Elite Event at The Runner

Hello 2015! First Unilocal Elite event of the year! Ecstatic that it happened to be at one of the new upcoming places on my bookmarks list. With its exposed brick and wood burning oven, the Runner has a warm and cozy atmosphere.
There were plenty of cocktails circulating, one made out of Greenhook gin and the other Buffalo Trace Bourbon. To be honest, I can’t recall which one I kept drinking (guessing the Italian Aviation) but they were delicious. I would come back here just for the drink menu.
Foods that were served:
*** Deviled eggs (rich, creamy with bacon bits on top)
***Oysters (one of my favs, I LOVED that it was warm and roasted, and it was served on a bed of parmesan cheese)
***Mussels with lemon and parsley, another one of my favs, great sauce. I see now why they have Mussel Mondays.
***Chopped salad with shaved kale, brussel spouts, pistachio. Very well executed.
***Chicken mousse crostinis. yum!
*** Brick oven pizza, two kinds, my fav was the muschroom with goat cheese.
*** Roasted Cauliflower with Sea bass at the end. I was too stuffed to really enjoy it. The fish had a nice crust.
Every dish was solid. The service was excellent and kept working hard despite a ravenous crowd. Enough food for everyone.
The best part is having the opportunity to meet people. This is the event where I’ve probably made friends with the most people. Shout out to Maria M. and Dianne R with whom I’ve made plans to return here for Mussels Monday.
Thank you to the Runner for hosting and Peter D. for organizing another unique event, and for always remembering my name.

Wow. I must say. I’m delighted to have gotten an event to this cozy event. The size and just downright feel of the Unilocal members in addition to the venue was marvelous. The food was to die for.
I came a little late and saw oysters sitting on the wooden bar area in the back. I only had oysters once and said let me try these. Yum warm oysters. The food choices only went up from there. There were oysters and kale salad. Chicken pâté and oven fired pizza with different toppings I might add. I’m no mushroom fan because of my smell issues associated with cream of mushroom but I’m glad I tried the goat cheese mushroom pizza drolls!
I must say the other plus about this event for me is that I meet since dope ass ppl! And tagged a new hashtag #taurusLovesFood !
Can’t wait for the next Unilocal event! Peter thumbs up!
I did forget one important thing that I include in like almost all of my reviews. The service here was the bomb. #thatsIt

It was a cold winter’s night, another depressing day in a long dreary winter we’ve had to endure. Tired of darkness and cold, The Runner was a great warm and welcome respite from the gloomy weather!
The first YEE of the year was definitely appreciated, first off, thank you to The Runner staff for hosting us, and thanks to Peter D. for the arrangements.
Upon entering I was greeted with an excellent Bourbon cocktail by a lovely server. The Runner has two sections, an intimate bar area, with a nice dining area attached, complemented by a brick oven.
This YEE featured many new elites (Hi Jully and Amina), who embodied the true spirit of Unilocal Elite members, I met and chatted with elites new and old, if they are an example of the new members, Unilocal will do well this year!
Now onto the food: Wonderful. The deviled eggs were tasty, and I fell in love with the roasted oysters and delicious mussels. Why have a brick oven without featuring some great pizza as well? It was great and I even enjoyed the Kale salad, and I’m not a salad person!
The staff and servers worked hard and kept it together as they worked to get drinks to the attendees. They were challenged as they were swamped at the entrance to the dining area, drinks were hard to reach the rear, but our server made it a point to remember us at our table and brought drinks to our table.
The Runner will be visited by me again as I am always in the Myrtle/​Ft. Greene area and looking forward to more of the oysters, mussels, and other menu items. Hoping much success to this new jewel in the neighborhood!

We descended upon Runner like a zombie invasion!
Kudos to runner for putting up with us, churning out the quality drinks and lavishing us with amazing food!
It is always a pleasant surprise when they bring out seafood. Oysters? Oysters! Generally I look down upon cooked oysters since raw oysters are so delectable… But no! Runner served up the best baked oysters I have ever had. The mussels were amazing too — I didn’t even care that some of the mussel meat had fallen out and left the shell empty (as they usually do) — that broth was every bit as good as the actual mussel.
It was also nice to have some greens — that salad was great. The food kept coming and everything was yummy.
The drinks were on point and after the initial shock at how much Unilocalers can guzzle in such a short time, the bar started making them faster. I am not a gin person, but I was happy to have a few (ahem) and found them very delicious.
The crowd at the event was great — it was nice to see so many familiar faces.
Runner was extremely generous to provide so much food and drink to us. Thanks to the great staff and to Peter D for continuing the awesome 2015 event streak. Dude, they just keep getting better and better!

