Curious where New York City'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 uncover which eateries have been getting outsized attention 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 closing out the summer strong.
Zona De Cuba
Whether or not you've been hearing buzz about Concourse Village's Zona De Cuba, the restaurant is a hot topic according to Yelp review data.
While businesses categorized as "Cuban" on Yelp saw a median 1.1% increase in new reviews over the past month, Zona De Cuba bagged a 44.6% increase in new reviews within that time frame, maintaining a mixed three-star rating.
Open at 558 Grand Concourse since May, Zona De Cuba offers classic Cuban cuisine, in addition to scenic views of the Bronx from its rooftop patio. Try the croquetas with pineapple salsa, black bean soup, ropa vieja with sweet plantains or the paella with mussels, lobster, clams and shrimp. There is also a full drink list featuring signature cocktails like the Mojitos Criollo, made with passion fruit, guava and tamarind.
Zona De Cuba is open from noon–2 a.m. daily.
Barolo East
Midtown's Barolo East is also making waves. Open since January at 214 E. 49th St., the Italian restaurant has seen a 46.9% bump in new reviews over the last month, compared to a median review increase of 2% for all businesses tagged "Italian" on Yelp.
Barolo East offers authentic Italian favorites like fried calamari, mussels and clams in white wine sauce, a variety of homemade pastas, veal saltimbocca and more. Over the past month, it's maintained a sound 4.5-star rating among Yelpers.
Barolo East is open from 11:30 a.m.–11 p.m. on Monday-Saturday and 4–10 p.m. on Sunday.
Coco J'adore
The West Village's Coco J'adore is the city's buzziest cocktail bar by the numbers.
The cocktail bar and French restaurant, which opened at 1 Little W. 12th St. (off Gansevoort Street) in May, increased its new review count by 81.2% over the past month, an outlier when compared to the median new review count of 2.3% for the Yelp category "Cocktail Bars."
On its cocktail list, Coco J'adore offers signature creations like the Nevsky, a blend of vodka, cinnamon, fresh green apple juice, lemon and rose powder; the Madison, made with Bulleit rye, Ricard and Earl Grey syrup; and the Montaigne, a smoked cocktail containing cognac, grappa and vermouth.
If you're looking for dinner, Coco J'adore serves updated takes on traditional French fare, from escargots to steak tartare. On the weekends, the spot offers a brunch menu with both light and hearty daytime options.
Coco J'adore is open from 5 p.m.–1 a.m. on Monday-Thursday, 5 p.m.–2 a.m. on Friday, 5 p.m.–2 a.m. on Saturday and 5 p.m.–1 a.m. on Sunday. It's also open for brunch from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. on weekends.
Izakaya Mew
Flushing's Izakaya Mew is currently on the upswing in the tapas category on Yelp.
While businesses categorized as "Tapas/Small Plates" on Yelp saw a median 3.5% increase in new reviews over the past month, this sushi bar and izakaya increased its new reviews by 80.5% — with its Yelp rating declining slightly from 4.5 stars to four stars.
Open for business since June at 146-13 Northern Blvd., this second location of the Midtown restaurant serves up izakaya-style Japanese small plates, like sashimi, shumai, fried shishito peppers, crab croquettes, grilled meat and seafood skewers, sandwiches and more. There's also a variety of ramen available. Be sure to check out the sake list and the frozen draft beer, too.
Izakaya Mew is open from 5–10 p.m. on Monday-Wednesday, 5–10:30 p.m. on Thursday, 5–11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 5–9:30 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.
