Wondering where Denver'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 discover which local businesses have been getting outsized notice 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 are riding a trend, right now.
Rose & Thorn
This cocktail bar and Latin American eatery is trending compared to other businesses categorized as "Cocktail Bars" on Yelp.
Citywide, cocktail bars saw a median 2.6% increase in new reviews over the past month, but Rose & Thorn saw a 27% increase, maintaining a healthy four-star rating throughout.
Located at 1433 17th St., Suite 150, in LoDo, Rose & Thorn features a menu brimming with Latin-inspired plates, ranging from Venezuelan empanadas, Cubano sliders and Mexican ceviche to duck taquitos, Puerto Rican flatbread and Caribbean curry chicken.
Rose & Thorn is open from 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.–2 a.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.–2 a.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.–11 p.m. on Sunday.
SOL Mexican Cocina
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about the Cherry Creek's SOL Mexican Cocina, the popular bar and Mexican bistro is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Bars" on Yelp saw a median 1.6% increase in new reviews over the past month, SOL Mexican Cocina bagged a 6.7% increase in new reviews within that time frame, maintaining a convincing four-star rating. It significantly outperformed the previous month by gaining 2.2 times more reviews than expected, based on its past performance.
First established in 2016 and open at 200 N. Columbine St., Unit 110, SOL Mexican Cocina provides a contemporary take on the cuisine from coastal Mexico, along with a selection of more than 100 different tequilas and specialty mezcals.
SOL Mexican Cocina is open from 11 a.m.–10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday, 10 a.m.–11 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m.–10 p.m. on Sunday.
Torchy's Tacos
Broadway's Torchy's Tacos is also making waves. Open since 2016 at 1085 N. Broadway, the well-established Texas-based chain, which is known for its tacos and other Tex-Mex items, has seen a 1.4% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 1.8% for all businesses tagged "Breakfast & Brunch" on Yelp.
Torchy's Tacos offers a variety of eclectic taco options and Tex-Mex street food for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as libations. Over the past month, it's maintained a mixed 3.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Torchy's Tacos is open from 7 a.m.–10 p.m. on Monday-Thursday, 7 a.m.–11 p.m. on Friday, 8 a.m.–11 p.m. on Saturday and 8 a.m.–10 p.m. on Sunday.
Next Door
Stapleton's Next Door is the city's buzziest New American restaurant by the numbers.
The popular New American joint, which is open at 10155 E. 29th Drive, Suite 160, increased its new review count by 6.2% over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 1.6% for the Yelp category "American (New)."
Next Door serves a diverse assortment of dishes, including various burgers, buffalo chicken bites, pork green chili soup, a pan-roasted salmon bowl and a Cuban roasted pork sandwich.
Next Door is open from 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily.
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.