It’s been a trip getting to know the awesome folks that make up the NYC Unilocal community. Walking into an event and seeing faces you want to see, drinking drinks you want to drink, and eating food you can’t wait to eat? What’s not to love! Our event at The Runner last Tuesday was no exception — the company, drinks, and food were amazing.
I really like the ambiance that The Runner has going on; it’s at once chic and rustic, but that’s Brooklyn for you these days I guess. Walking in we found a great old looking bar that had some people hanging out having a drink, and a small open kitchen grilling a steak that smelled out of this world (I will absolutely be back to have one soon). Hanging a quick left, we found the main dining area full of the friendly people I mentioned above. There was a small brick pizza oven that was sitting behind a small, secondary cooking space. If I were coming back (ok who are we kidding, WHEN I come back), I think I would probably stay up front; the copper ceiling and low lighting really adds up to a place that would be perfect for a good conversation with old friends. That being said, the back room was a bit more light up and would make a fun space for a party with a larger group (sort of like the one we had). The food that The Runner offered us was superb. The deviled eggs were perfect, and the seafood (oysters and muscles) were a huge hit. I didn’t try the pizza, but if the other food was any indication I’m sure it was amazing. The drinks were especially good at this event; Kentucky Harvest from Buffalo Trace was a fun fusion of whiskey, pear, and ginger — the Italian Aviation from GreenHook GinSmiths was a really fun gin cocktail with lemon and soda. Both were exceptionally tasty, and exceptionally strong (not that we were complaining, they flew off the tray before the servers had a chance to bring them into the room). Seriously fun event in a uniquely Brooklyn space, fun was had by all.
Huge shout out to the folks at The Runner, Buffalo Trace, and Greenhook Gin; you gave us a fun evening we won’t soon forget! And of course, huge props to our fearless leader Peter D and Unilocal Brooklyn — thanks for introducing us to yet another amazing place, and pulling together such a great event!

If you were to ask me, Mike, what do you like most in the world?
I would say booze, oysters, and women. In no particular order.
Well I’m a married man so check already. BUT, when they brought out bourbon based cocktails, then Gin based cocktails, THEN to sum up the tri-​fecta they brought out delicious baked oysters! Everything was sooo good! Throw in mussels, flatbreads, and classic eggs of the devilish variety and you have a party!
The atmosphere of the place is fantastic, the host was ok, just kidding, Pete is the man, and the good company of fellow Unilocalers ensured a great start for the Unilocal New Year!

2^nd Yee this year for moi. This spot is great for intimate gatherings, whether for a small group of friends or for a date with that special someone. The event was held in a separate dining room next to the bar and grill area. Since there were no plus ones, I was able to meet some new face of Unilocal and catch up with the familiar ones.
In the room that we were in, there was a nice wood burning oven that kept the room warm, maybe a little bit too warm. I had to step away from the room. In that wood burning oven is how they prepared the food for the night with the exception of a few dishes (salad and deviled eggs. Once the food was finished from the oven and set onto serving plates, the cooks placed it on the counter conveniently located in front of their prep station. And since it was food free for all, there was a big crowd by the counter. I thought I wasn’t going to be able to get a sample but luckily I did. Also, I was able to get a few drinks too, to go with the food.
I’m a shy, quiet person (at first, until I get to know you, then you’ll get to see how I really am and you’ll wonder when I’ll shut up), introvert and sometimes I love love to keep to myself but I really enjoyed myself at this event chatting with people.
Anywhoo, thanks always to Peter D and Unilocal crew for setting this up. And of course, thank you, The Runner.

