Elite Event at Randolph Brooklyn

Fun event at this cool new Wburg spot. I think I spotted air hockey???
I really enjoyed the complimentary drinks. Can’t remember their names since it’s now March. Soooooo solleeeee… sooooooo busy! But, they were delicious and unassumingly strong. There were two bartenders working the event and, being that the cocktails were handcrafted, there was a bit of a wait at times. No big deal. The cool kids of Unilocal are always entertaining. I got to sample some of the food. The mussels in curry were a hit. The asparagus and brussel sprouts were also solid veggie dishes.
Thanks for introducing us to this hip new joint Peter! Oh yeah, Ruggy J. also came over the bridge to make an appearance. Thanks guys!

So… the place looked pretty cool and upon entering, there was a shuffleboard table and a video game before you hit the bar. Cool cool.
The bartenders were pretty cool and they had to handmade cocktail options… since they were handcrafted, there was a bit of a line/​wait for drinks.
There were even a few items to nosh on that was brought out to the front counter. They brought out quinoa salad, hummus with veggies, grilled asparagus (super delicious), maple glaze brussel sprouts, curried mussels, ginger chicken fingers, i heard there were sliders???
It was great seeing everyone and being able to check out a new place in Brooklyn. It was cold out so I probably won’t come back until nicer weather as it’s a bit of a walk. The place is nice with an intimate, cozy feel.

I was very excited to come to my first Unilocal event and I heard that CM Peter D always promotes great events…
The drinks and food were excellent, even though it was difficult to grab a few samples. However, roasted Brussels sprouts were always available, so I really didn’t break my diet? I am happy I was able to grab 4 drinks from my bartender, Zach! He deserved my 20 dollar tip, because all the drinks were great.
For the food review, I cannot tell you that much, because It felt like I needed to wrestle with others to grab a bite, I guess I need to be quick. I will have a fork ready next time. The foods I was able to taste were fantastic, but I wish I was able to try the chicken claws. I am guessing it was thumbs up, because once the plate set down, the claws vanished like a magic trick.
I love the energy that everyone illustrated, e.g. Peter, the cooks, waitress, and the Unilocalers. I know for sure I will be back, to try their mac & cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Great Job, Peter! Thank you Randolph Brooklyn for the invite

What did they think?
Was I suppose to sip these cocktails?
Oh wait it was called the Texas Porch Sipper Mule.
Nevermind.
Yes, the line were long but well made drinks take time and effort. I appreciate the bartenders hard efforts. Maybe they could of had a third but they made the best with what they had and I enjoyed their drinks.
I didn’t get the vibe there was going to be lots of food, though I did see a decent amount. I just wasn’t able to grab much, Most of the food went down by the front table. Where Unilocalers immediately attacked as if they hadn’t eaten all day. Some of which who told me they hadn’t eaten all day. Don’t you guys read the email?
I was able to try the waffle fries, some humus, some couscous, a piece of friend chicken (I was luckily right there when it was placed down) and a carrot. I didn’t think the fried chicken was that good but everything else was great.
Eventually the drinks stopped and people began to clear out, leaving more room for the rest of us. Had a great time and my plus one had a blast. It was a pleasure seeing everyone there and meeting people in person for the first time.
Thank you Randolph for you hard efforts and fantastic drinks. Thank you Ashley and Paige. Thank you Ruggy for expressing your deep passion for Winter Sports, while I got to talk about mine of Nickelodeon game shows. As always big thanks to Peter D. Have a blast in St. Lucia!

Wow, my first YEE as a YE, and it was such a cool event! I liked that the crowd was kept to a manageable size instead of being crammed into every nook and cranny. I found the Brooklyn YE to be very open and friendly. Was it the abundance of alcohol? Ha-​ha.
I felt sorry for the 2 bartenders having to mash and crush, slice and shake what looked like 7-​steps of mixology per featured drink to a packed hoard at the bar waiting in «lines.» The end results were pretty good though, especially the Strawberry-​Cucumber Fizzy drink. Tito’s Vodka is great! By chance or by choice, by the second hour they «ran out» of those drink mixers and service went much quicker.
Scott B, John S and I did our best to sample the food. I think we tried the Kale & Quinoa (or some other grain) salad, chicken thighs and truly awesome Brussels sprouts. It seems every hip restaurant in Brooklyn has its own version of Brussels sprouts, but Randolph hit it on the mark. Yum! I was surprised to see other reviews that listed many other dishes. Maybe they were sitting at the food table getting first dibs LOL. The restaurant probably shouldn’t have put chairs at the food table since it was hard to reach around and grab a bite.
Unfortunately I had to leave early for a flight to Boston which I booked for 11PM because there was no way I was going to miss my first invite to a YEE! Thanks Peter D for sitting me down, chatting and introducing me to people. It was much appreciated from this newbie! And arriving in Boston to find out that I got my first ROTD for Floyd was icing on the cake!

