Elite Event: New Elite Mixer @ Forge Pizza

This was my first official YEE. Hooray! :D
Special thanks to Nique for setting this up. It was great meeting her and I even had the pleasure of meeting the former East Bay CM Kelly T. Both of them were super nice and made me feel welcome.
It was neat meeting my Unilocal friends IRL, making new connections, and even meeting the owner of Forge Pizza. I was also impressed by the food. I’ll post up a review of the food on Forge’s Unilocal page.
My plus one friend was also impressed by the YEE. I got her started on Unilocaling… now I see her checking in and writing reviews. So proud! :)

Since becoming an East Bay Unilocaler, I love attending some of the fun events and meeting some of the new Unilocalers.
I really love Forge. The food and drinks are high class and I love the layout of the restaurant. It’s really a fun place to dine and enjoy some really good beer. The beers on tap exceeded my expectations. You can really appreciate the thought put into the food here.
I love meeting new Unilocalers, I can always catch someone checking in and leaving tips, taking photos at an event. We all have a love for food and it’s fun discussing our favorite places.
Thank you so much Nique, for letting me crash the New Elite Mixer. Thank you to Forge for being my new favorite patio spot in Jack London Square.

TL;DR: Nique knows how to pick them, for sure! Another awesome event at a great location.
Situated almost right on the water front in Jack London square, this semi swanky pizza parlor is anything but your average slice.
We took over almost a third of the interior, and were treated like royalty by the staff and owner. A near endless parade of delicious food, we had a booth that we shared occasionally with others and for the most part got to sample everything.
Several courses of appetizers, and at least 5 different types of pizza were brought to our table, in addition to a steady stream of liquor and beer.
Everything was amazing, and I’ll talk more about the food in my review of the restaurant itself.
Nique had also planned a little factoid scavenger hunt about our fellow Unilocalers, which was a neat and fun way to encourage conversation between people you hadn’t met before. Kudos to her!
Love these events! Can’t wait for the next one!

ANOTHER GREAT EVENT WITH AMAZING FOOD!
Jack London Square is one of my favorite spots in Oakland and this was my first time eating at Forge Pizza, and the food was amazing.
The event was so much fun and getting to know the rest of the new elites was great. The way everything was set up was perfect with a huge table for everyone to eat around get to know each other and talk.
The Ice Breaker was fun and it didn’t take long for Amy to figure out who I needed to find. Thanks Amy
The food was amazing. The first thing I ate was some fried cheese and it was cheelisious. The next food item was some chicken wings that were also very good. Then the Pizza’s started rolling out and they were all soooooooo gooooooood. My favorite pizza was the three cheese which I will defintly be going back to Forge for more.
Thanks, Nique and Unilocal for another amazing event.

Cool event because all the newbies go. Everyone is all fresh and excited to be a part of the elite group. Lots of energy because we all are newbies.
The food was good. The pizza was not greasy and very tasty. Good selection of unique toppings. The drinks were just as good as the pizza.

Forge is the name of a great place to eat in Jack London Square. Forge can also refer to the process of making friendships and relationships.
To merge both into one event for Unilocal new Elites was either curious coincidence or punning brilliance. In either case, the New Elite Mixer @ Forge Pizza was an irresistibly fun time.
I’ve eaten at Forge before and was delighted to be included to join this event (doubly so as it’s been awhile since I held «newbie» status). Once getting their name tags from Kelly, Unilocalers took the long table, and were treated to a continuous flow of delicious offerings from both the kitchen and the bar. The latter’s «Devil’s Slippers,» a concoction featuring tequila, garnered many coos from its drinkers. Action from the giant plasma screen above us, showing the Warriors game, mixed with conversation with dear friends. And introductory cards with identity teasers offered a festive way to break the ice with new ones.
Nique F, I don’t know how you did it, but you continually outdo yourself as the hostess with the mostess. And Forge, your generosity and craftsmanship of both food and service were stellar. Thank you both, and hope to see you & the new friends made that day very soon.