What a wonderful night!!! The Elite event at The Runner was packed and full of new Brooklyn Elites. Upon entrance I was checked in and promptly shown the room packed with Unilocalers. The Runner is a beautiful space. The décor is very cozy with a simple rustic vibe; it’s a great place to bring a date. The front bar is fully stocked and run by a really cool bartender too.
This wasn’t your typical event. Drinks were brought around on trays by waiters and the food was prepared and placed on the bar for easy self-​serve dining. Everyone crowded around the front of the room; I think it was because the wood burning oven felt so good.
The food was amazing… The star of the show for me was the kale salad. All of the food was great. I also got to enjoy the oysters, mussels, sea bass, pizza, and cauliflower. I tried everything and it was all exceptional. Getting to the food was a bit of a challenge but it was worth the occasional elbow and shove that had to be endured to get to the bar.
I got a chance to meet and mingle with a few new elites and some old elites that I haven’t talked to in a while. Overall, this event was fun and filled with good food and good people. Thank you Peter D for showing us another gem in Brooklyn. To the owners and staff of The Runner I want to give a special Thank You; Thanks for allowing us to come into your business and enjoy your wonderful food. To the sponsors Buffalo Trace and Greenhook Gin, thanks for keeping the libations flowing and the spirits merry and warm during this cold winter.

Such an awesome night!
The Runner is such a great cozy space, love the huge wood oven and décor! There was a little shuffling around required to obtain both drinks and food, but we managed and the staff worked hard at getting both out to us. Both drinks were good, but the Italian Aviation was the easy winner for me. How pretty was that drink?
I skipped the deviled eggs (unusual for me) and kale salad and saved myself for the seafood goodness. Oysters, mussels, sea bass (for the stragglers at the end!), so delicious! I was especially a fan of the mussels. Also really enjoyed the pizzas! What was that, bacon and ham pizza? Either way, it was so good.
Had a wonderful time hanging out with the Unilocalers! Love seeing these familiar faces at the events! Also great chatting with some new faces as well. Thanks so much to The Runner, sponsors, and of course Peter D. for a wonderful event!

Finally made it to my first Unilocal event after the snow made me back out of the first event. Being that it was my first time I was a little nervous but quickly met new people. The Runner did a fantastic job hosting us, serving greenhook gin and Buffalo Trace Bourbon cocktails all night and they were a hit! Although the crowd was pretty ravenous, the staff kept up by serving plenty of mussels, baked oysters, liver pâté? (A few people said it was cheese so not really sure), mushroom flatbread pizza and striped bass. I should have asked what exactly it was but my favorite was the Pâté (or should I say cheese).
All in all I had an amazing time at my first event and would definitely visit the runner on my own.

No good runner sprints out the gate! As was the case with this past Tuesday’s Elite Event there.
The start of the event was a bit crowded, had lots of people trying to grab a cocktail, and could have left you feeling a bit hungry, if you weren’t wise enough to eat before hand.
The Runner really went into full gear about 45 minutes in, and turned this event in a five star party!
Before venturing over, my friend and I partook in happy hour nearby. Some beers and a small bite. We saw the place had oysters and deviled eggs. Two popular Unilocal event delicacies. And figured to only get one, hoping they didn’t serve the other. The event had both.
At The Runner the deviled eggs weren’t the best. They were good, but they didn’t impress me. The baked oysters however, WOW! Those were fantastic. Some of the best oysters I’ve had in Brooklyn. And that’s a lot of oysters.
As good as the oysters were. The mussels may have been better. And I don’t remember trying mussels at too many Unilocal events. Top notch!
Eventually near the end the pizza started coming out. Lots of different ones to try. My favorite was the mushroom. The pizza was good, and was desired because I needed some carbs with all the booze. It was good, but once again not the best.
When it came to getting drinks, as I mentioned, they were hard to come by at first and for good reason. The mixologist here knows what she’s doing. She uses some top notch ingredients. Everyone wanted some. Eventually with such demand she made some in mass quality, which may have made some stronger than others. I’m not saying I aimed to take the stronger ones, but if there was one with less coloring I may have jumped on it. After awhile the lightweights had enough and she went back to making them perfect again.
The Runner really put in lots of effort and it was much appreciated. Thank you to them and all there staff. Big thanks to his grace Peter D for setting up another awesome event. That dude is on a roll.

