Elite Event: Tossin’ It Up @ Forge Danville

To quote a silly show-«there is nothing like the feeling of warm pizza in your lap» and my addition would be-​unless it is so good, it would never make it home!
Forge is a very welcome addition to the area and if you close your eyes, like me you will be transported to something trendy and delicious and will forget that this is a real restaurant attached to a grocery store.
I am way behind on reviews and my thanks to the folks at Forge for providing delicious food and beverage, lovely hospitality and a pizza that I am having a hard time not wanting to buy everyday to eat in the car before I make dinner (yes, that potato, pancetta and brussels sprout pizza my gal and favorite date Linda M. also raved about).
The pizza tossing lesson was fun-​spending time with fellow friends old and new and the fact that Nique keeps finding great places out my way makes me one very lucky and grateful gal.

We went for a Unilocal event so expected to receive great service, but you can’t fake the food. This place makes some great pizza! We had a great time and the attitude of the staff is one that makes you feel like you’re a regular. It was great.
4 stars only because the layout of the restaurant is a little odd — it is in the entryway of Lunardi’s market so people actually walk through the restaurant to go shopping. It also meant that the doors were constantly opening and shutting and it did get a little cool at one point. I was never uncomfortable but it was distracting.
Overall a great place and we would definitely go back.

Arrival is easy as there is ample parking around back. The restaurant is in top condition with a large U shaped bar as their center piece. The staff went all out too wait on the Unilocal Elite in attendance. The pizzas were all very tasty and I especially liked the burnt crust. Not all burnt, just spots on the exterior of the crust. To me this is the sign of a well made thin crust pie. Of course the flavor is excellent for about 6 to 10 minutes depending on the size of the pie. After 10 minutes I would say most pies are not the same. This pie is no exception. But oh those first few minutes. Heaven.
So order one up and lets see what you say.

THANK YOU NIQUE FOR planning this YEE! It was AMAZING!
I was soo glad to meet Nique in person!
The staff was really on top of their game and that’s a huge plus for me.
Everyone got a FREE beer or wine of their choice for the first round, but the rest is on you.
I was so happy to sample all kinds of pizzas including the ribs.
YUM-​O, except for the slaw.
My favorite pizza was the «SKINNY LADY» because the ingredients was well put together and had a lot more meat on it. As for the other pizzas, it was a tad interesting.
The dough is really tasty and chewy, just the way I like it.
The prices for the pizzas ranges from $ 12 — $ 16.
It’s a tad bit pricey for my wallet, but it’s worth it.
The size of this restaurant is a bit small, but I did like the outside patio.
It was odd to see a restaurant inside Lunardi’s grocery market.
My husband and I had a really tough time finding this place because of the signage.
We walked back and forth like three times and finally asked someone for directions.
Overall, the restaurant gots some really GREAT gourmet pizzas and killer atmosphere to hang out.

I was thrilled to see so many people come and support this event despite the cold and wet weather. It was almost romantic sitting on the patio under the heat lamps… lol, ok no it wasn’t, but it sure was fun! (LOVED all Unilocalers at both tables near me – you guys rock! ;0)
Forge gets kudos for designing the space in a way that I had no clue the Lunardi’s dairy department was 20 feet away. The lighting is great and the ambience is there – as odd as that sounds, it’s true. The patio was warm and cozy and the service was attentive and sweet.
The pizza is not greasy or over-​filling – really good crust that tastes like they grilled it. Really unique and yummy! I got a chance to speak with the owner and congratulated him on his success. Having watched this space struggle over the years, I love seeing FORGE continually packed.
Yes Nique, you done good with this event… you done real good. ;0) Thank you Forge for hosting a really fun night and spoiling us!

I’m late to the party with my review, but I was not late to the pizza party. No way!
I loves me some pizza, and am always on the lookout for new pizza superstars. I think we’ve found one. Forge pizza has a perfect thin and crispy crust, with super flavorful toppings. It was great fun to try all the different combinations. My favorite is something I *never* would have ordered on my own, potato and brussel sprouts. It was wonderful. I tried the Fireside Chat draught beer, which was delicious and satisfying.
The staff was fantastic. Friendly and quick, we never had a moment where we had to ask for something. Everything magically came to us, before we even knew we needed it. And the pizza dough demonstration was very cool and interesting.
I spoke to the owner about their Jack London Square location, which I happened to notice last week. JLS is one of our favorite destinations, easier for us to get to than Danville. I learned that the JLS Forge has dog friendly outdoor seating. With heaters. I know for a fact I will be bringing my «extended family» (woof) here for pizza and beer in the very near future. Because Mr. M loves thin and crispy pizza even more than I do.
Much love to Tam, who brought me as her plus one! And to Nique, bien sûr! Félicitations !