This was another 5-​star Unilocal Event; with huge kudos to Nique, Kelly and the Forge Staff for organizing another fun-​filled enjoyable evening.
For a 6pm start time on a Tuesday night was more of a challenge to arrive early, but this event was a lot more relaxed where punctuality was not a requirement. Nique had everything set up efficiently, where all the Elite Unilocalers already had their name tags prewritten. Kelly delivered a card with a clue for us to try and find out who our mystery Elite Unilocaler was, which is a clever way to proactively have us mingle with your fellow invitees.
As for the food, it was good but not filling. Looking at the prices of their appetizers & pizzas, they are priced fairly. Their pizzas were very healthy and not greasy at all, but I felt that I needed to eat multiple pizzas just to meet my appetite. The ambiance was very nice; as you can either dine privately in a booth, or have a large party near the bar with multiple TVs and a projector to watch a game, or enjoy dining outside with comfortable seating with a fire pit. I did feel that it was a bit too noisy in the bar area to hold a conversation from the person sitting across from you, but the private booths are located away from the bar & televisions, where it makes it easier to hold a conversation at that part of the restaurant.
The staff from Forge Pizza were very friendly & hospitable, providing us with lots of food & beverages for all the Unilocalers throughout the evening. They did an excellent job promoting & advertising their restaurant, giving us the interests to return here someday. I know I will!

This was my first Unilocal event since I became an Elite, and let me tell you, the Unilocal staff and Nique did a fantastic job for making it a memorable one! Right when I got there, Nique immediately knew who I was without even asking! She was such a wonderful host (HI NIQUE!) and made sure that I was all settled in right when I arrived. Could you ask for anything more?!
It’s pretty crazy that I’ve never seen or heard of Forge Pizza before this event. I’ve been around the area, but never once thought about going into Forge Pizza so I’m glad the Unilocal Elite Event was hosted here. The restaurant has a nice vibe! There’s a huge screen for sporting events, and also other areas away from the bar just in case you’d rather have an intimate seating/​dinner experience. The staff was super nice and accommodating — even the own came by to check in and chat and answer questions we had. Now, that kind of hospitality doesn’t happen everyday! Kudos, Forge!
We were able to sample a number of different pizzas and appetizers, but the ONE pizza that stood out to me was the three cheese pizza. It reminded me of a thin crust pizza I had in NYC! Their cheese curds are also pretty tasty! They don’t make the cheese curds in house, but the owner mentioned they have a supplier. Whoever supplies it does a pretty good job making ‘em because I definitely enjoyed it!
Thanks again Unilocal staff for being fantastic at what you do!

I haven’t been to Jack London Square in years, so the YEE was the perfect opportunity to get out there. I would never have found Forge Pizza on my own and I’m very happy to have discovered this awesome restaurant! Thank you Miss Nique for organizing another fun YEE! Thanks to Michael and Forge staff for being so welcoming! It was great seeing some familiar elite faces as well as meeting some new ones. The ice breaker was a great way to mingle with others while enjoying a delicious meal.
I tried the potato skins, prosciutto, spinach pizza and the three cheese, arugula pizza. The Italian thin crust brick oven pizzas were right up my alley as I usually only order thin crust as opposed to thick. The spinach pizza was a little salty for my taste. The three cheese pizza was definitely my favorite… subtle yet tasty with a kick from the peppery arugula. Paired with a nice glass of white wine and that made the meal complete.
Forge is a nice venue right on the water. The outside patio has a nice set-​up with a fire pit. Inside, there’s a community table (that Unilocal took over), booth seating, small tables for two and a good sized bar that looks into the kitchen (where you can see the chefs making pizzas). There is also a big screen and a tv at the bar that were both playing Warriors game 5. Speaking of the Dubs, all the Forge staff members were wearing GSW shirts in the spirit of the playoffs. Very cool, local neighborhood vibe.
I would return for sure to try out some more items on the menu and possibly catch a game. Great location, wonderful food and hospitable service! Thanks again!!!