Second event in ten days. Sweet!
And very sweet was the welcome we got at The Runner, a nice and cozy spot on Myrtle with its own wood oven.
We really got spoiled this time: food from the kitchen and from the oven would be on display at the counter in front of the oven, and the ultra-​nice waitstaff would bring drinks directly to us. Basically we did not have a reason to move, since food and drinks would just come to us. This made for a rather crowded room, and probably made things difficult for the waitstaff. A big shout out to them: you were awesome! And you certainly spoiled us last night.
I particularly enjoyed the seafood options we were served: the freshly shucked roasted oysters were very tasty, and when was the last time you were served striped seabass at a Unilocal event?!
And a shout out to Buffalo Trace and Greenhook Gin. I particularly enjoyed the Italian Aviation, my weapon of choice for the night.
In the end the part I enjoyed the most was at the very end, when the place cleared out, and I had the chance to sit down and have a very enjoyable chat with Carolina, Michelle, Jess, Steph, and Ming.
Thanks Peter and the people at The Runner for this great event.
Flickr photos here:

Ave A to the eL to the omG to the Bside – no running just trainin’ (#seewhatididthere). lots of CAP letters as my alphabetchya game be stellar. long trip (for me!) from ABC city to Clinton Hill’s The Runner – ALL well worth it!
lowkey exterior not superbusy. i like.
step in from the chills to a warm spill of a lowlit glowy bar area. a narrow bar/​standing space extends from the entrance far back to the open kitchen area. bar area itself classy n casual. bar space sits flush on the right side of the room, sits probably 10 – 14. there are a few small high tables that sit outside the bar area for more date-​y eats ‘n’ dranks. the space itself has this warm vintage-​y reclaimed materials feel: mix of of exposed brick, hanging old-​school light bulbs, distressed metal (or stone) bar top, and dark woods gives the space both warm and chill vibe.
checked in. scanned. and named, err tagged. headed through to the next room where Unilocalers were mobbing for the nights festivities. simple dark décor. a bunch of 4-​top tables lay flush on either side of the room. lots of table seating. a nice amount of open area and exposed brick walls. a simple décor with texture, muted colors, and dim lighting makes the room easy on the eyes. the front of the dining room contains the wood-​burning oven and a fairly large metal (or stone counter area) counter area that gates off the oven from customers… this is where all of the small bites would be laid out for the night.
chatted with Peter til Unilocalamania started and he quickly made like Batman to take of things and disappeared into the crowd. POW! ZAP! BAM!
drinks began to flow via the hardworking servers carrying trays upon trays. first drank i had was a one of the signature drinks of the night: Kentucky Harvest cocktail featuring BUFFALO TRACE bourbon. really enjoyed this cocktail had a slight sweet note but the mint, ginger, and whiskey did a nice combo punch in a rocks glass of keeping the drink refreshing, gentlemanly, and strong like cocktails should be.
the other signature cocktail was the Italian Aviation which featured GREENHOOK GINSMITHS. cocktail was a bit sweeter and had more of lemon-​lime soda taste to it. cocktail was topped, err bottomed, with a cherry in a champagne saucer. the gin and the other components of the cocktail definitely gave it more of a floral femme profile.
again the two very different cocktails had a nice contrast between them both– without it being jarring. well done bartenders, Greenhook Ginsmiths, and Buffalo Trace – cheers all around!!!
the food? i had some deliciously addictive devilled eggs. creamy, eggy, salty – great savory small bites that paired well with either cocktail. however i know after watching Cool Hand Luke that eating 50 eggs in an hour or two is no bueno. so i curbed my inner food spirit/​beast. moving on. the kale salad as well as the crostini with chicken liver spread (i think) were really nice touches to the food offerings throughout the night – and really tasty. i did not have the steamed mussels or cooked oysters, but i heard they were fab and they were a hit throughout the night as shells piled up to monstrous heights! the mushroom flatbread and speck flatbread were equally delicious. had bites of each and thought WOW here’s an excellent example of simple food that is simply yummy. there was also sea bass served later in the night, but between the 5(not FIFTY) devilled eggs, kale salad, crostini, and flatbreads… i was fed well!
the staff was supercool; answered my 8 million qs about the cocktails. and are a hardworking bunch at keeping plates full of food and glasses never empty.
again like any great Unilocal night beyond the great food, awesome dranx, etc. i got to laugh it up with (and harass) some of my Unilocal’s favorites: Chuck, Erin, Mitch, Dan, and Joanna. got to meet some new peeps like Kenny, Michael, and the infamous Ming the Merciless! and got to reconnect with familiar faces from prior events.
much like any event that Peter D. sews together: super, seamless, and stylin’! Big thanks and kudos to Peter and his crew for making a night at The Runner – top o’ the Hill… Clinton Hill! And many thanks to The Runner and Greenhook Ginsmiths and Buffalo Trace.
dropz the mic, so i can two-​fist – not two step – with devilled eggs and a devilish grin!
i out!
p. s.–in other news i thought the Unilocal giveaway swag nail file was a mini tongue depressor. thx to Erin P. for pointing out my stupidity! lol

