Want the scoop on Denver's buzziest local outposts?
We took a data-driven look at the question, using Yelp to analyze which local businesses have been in the spotlight this month.
To find out who made the list, we looked at Denver 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 places have the momentum heading into back-to-school season.
Pistol Whip
This cocktail bar and New American breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner eatery is trending, compared to other businesses categorized as "Breakfast & Brunch" on Yelp.
Citywide, breakfast and brunch spots saw a median 1.9% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Pistol Whip saw a 21% increase, with a slight downward trend from a 4.5-star rating a month ago to four stars today.
It's not the only trending outlier in the breakfast and brunch category: ViewHouse Ballpark has seen a 1% increase in reviews, and SOL Mexican Cocina has seen a 6.1% bump.
Located at 698 Santa Fe Drive in Lincoln Park, Pistol Whip offers sandwiches, dry-aged steaks, pastas and more, along with an extensive selection of craft beer, wine and cocktails.
Pistol Whip is open from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.–9 p.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday.)
Blue Agave Grill
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Lodo's Blue Agave Grill, the well-established Mexican fusion restaurant, which serves seafood and more, is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Seafood" on Yelp saw a median 1.8% increase in new reviews over the past month, Blue Agave Grill bagged a 4.4% increase in new reviews within that time frame, with a slight downward trend from a 4.5-star rating a month ago to its current four stars.
First established in 2014 and open at 1201 16th St., Suite 104, in LoDo, Blue Agave Grill specializes in Southwestern-style cuisine and libations, featuring 13 different kinds of margaritas, house-made sangria and various infused tequilas.
Blue Agave Grill is open from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.–9 p.m. on Sunday.
FNG Restaurant
West Highland's FNG Restaurant is also making waves. Open at 3940 W. 32nd Ave., the traditional American bistro has seen a 6.6% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2.3% for all businesses tagged "American (Traditional)" on Yelp.
FNG Restaurant offers a diverse assortment of menu items, ranging from steak meatballs and grilled meatloaf to macaroni and cheese, bison enchiladas and a fried chicken sandwich. Over the past month, it's maintained a solid four-star rating among Yelpers.
FNG Restaurant is open from 11:30 a.m.–9:30 p.m. on Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.–9:30 p.m. on Sunday. (It's closed on Monday.)
Rialto Cafe
Central Business District's Rialto Cafe is the city's buzziest New American outlet by the numbers.
The well-established New American diner, which has been open for more than 20 years at 934 16th St., increased its new review count by 1.6% over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 2% for the Yelp category "American (New)."
Rialto Cafe is known for its breakfasts, wine tastings and elevated American fare. Menu items to look for include a breakfast pot pie, chicken and biscuit sandwich, crispy pork ribs, Colorado bison meatloaf, burgers and truffle french fries.
Rialto Cafe is open from 6:30 a.m.–10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 6:30 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m.–10 p.m. on Sunday.
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.