SO MUCH FUN, AS CASEY’S ‘PLUS ONE’
This was a great event for first-​year Unilocal Elite. It’s my second year, but I was allowed to tag along as a plus one. I hope all the first time Unilocal elite eventgoers felt very welcomed and enjoyed the YEE as much as us repeat-​attenders. It was a smaller group size which I felt encouraged better interaction. Sitting down and eating at one large table (and a couple nearby booths — Hi Chris and Sara!) made getting to know other Unilocalers a little easier than walking around with plate, napkin, and/​or glass in hand.
Casey and I had to leave at the event’s halfway mark for a work obligation, but the hour we enjoyed at Forge consisted of figuring out an icebreaker clue in seconds, getting free hugs from the CM, one pink drink, half of a shared local beer, and all the good yums. We had great company sitting around us! I enjoyed sitting next to Amy and Johnny, who we recently met at another event, and meeting other friends in person for the first time (Hi Fred! Hi Michelle! Hi Andrew!).
Food at Forge was awesome. I’m a lover of thin crust pizza so the cheese slice and the sausage/​olive slice were both big hits in my book! I didn’t try the potato appetizer, but the fried cheese curds were definitely good and I had an enjoyable chicken wing. My favorite might have been the roasted veggies. Cauliflower is one of my favorite foods (broccoli might be my favorite?) and so the little oiled pieces of cauliflower crunchies totally made me smile. So good! Pretty sure there was a roasted radish in the dish also! I’m going to try that at home!
I can’t wait to go back to Forge on my own and order their baby octopus. The owner was really nice and the staff helping our group were friendly and efficient. Thanks, Unilocal and staff, for a wonderful experience.

Thank you, Nique and Unilocal staff, for another great event.
Thank you, Forge Pizza, for having us sample some of your great pizzas, appetizers, and drinks.
Thank you all the Forge Pizza staff for being so kind and for your huge smiles.
Thank you Warrior fans for making this a lively place.
My first Unilocal Elite Event this year, great ice breaker activity. My first time here at Forge Pizza, would not have been here if not for this event. Instead now I will make sure to come back here and bring more people to watch the game. Great projection wall for TV, perfect for games. Very nice outdoor area, love the vibe this place has. You can choose to eat with your family, date, coworkers, or just sit by yourself at the bar. Everything is arranged nicely, and the décor is very proper and clean.
I love the chicken wings (very unique), and the pepperoni pizza (most definitely unique). The chicken wings… is hard to describe. It is not completely out of the ordinary, yet it is nothing like I’ve had. Must try it to understand what I’m trying to say. The crust of their pizza is very well made; thin crust yet not hard or too chewy. The pepperoni pizza tastes like a unique combination of Chorizo and Kimchee. Any place that makes normal ‘ol pepperoni pizza into something interesting deserves a try. And a second try. Great selection of beer, very kind and professional staff. This place was packed with so many groups of people, but the staff did their best accommodating all of us, with a huge smile, and they succeeded in making it all seem easy. Huge props to you all!

I visited Forge for my first Unilocal Elite event — you know when a Unilocal ambassador hosts a gathering at a restaurant, you are in for a treat!
While Forge isn’t exactly my new favorite pizzeria, I say without hesitation that they make excellent quality food, with top notch servers in a cool and entertaining environment!
We sampled all four appetizers on their dinner menu, and to no one’s surprise the cheese curds won the day. Like a cheesy carnival funnel cake! A lighter petite spin on the mozzarella stick. The roasted veggies were fine, the wings were smoky and moist with yummy blue cheese dip, and the potato skins were a fun deconstructed take on the standard bar food app. Small roasted potatoes, halved and drizzled with a creamy white sauce, and topped with crispy bacon and greens. Almost too pretty to eat! I also sampled their cocktail the Devil’s Slipper. Like a girly margarita, bright pink with flavors of hibiscus and agave, two went down nice and easy. My only snag — our waitress said the glass had a sugar rim, but it’s actually salt with a bit of sugar. At least it was that night.
I sampled the margherita and 3 cheese pizza — while both were tasty, the margherita won my heart. If you put basil on it or near it, I will fall for it. Tasty cheese and crust, though the crust was nearly burnt in spots, and pools of oil were visible in the cheese. Despite a yummy flavor, these aspects were visually a little off-​putting.
Fans of artisan pizza will love Forge, thanks again for hosting our gathering!