Aren’t we a lucky bunch to be Unilocal Elite and make it to the lovely Runner event last night!!!
I went straight from work and I loved coming into a warm little bar on Cobble Hill. I scanned my party pass and was greeted in the dinning room and it’s smiling wood burning oven. I loved seeing so many of my favorite Unilocal faces, Michelle W. Matteo R., Steph C., Mitch E. Peter D. Dominek T. & Jess P. I feel very fortunate to have met these wonderful people. It’s so nice that Unilocal is the best platform to meet the coolest, foodie friends. I thoroughly enjoyed nibbling new bites together and trying out the delicious cocktails. I even met some new Unilocal friends, Gessica G. Ian A. and Desi M.
Speaking of drinks, I especially enjoyed the «Italian Aviation». I am a huge gin fan and couldn’t wait to try it. And let me tell you, this cocktail does not disappoint. One bubbly sip and you will be drooling for another one in no time. And the gorgeous little glass made me feel transported to the Great Gatsby! The cocktail is Greenhook Gin, a sponsor for the evening with Crème de Violette, Lurisia Lemon Italian Soda and a Luxardo Maraschino. Luxardo! Wow only the best for this cocktail and you can taste it!
Now for the food, being a pescatarian, there was still many options for me at the event. Highlights were definitely the creamy goat cheese and crimini mushroom flatbread and the shredded brussel sprout, kale, cabbage and pistachio salad. It’s the vegetarian dishes that even meat eaters can enjoy. Normally, it would be mussel Monday and they kept the tradition going last night. There were heaping bowls of brothy goodness and mussels, And The chefs were utilizing the gorgeous stove the entire time. The oysters came out all hot and bursting with flavor. And when you thought the party was ending, giant platters came out of cauliflower and striped bass. The bass with the cauliflower worked beautifully together and the cauliflower was perfectly charred. It was nice to sit at a table at the end of the night and enjoy the last dish with friends and conversations.
A shout out for Dominek and those lovely long arms, that helped me enjoy some lovely eats.
Thanks to Buffalo Trace, Greenhook Gin, The Amazing Peter D. (Brooklyn is so lucky to have you) and the amazing staff at the Runner! The staff was so helpful, generous and above all nice under the giant crowd and the thirsty and hungry Unilocal eyes! Way to go Runner!

Solid 5 stars, Runner, for opening up your doors to pour drinks, as well as feed our hungry bellies. I loved the mussels! They had a spicy kick to the garlic broth that has left me with coming back for more in the near future. They actually have a mussels night on Mondays. The deviled eggs were a creamy goodness which made me think someone behind this restaurant is from the south– so good! I did not get to try anything else as I had to run off to work but enjoyed the atmosphere, food and friendly people. Thanks Peter for organizing such a great event at a cool space in Clinton Hill. You always know exactly how to make people happy…
Side note: I have eaten brunch here (this is my hood) and was thoroughly satisfied. I am very excited to come back here for dinner! Plus, the bar area is quite cozy and has a sexy aura to it– will be back to sample drinks on a night I do not have to work.
Thanks again, The Runner! Look forward to dining with y’all in the future.

What a great time! I definitely enjoyed hanging out with the Unilocal!Elite crew and gobbling up some tasty food and drinks! PLUS, I went out with a few fellow Elites afterward… and I never do that! So, there was definitely something good in the water last night :)
Some of my favorites of the night included the oysters (some of the best roasted ones I’ve had), the chopped salad, and the deviled eggs (so smokey and tasty). And those drinks – yep, the drinks were all spot on… and plentiful (thanks, wait staff & bartenders!!!).
I’ll definitely be spreading the word about this place! Without a doubt, it’s a highlight of the neighborhood.
Thanks to everyone at the Runner for pulling out the stops! Great job with everything!

