Food trends come and go. So how can you tell which tastes are trending at this very moment?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to deduce which restaurants have been seeing especially high review volumes this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at New York City 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 riding a trend, right now.
Zusik
Open since April, this beer bar, wine bar and Korean spot is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Beer Bar" on Yelp.
Citywide, beer bars saw a median 2.4% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Zusik saw a 34.2% increase, maintaining a five-star rating throughout.
Located at 202 W. 14th St. in the West Village, Zusik offers a selection of bottled and draft beers —including Korean lager Hite on tap —in addition to cocktails, wine and Korean spirits. Zusik's menu boasts traditional Korean rice bowls and stews, as well as Asian fusion brunch, lunch and dinner options, like rice wine-flavored pancakes, a soy sauce-glazed Zusik burger and charbroiled mackerel with wasabi pico de gallo.
The Fulton
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about the Financial District's The Fulton, the New American spot, which offers seafood and more, is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "American (New)" on Yelp saw a median 2% increase in new reviews over the past month, The Fulton bagged a 71% increase in new reviews within that time frame, maintaining a mixed 3.5-star rating.
There's more that's trending on New York City's New American scene: Cobble & Co. has seen a 69.4% increase in reviews.
Open at 89 South St., Pier 17, since November 2018, The Fulton offers a contemporary take on steak and seafood. Try the wagyu tenderloin with sriracha butter or the whole black sea bass en croute. There's also a selection of crudos — raw dishes like tuna tartare and beef carpaccio — and a raw bar serving up platters of oysters and clams.
Whistle & Fizz
Greenwich Village's Whistle & Fizz is currently on the upswing in the coffee and tea category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Coffee & Tea" on Yelp saw a median 3.1% increase in new reviews over the past month, this cafe increased its new reviews by 69.4% — and kept its rating consistent at five stars. Review counts increased by more than 190% on a month-to-month basis.
Open for business at 254 Greene St. (between Waverly Place and Eighth Street) since May, this self-styled coffee and tea bar serves a wide array of hot and cold beverages. The drink list includes classic espresso drinks and signature espresso creations, such as the Nutella Latte, as well as loose-leaf and shaken teas. Whistle & Fizz also offers eight varieties of cold coffee and tea on draft, like nitro cold brew and yuzu lemonade mint tea.
Barriles Restaurant and Sports Bar
Open since spring, this sports bar and restaurant, which serves both Colombian and traditional American cuisine, is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Sports Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, businesses tagged "Sports Bars" saw a median 3.2% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Barriles Restaurant and Sports Bar saw a 21.7% increase, with a slight upward trend from a 3.5-star rating a month ago to four stars today. It gained 1.3 times more reviews than expected based on past performance, significantly outperforming the previous month.
Located at 83-14 37th Ave. in Jackson Heights, Barriles Restaurant and Sports Bar has a full list of draft and bottled beers, sangria and cocktails. On the menu, guests will find pub grub like burgers and sandwiches, as well as Colombian comfort food like chicken and rice, empanadas and grilled skirt steak with fried plantains.
The Tang
Is the Upper West Side's The Tang on your radar? According to Yelp review data, the Chinese spot, which offers noodles and small plates, is getting plenty of attention.
While businesses categorized as "Noodles" on Yelp increased their media new review count by 4.3% over the past month, The Tang nabbed an 84.6% increase in reviews within that time frame, maintaining a convincing 4.5-star rating.
Located at 920 Amsterdam Ave. (between 105th and 106th streets), this second location of the New York City noodle bar — which has its original location in the East Village — specializes in noodle dishes inspired by the regional cuisines of Sichuan, Hunan and Beijing. At The Tang, you will find spicy dan dan noodles; noodles with braised pork knuckles; noodle soup with beef shank and soft-boiled egg; and a full selection of beer, wine and sake. There are other specialties, too, like chicken wings marinated in Sichuan spices and Coca-Cola.
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.