The thought of writing a negative review for a Unilocal event makes me sad… even more so because of the venue – I absolutely love the Randolph’s two locations in Little Italy and frequent them often, so I was thrilled to check this place out… but they weren’t remotely prepared.
This was my first Elite event in Brooklyn (in all of NY, really), and it was terribly disappointing. In Madison, events were small, everyone was insanely friendly/​courteous, and I didn’t feel asphyxiated by hipsters. But this? This was borderline disastrous. The drink I had was great (not the 20+ minutes it took to get it), but my friend and I left after being there for only 40 minutes – it was simply too much of a mess. I couldn’t comment on the food because I didn’t have any, and I wasn’t really willing to jump into the crowd of people to try some.
Organization, people. It goes a long way.
Also, Williamsburg is terrible. Every time I’m in that part of Brooklyn, it’s awful. I’ve come to the conclusion that hipsters aren’t human beings. Sorry, hipsters. Deal with it. But, on the flipside, I went to Noorman’s Kil after being unable to try, well, anything at the Randolph, and it was fantastic. Everyone there was super friendly, sociable, and awesome.
Anyways, my takeaway was this: do I even want to go to other Elite events? I don’t know. I could tell the Randolph was really trying, but they just weren’t ready for this. Maybe I’ll check out another one when it moves to a yuppier area of Brooklyn. I mean, I had to take the G home. The G! It’s the worst.

Right off the bat I must again thank Nadia for «plus oneing» me. Yes. I copyright that term.
The staff at the Randolph Brooklyn are something special. We swamped them and they managed to keep their heads above water and maintain an excellent sense of humor. I think there were only 4 in the front of the house. The bartenders muddled and slapped mint like madmen. I managed to get 4 of them. A feat in and of itself.
The woman bringing out the food could easily work in Cirque du Soleil. Even the Quinoa and Kale salad was getting mobbed. Well, that’s because it was tasty as all get out. Made me rethink my aversion to trendy foods. If it’s done well, it transcends trends.
Chicken fingers, mussels, hummus kept regenerating like a hydra. Eh… I don’t think that imagery works well… Anyway…
I got to see lots of Unilocalers I haven’t seen for a loooong time. I almost forgot how suave Matteo is in real life. Envy me ladies. Envy me.
And props to Sweet Nadia for not only inviting me, but giving a fellow Unilocaler a lift home in the Arctic weather. Poor guy would have been found frozen in front of Peter Luger’s in the morning.
Again, yet another stellar Brooklyn event. But I was born in Brooklyn… this is the way we do it, son.

Braving a bitterly cold night, it was nice to catch up with my Unilocal friends in a very cozy, warm, and friendly new bar.
Speaking of bar, a big shout out to Zach and Henry, the two bartenders that relentlessly worked their asses off at a lightning speed to try to serve those delicious vodka drinks to 200 or so thirsty Unilocalers. Yes, the lines were long. In fact, very long. But that’s what happens when each cocktail requires a rather intensive preparation. Nevertheless I still managed to get a couple of drinks. Really, Zach and Henry: you guys were amazing. Also, props to you for still coming up with tasty concoctions even when some of the ingredients ran out.
The only food I had the chance to try was a slider, which was really delicious. The rest of the evening I just mingled with my friends, some of whom I hadn’t seen in ages (Hey, Karen!).
An extra star for raising money for Coalition Against Hunger. That by itself made the event well worth it. Thanks, Peter and Ruggy!