Redefining the pizza party!
Wow wee! This was yet another fantastic Unilocal Elite event. I’m new to the Elite scene. This was my 3^rd Elite Event. However, this was the smallest event I’ve attended. What a fantastic way to get to know the first year Elite crew. I was able to say hello to nearly every person! Plus, it was much easier accomplishing the ice breaker than in previous events. (Shout out to Terri the potsticker queen from Concord!) I also enjoyed sitting in the large table; it really encouraged me to talk to my neighbors.
There was definitely too much to review, so I have written a separate review on the specifics of Forge Pizza’s delicious food.
STARTERS
Crispy cheese curds, fire roasted veggies, potato skins, and smoked chicken wings. These were four amazing starters that redefines your typical bar food. These dishes are far from greasy; they are flavorful and fresh – not only in concept but in taste!
PIZZA
Overall, the pizza was delicious. The sauce was flavorful – the perfect balance of tomato and spice. Thin crust pizza is also my favorite! The stand out pizza for me was the margherita pizza. It was absolutely perfect – from first bite to full belly. My only qualm was that I wish the crust was crisper. Plus, I think both the sausage and pepperoni pizza I had (maybe this was particular to the pizza I had) could have stayed in the oven a few minutes longer. The dough in the center kept drooping, which slowed down the eating process. Ridiculous, seeing that I couldn’t stop eating.
SERVICE
Friendly staff! This place was packed, and the waitresses were working it! It’s great to have such nice people keeping up the smiles even when the restaurant looked packed! It was also wonderful that the owner came to the table to explain the dishes – the ingredients and how they are made. Major props!
THANK YOU
A big thank you to Nique, Kelly, and the Forge Staff for making this a wonderful Elite event! You rock! I will definite come to Forge Pizza again!

I had a really great time meeting a bunch of elite Unilocalers plus ones too. Nique F was super sweet. This was my first elite Event and I have a lot of fun I look forward to going to more with my plus one. i liked the pizza margherita, and the fried cheese the best, the owner was very nice and even called my husband by his name, ok it helped that they had the same first name. Everyone was very nice and that is including the staff.

Being my first event, I had no idea what to expect. I am so excited that my first experience was everything I expected (and more!). When I first arrived, I was greeted by Nique (who gave me the lowdown of how the event worked). As people started to arrive, the majority of us started sitting and gathering around a large table inside the restaurant while the servers started passing out appetizers and drinks.
I honestly have to admit the food was quite tasty. They brought out several different starters. They had chicken wings and roasted vegetables which were decent, but I honestly loved the crispy cheese curds. I could have eaten those all day!
They then brought out several pizzas. I started losing track, but hands down my favorite was the Pepperoni Pizza and my second favorite was the Sausage Pizza. I think the Pepperoni was my favorite because the Pepperoni was something I have never seen. They make it fresh, in house, and crumble it so it resembles more like sausage. I think the peppers give it a special kick which makes it even more unique!
I met some great people while enjoying the food! Special shootouts to Rebekah, Judy, Susanna, Kyra, Nique, Amy, Casey, Joanna, and Fred (my ice breaker person, glad I found you!).
Also the staff was real nice, friendly, and very fast! I can’t complain when there’s great service! I was also impressed that the owner came around to talk to everyone and give us some insights to how the food gets prepared! ++++
Definitely looking forward to my next Elite Event and I hope to return to Forge in the near future!

My very first Unilocal Elite Event [YEE] was very memorable and SO FUN!
I felt special from the get-​go for even being selected from the RSVPs. .. the email inviting me from Nique F. got my whole excitement rolling!
Forge Pizza was lively and loud. The food and drinks were all great. The servers were all attentive and nice. I think everyone who attended had a good time, judging by all the smiling faces.
The pizzas were classic Italian thin crust. .. very tasty and healthy. The pizza margherita I had was delicious! I also drank a whole one-​liter bottle of San Pellegrino myself.
I so enjoyed meeting some of my Unilocal friends in person. What really made my day was for several of my Unilocal friends to recognize me first, remember my name — and squeal with excitement to meet me!
Thank you very much, Nique F., for all the work you put into planning, organizing, and hosting this YEE! You are such a wonderful hostess. Thank you for making me feel welcome.
Thank You, Unilocal Inc., for the concept and execution of such exciting Elite productions.
Sending you, Unilocal,my love and light!
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