been getting extra notice this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Phoenix 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 getting plenty of attention this summer.
Luccicare
Open since March, this Italian and pizza spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Pizza" on Yelp.
Citywide, pizza spots saw a median 1.8 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, but Luccicare saw a 55.6 percent increase, maintaining a convincing four-star rating throughout. Moreover, on a month-to-month basis Luccicare's review count increased by more than 500 percent.
Located at 4727 E. Bell Road in Paradise Valley, Luccicare offers pasta dishes such as lasagna verdi and tortelloni in an Alfredo cream sauce, and entrees like seafood fra diavlo and Osso Bucco (pork shank with a house risotto). There is also pizza on the menu.
Angry Crab Shack
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Paradise Valley's Angry Crab Shack, the seafood and Cajun/Creole spot is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Seafood" on Yelp saw a median 1.8 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, Angry Crab Shack bagged a 56.2 percent increase in new reviews within that timeframe, with a slight downward trend from a 3.5-star rating a month ago to its current three stars.
Open at 3227 E. Bell Road, Suite D110, since last summer, Angry Crab Shack features a menu of sandwiches, soup, salad and a classic Cajun seafood boil that includes shrimp, crab, lobster, clams, crawfish, mussels and veggies. There are also traditional (served with fries) and specialty (served over rice or linguine) baskets of catfish, chicken tenders, gator nuggets, soft shell crab, salmon boil, scallops and more.
Anhelo Restaurant
Central City's Anhelo Restaurant is also making waves. Open since February at 628 E. Adams St., the wine bar and New American and breakfast and brunch spot has seen a 29.4 percent bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.4 percent for all businesses tagged "American (New)" on Yelp.
Anhelo serves roasted bronzini (in a white wine sauce), scallops and pan seared chicken for dinner. You'll find pancakes, avocado toast and short rip hash on the brunch menu. Over the past month, it's maintained a superior 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Little Rituals
Central City's Little Rituals is the city's buzziest cocktail bar by the numbers.
The cocktail bar and lounge, which opened at 132 S. Central Ave., Floor 4, in February, increased its new review count by 18.2 percent over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 2.7 percent for the Yelp category "Cocktail Bars."
Order a glass of red, white or rose, from France, Italy or Spain, or a craft beer from the bar. Pair any drink with a poblano grilled cheese sandwich, caramel claypot wings or a burger off the bites menu at Little Rituals.
Tea Stop
Paradise Valley's Tea Stop is currently on the upswing in the coffee and tea category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Coffee & Tea" on Yelp saw a median 2.5 percent increase in new reviews over the past month, this coffee and tea and bubble tea spot, which offers juices and smoothies and more, increased its new reviews by 30.5 percent—with its Yelp rating improving from 4.5 stars to five stars.
Open for business at 4015 E. Bell Road, Suite 132, since January, expect to find milk tea, espresso iced tea, fruit tea, smoothies, yogurt drinks and snacks, like Cajun fries, lobster balls and popcorn chicken at the Tea Stop. (Click here to view the full menu.)
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.