4 Shiny Gold Stars! I know, I know, I’m being picky. I liked this venue and space a lot minus the hike from the trains. The two cocktails were delicious. I think I preferred the cucumber and strawberry concoction over the Texas Mule. Mostly because it was more liquid and less ice. Cough. I think the hand-​crafted drinks are a great idea conceptually. But also pre-​made vats of drinks and/​or beer makes it easier for people to just focus on socializing instead of acting desperate for attention at the bar. The slow drink making process though helps with not getting people too inebriated at events. Though, that wasn’t the case for me unfortunately as all I ate yesterday was a piece of chicken and two mussels. Oh, and that asparagus which was pretty tasty. Thank god we don’t have to all smell each other the next day. I was a little overwhelmed with the situation at the bar. One bartender when I went in for a second drink told me there was another bar. Which was kind of odd because I didn’t think so and I think he was just exasperated and wanted people to shift over. Instead, I almost walked into a mirror. Its okay. It happens.
The mussels were great! My crazy huge tall friend though is deathly allergic to fish though so I snagged one, wiped my hands and had to move to the opposite side of the bar away from that mêlée. I didn’t try that much food really because there were some definite crazy hoarding moments. Or people just hovering over bowls of french fries like it was their last meal on earth. I totally also did see someone take an entire plate of flat bread and run off with it in glee. Really?. .. .. no words.
Overall, had a fun night. Thanks again Peter D. for hosting! I really did like this bar.
Note, I should not have gone to the Unilocal after party next door at South Bar. In the hustle and bustle of everyone dashing out the door to pile into respective cabs, I the sole Unilocaler left went to grab my coat and fell and both sprained my ankle and dislocated my knee. Not the most glorious moment of my life. Though, the bartender felt so bad that he both ordered and paid for my cab home. There are some actual nice people out there in the world. Huzzah.

I have to echo Jen F.‘s review that my night consisted solely of waiting in a crush of people to get a drink and then trying desperately and (ineffectively) to get the attention of the bartender. I’m a new Elite, so I don’t have many elite events to compare it to, but I thought the point of the event was to both sample the food and drinks and mingle with other Elites? Unfortunately because of all the time I spent waiting for a drink (45ish minutes around 7:45pm) I didn’t get to do much of either. They stopped serving the signature cocktails at about the time I got to order. I didn’t even bother trying to get food at that point so I was able to chat with a few people before they left for the evening.
I’m never one to pass up a free event, so I can’t really grumble that much but I was disappointed that I didn’t get to experience all the great stuff that I’m sure Randolph’s has to offer.

Let me say I am torn… Because this was my very first Elite event and I was soooo excited. I’d heard such good things… HOWEVER this particular event did not measure up to my exceptations and maybe that’s my fault.
So we showed up and everyone was really friendly and I felt good coming in (short lived). Its a bar but it has dinner seating and a rustic/​casual look which I liked. The food looked good but the only thing I was able to try was cold hummus and brussel spouts (only becuz I left my friend at the bar to at least get that). The people just posted up where they were bring the food seemed to think they ordered the food and was gonna pay for it. If your posted at the food table please do not be mad/​upset with people trying to get a little I thought that was the point!!!
The drinks were good but after waiting about 45mins just to get one I was a little let down. And to find out they weren’t even using Titos vodka just maybe me SMH.
The bartender seemed very nice but he was just slow as molassas and taking orders from people who had not waited:(
I think Randolph is a cute spot and the menu looks really good, worth a try. So I may go back just to give them a try with out the crowed which they seem overwhelmed with.

Long waits, running out of liquor, and the bartender forgetting my order… sums up my night. But fortunately, the next the bartender he did was ask me for another order. Redeemed!
I’ve got first world problems. Let’s complain about free booze and food in an awesome venue!

I was ready to have a good time at Randolph, and I was not disappointed. I’m not big on vodka, but I’ll make an exception for Tito’s, and the bar staff at Randolph turned out two thoughtful, pleasantly-​summery beverages. I first tried the «back porch» something-​or-​other, and its muddled mint and blackberries briefly transported my brain to warmer climes. It was nice. The other beverage, a slightly fruity cucumber-​tinged concoction, was quite good as well. The bar staff did get overwhelmed and things slowed to a crawl for a while, but they were hand-​making everything and props to them for keeping the party going. However, the cocktails were generous enough that I felt two was plenty.
Among the snacks, the waffle fries were hands down the winner of the evening. I’m a big fan of spiced fries (anything harkening back to the Old Bay fries of my childhood), and these were nice and zesty. The caramelized brussel sprouts were also very good, and there was a quinoa salad that I thought quite tasty as well. Something about the hummus didn’t quite agree with me, but it was the only thing I tried that I didn’t like.
Randolph itself is an interesting place. There is a sculpture of old TVs playing some assorted clips, and some cool sliding doors on the bathrooms, which briefly confused me. It’s a little artsy, a little kitschy, and a little urban rustic, but not in a straight-​outta-​West Elm way. Though the tide of Unilocalers vastly outnumbered them, the staff at Randolph worked hard to keep us happy. Good times.