Finally made it in to an event! My last event was actually the one for Hill Country of last year… The event was intimate, and I was able to meet a couple of new friends. The Runner welcomes you with their bar as you walk in, as you make your way in thru the slim space you would find the dining room to the left.
Food was served by the wood fire oven that is set right in front of the dining room, how neat is it to smell and watch the food being made? I managed to grab a few bites – deviled eggs, mussels, a couple slices of prosciutto pizza, chicken pâté, which all were pretty good, The one that stood out for me was the kale salad! Incredibly fresh, kale was crisp, the pistachios added bite and texture. I also sampled one of their drinks, Italian Aviation, I found it to be very sour, and tart… I’m not a big fan of either tastes in general. The staff were pretty attentive with the drinks, kitchen was generous with tasty food.
By the end of the night there was still plenty food to come around. I was on my way out about 8:45 and they put out a plate of fish, sadly I could not squeeze my way in for a taste. Lastly, I would like to say thank you to The Runner and Peter D. for having me. It was a pleasure!

Runner is one of those places that make Brooklyn, well, Brooklyn. Rustic, authentic and original.
Brick walls, wooden beams ceiling and chandeliers, burning wood oven that makes everything warm and cozy, little tea lights along the wall counters, and beautifully done bar.
Not super-​crowded, nice-​sized event there you can easily move around and chat with other Unilocalers you have not seen in ages ~waves to everyone~
It was pretty well organized too, with drinks coming in endlessly, and, truthfully, enough food for everyone and more.
(My only gripe was — if you got your food, move out from the bar yo. Let other people in. Don’t just park and eat there.)
They started the food parade with deviled eggs, followed by fresh oysters, seasoned to perfection. I did not get a chance to try salad, but I did get few slices of pizza after that — yum! I also absolutely loved sea bass & roasted cauliflower at the end — it was sooooo delicious and well worth waiting for.
Loved their drinks — very well made Kentucky Harvest, it was strong enough and smoooooooooth.
Cheers and huge thanks to Peter, The Runner crew, and of course, Buffalo Trace & Greenhook Gin — those drinks made my evening.

My first Brooklyn event in ages! I haven’t been back to this area since high school (I’m a techie!) It was a trek to get here but I had a wonderful time.
The Runner is a pretty sweet spot. There’s a narrow bar area and a seperate but cozy dining room where the intimate event took place. The food offerings of the evening were delicious and there was plenty to go around. Totally sets me back from my fitness goals but it’s so hard to say no! I sampled some incredible deviled eggs, oysters and mussels in cream sauce to start. There was also this wonderfully refreshing chopped kale salad with pistachios, a spread of this tasty strawberry? flavored pâté and a variety of flatbreads (goat cheese with mushroom was the best!) A dish of striped bass and roasted cauliflower finished it off.
Two cocktails courtesy of Greenhook Ginsmiths (Italian Aviation) and Buffalo Trace whiskey (Kentucky Harvest) was offered but since I’m not drinking anymore, did not get to try. The staff was wonderful and made sure everyone always had a drink though.
Good times catching up with fellow elites. Thanks Peter and The Runner for having me! (I totally walked all the way to Metrotech to catch the train in hopes of burning off a quarter of the the deviled egg I ate. Worth it!)

If there’s one thing I’ll never complain about, it’s two Unilocal events in the same month!
The Runner was a fun time. The bartenders were mixing up some fine Greenhook gin and Buffalo Trace bourbon cocktails all night long.
The food was very unique for a Unilocal event. Baked oysters, mussels, flatbread/​pizza from a wood-​fired oven, Deviled eggs, and in the eleventh hour, striped bass!
I know us Elites are a ravenous bunch, but the Runner staff went out of their way to make sure everyone was served and got a taste of everything.
The space itself is beautiful and very open.
Thanks to Petet D for organizing, to Greenhook and Buffalo Trace for liquoring us up, and to The Runner for hosting us!