This was a great event! The place is really nice and spacious. although you wouldn’t have known it by the sheer number of people. The food was really. really tasty. I was very pleasantly surprised. I had the humus, quinoa and the brussel sprouts. all really tasty.
The service was slow, but that was due to the great job the bartenders did with the handmade drinks that required each drink to be muddled and the sheer number of drink requests.
They were slammed but did a great job. Its always great to see my Unilocal friends again and meet new ones as well!
Nice job, Peter and Ruggy!

Can I just copy-​paste what DeShaun said? Well yes actually, I could do that, but then I think I would get Elite frownie points for not coming up with my own clever thoughts… so here goes.
The space was beautiful. Right off the bat my boyfriend and I both agreed we’d like to come back and check this place out on a regular night. Something about the odd mash up really worked for me, a touch of old school diner vibe, a few big-​haired dashes of 80s pop art (Olivia Newton-​John and «Let’s Get Physical»? yes please!) and an old school bar and mixologists just to cover all the bases.
Since I prefer to be Katniss in the Unilocal hunger games (or really just anyone who lives), I went straight to the bar. From the second I saw the bartenders snapping that mint against their wrists, I knew there was going to be drink back ups, so I doubled up (don’t worry, I cleared with DeShaun that two is okay but three + is just rude). The Mule was as delicious a cocktail as I could have hoped, and I’m glad it was because after I snatched those drinks from the claws of the poison mist cloud (or insert favorite Hunger Games obstacle here) it was the last I saw of beverages for the night. I had similar luck with food-​I was quick enough to get the hummus and veggies but gave up after scoring a scoop of the quinoa. Our plates were also cleared midway through and although food kept coming out, no new plates or utensils came for a long time, so we had no way to get food even if we could have beat the crowd.
The food I did have was really good, and puppies, rainbows, and stardust… there were several vegetarian items! However, the poor execution/​lay out of the food combined with the insatiable grabby-​ness of some guests kind of made the event a bummer. I felt for the woman doing the running, but seriously bringing out just two sliders on a plate in a narrow bottle neck full of Unilocalers is never going to be a good idea. The bigger buzz kill, however, was the racing/​hovering/​snatching. Its free snacks ya’ll, not free gold.

Is it just me or was this one of the healthiest Unilocal Elite events ever? Vodka is a low-​calorie liquor, right?
Aside from the waffle fries, the hint of chicken thighs that filled the air, the caramelized brussel sprouts (I mean they’re still roasted sprouts, nutritiously delicious in my book); there was plenty of mussels, hummus, and a Mediterranean salad to go around. Not that I had actually consumed all of it but the caramelized veggies were very different, in a satisfying, healthy, sugary way if that’s at all possible.
YES, the bartenders were horrendously slow but keep in mind, they’re mixologists not bartenders. And with that said, Elite events are not all about the drinks (unless of course you’re Mitch E. battling your way to the bar). I didn’t have any of the vodka drinks for the evening but the guys behind the bar must have been super stressed. Pounding out cocktail after cocktail, they finally conceded defeat and stopped mixing. Sometimes sacrifices have to be made but at least everyone got a drink this way. Deciding to stick it out with beer for the night, the Peter Brown and Eastern IPA were my highlights for the night. Refreshing, smooth, malty, bitter all correspond positively with my taste buds.
Many, many thanks to the staff and waiters at Randolph. Understaffed and overworked, they still managed to pull through and do an incredible job. Of course, this wouldn’t be possible without the coordination of Peter D. and backup from Ruggy and the rest of the Unilocal staff.
P. S. As one of the stragglers left behind, I had some chicken thighs thanks to the generosity of Peter D. (he noticed that crazed look of hunger in my eyes), and they were disgustingly delicious. Definitely, a must have if you’re coming back here.

A while ago, I was having an argument with someone over vodka. Not a fight over drinks, but an argument which vodka is the best. So he said, «Tito’s. the best vodka there is. Period.» Well, I have to agree with him now. It is. (Cheers, Phoenix!).
Since I got in with earlier wave, I got my drink lightning fast, and it was perfect — not too sweet, very cucumber-​ry (is that a word? Now it is.) and smooooth. Bartenders were pros and working hard all evening, cheers to that!
Considering cold weather we been having lately, the turn-​out was pretty good — so many people to talk to and hug (sorry for all the hugs I forced on you, peeps!).
I have to shout out for Randolph décor and design — it is awesome. It has that utopian-​apocalyptic feel, with high ceilings, mad paintings, neon heart on the wall and drop-​gorgeous chandelier. Props for the huge sliding bathroom doors!
I did not get to try much of the food other than brussels sprouts, fries and hummus, but they were fantastic! (It was a little mad that food was left on the bar bench considering common knowledge that Unilocalers will horde it all…)
But that all aside — the music rocked, Unilocalers rocked, and Randolph was a perfect space to Rock n Roll! — so thank you to everyone who made it happen. Peter, Ruggy, everyone at Randolph.
Was also great to participate in charity donation to NYC Coalition Against Hunger — I really, really appreciated a good cause.

Let’s pretend I only stayed for the first hour.
Because the drinks were great (I was lucky enough to try both– I liked the strawberry/​cucumber one better, but only because I loooove cucumber). Played some shuffleboard. Played some Frogger on a Ms. PacMan arcade machine. Ate some delicious chicken, had some crispy waffle fries, slurped up a mussel, and chewed on some asparagus.
The space is awesome. I can definitely see the Randolph becoming a hot dinner and drinks spot. There are vintage TVs on the wall, a big neon heart sign, cool lamps, and a big-​ass ceiling fan.
As always thanks to Pete, Drew from Tito’s, bar staff, waitresses, and everyone else who made the night possible.
Oh, and after 4 years, I FINALLY got a pair of Unilocal gloves.

REVIEW #200 and it is a Unilocal ELITE EVENT in BROOKLYN!!! WOOHOO!!! WHAT WHAT!!!
Randolph Brooklyn hosted a good event. Thanks to the staff for welcoming us. What I liked about this place was it looks like a car garage turned into a bar/​restaurant. Pretty cool. I certainly like the environment of this place. It had a feel of hip and cool.
Started off with some drinks. Texas Porch Sipper Mule– Tito’s Handmade Vodka, blackberry, mint, lemon, and honey. This drink had maybe too much vodka. A wake up call for me.
Strawberry Cucumber Fizz– Tito’s handmade Vodka, cucumber strawberry, lemon, sugar. I like this one the best. It was good mix with the vodka, but you can still taste the sweetness of the drink. Pretty good.
On to the food. They served some
Carrots and cucumber with hummus
Mussels
Fried Chicken Thighs
Lamb Sliders
Caramelized Brussels sprouts
Waffle Fries
Asparagus
Grain & Kale Salad
Did I miss any dishes???
My favorite dishes were the Grain & Kale Salad, Asparagus, Lamb Sliders, and the Mussels. They were great dishes and delicious!!!
My only suggestion if you are going to hold an event, served the food in large portions. The food went out pretty fast on those small plates or maybe walk around the bar with the food to pass out.
The Ms. Pac Man arcade was pretty cool and old school. Liked the shuffleboard and the random old school televisions on the wall.
It was certainly a good night and a fun night. Thanks to Peter and the Unilocal team for setting this up and inviting me. Looking forward to my next elite event.
P. S. Hey Peter I was hoping for a check in offer. I wanted another High 5 check in offer. Haha!!!

Is anyone else a fan of the Walking Dead? Yes? Good, now you and I can be the best of friends.
A starving horde of zombies will roam aimlessly around until they are set off by either 1. loud noises or 2. a bloody foot (I still don’t understand why anyone would eat a human foot. It’s the most disgusting part of your body. I’m sure if I turned, I would still choose innards.) Wait, where was I?
Oh yes, so coming off the Bedford Hall experience that has become synonymous with a successful event (and deservedly so), I knew that it would be very difficult to top. The crowd was still friendly and welcoming. But the horde was also ravenous.
Every time the smell of anything came out, words would cease mid-​conversation, heads would snap, moans would ensue, and the masses would shift towards the scent. I wish someone had recorded the spectacle. You would see me crying in the corner because I’ve never been a sprinter. I did bring a guest this time, and she was able to salvage a few scraps for me. I even had a cucumber slice– my quiet desperation. I think the staff got so overwhelmed that they just sliced up whatever they had left in the kitchen. Bet they wanted to ‘Michonne our @$$e$’ by the end of the night.
The bar crew was sweating legit bullets while making those drinks; I give them props for trying to make quality over quantity. But at these types of events, it’s hard to manage with only two working the bar. I was literally standing next to my friend who had gotten her order, and was bypassed. No amount of creeper eye contact was going to turn this guy’s head. But what was funnier– he had taken my tip, but never took my order. I had spent over 40 minutes waiting to order, waiting so badly that I gave up and asked a fellow Unilocaler to order one for me.
Observation of the night: there are no rules in a post-​apocalyptic world.