This was my first East Bay YEE and I really enjoyed it. The intimate atmosphere really allowed me to take in everything going on at the event and meet some really awesome Elites.
I didn’t really look into Forge before arriving to the event and wasn’t expecting it to be located inside of a grocery store. This was different to me, but not in a bad way. I think it’s pretty awesome to have such a yummy pizza place right in the grocery store. How convenient! As someone who regularly grabs something to eat on the go after a shopping trip, this is perfect.
As soon as we walked in my husband and I were greeted by East Bay’s CM, Nique! She explained how the event was planned and what we could expect. Then before we could even find a seat, the owner and his staff member, Oswaldo, made sure that we were noticed. They let us know how they were working the event and asked us if there was anything they could get us. Super nice people.
Once a table opened up we sat down with some friendly Elites and fresh pizza was brought out to our table. Forge’s thin crust pizza was light and flavorful. The crust was also very delicious; it was fresh and light, like freshly baked bread. We sampled the Margherita, Three Cheese and Child’s Cheese Pizza (the last one was requested by a fellow elite) as well as their salad and all were delicious. I will say, I am more of a deep dish girl myself but these pizzas did not disappoint. My husband really enjoys thin crust pizza and absolutely loved them.
After sampling we got to see how the magic happens! The Forge staff did an excellent job explaining the pizza making process and it gave me a better understanding of what separates them from the competition.
I really enjoyed this event. Great people, great food and an overall great time. Thanks Forge and Nique!

I talk a lot. But honestly, you might not know that if we were meeting for the first time. I’m actually very shy most times when I initially meet someone. Can you believe it? Probably not if you know me IRL.
Well, I didn’t have a +1 to this event, knowing that my homies would be there. I nervously hung out by myself for a while and assessed the room. Like I said, I’m actually shy at first. I chatted with my fellow elite Unilocalers who engaged me in conversation.
The atmosphere was very homey. Close. Intimate. All that. There weren’t enough seats for people at tables… So after my friends arrived, we had to wait for a table from actual customers.
Oswaldo took care of us though. Set us up with our drinks, food: salad, cheesy dip thing, peppers, and so many pizzas! He said he was picking out dishes for each group specifically. He was catering to what he thought we would enjoy, and Oswaldo did not disappoint. I wish every place had an Oswaldo.
I pretty much loved all the food, and even my «scotchy» beer.
I also loved that the owner wasn’t afraid to serve plates!
Another highlight was from Luke. He told our table about his favorite pizza. A few minutes later, he stops by our table and offers us some of his own personal pizza to try.

Another great Unilocal event. I guess I was making up for the last one (healthy kickbutt workout) with this one (pizza pizza pizza). At least it was thin crust.
This one was a bit different. More like having a dinner with friends. I enjoyed meeting new people. I enjoyed the pizza. Genuine thin crust with that chargrilled taste plus interesting toppings. Not too greasy.
I had to leave early because it was a school night so I missed the pizza tossing lesson (sad face), but it was a very nice break from my usual routine.
Fitting that a Unilocal event is review 1000! Thought I would never get there.

When I hear Forge, I think of delicious pizzas and cheese curds. Sadly, this location doesn’t make cheese curds because they don’t have a fryer. The pizzas that came out that night didn’t make me miss them much. The most exciting part was learning about Forge’s business and watching the pizza chefs show us how they shape their dough.
Our table got to sample 2 pizzas and some ribs. I noticed other tables got salad, peppers, and other types of pizzas. Not sure if our table was overlooked by the staff or if other tables just happened to order salad, peppers, and other pizzas. I still had a great time at this intimate event. Thanks Nique and Forge staff for hosting!

Another GREAT YEE!!! Thanks Forge and Nique for putting on one of the most intimate and wonderful events that I have ever had the privilege of attending.
The food was fantastic. From the shiseido peppers that were cooked perfectly and had just the right amount of salt, to the splendid array of different pizzas that tantalized my tasted buds all night.
My favorite food of the night was the flat bread with mozzarella and cherry tomatoes. It was delicious.
The servers were all very friendly and always seemed to be there when you needed a refill or had a question about anything.
Chef Jeff was very interesting and it was fun to learn about different pizza making techniques and styles.
For the drinks I had a Drakes Hef but was almost compelled to try the wine on tap since I don’t see that very often.
It is always fantastic to see all the other Unilocalers and getting to meet some new faces last night was a blast.
Thanks Unilocal,Thanks Forge, Thanks Nique

I’m actually a YEE review or two behind, and my OCD hates when I get all out of order, but here I am… reviewing last night’s fun and tasty YEE at Forge before Denim or Rocktoberfest.
Easy parking on the street in front of the place and a convenient corner-​location with outdoor seating, which is exactly where we chose to find a spot. The fabulous table for 6 had 9 of us crowded around it by the end of the night. The Wumanizer himself sat on my left, Christine on my right. Johnny’s brother Tony, my Casey P., Chris, Sara, and first time YEEers Bryan and Stell. Oh, table of fun!
And center of attention was, of course, the center of the table! Pizza, flat bread, ribs, salad, and TWO plates of happy shishito peppers, (and a big olé smile at the pepper plate from happy Amy!!) — Yes, it was a truly tasty mouth party. Get in my mouth, shishito! I washed down the food treats with a couple of beers, and the night all-​around was a complete success!
The pizza presentation was fun and informative. The staff were polite and professional. The well-​dressed Nique was welcoming and warm. And the friends and food combination blew the top off this baked goods party. Thanks to all the hard-​working, flour-​y hands that helped to put this on!

This was one of my favorite events. It was as if I was having dinner with a group of friends! I loved that the event was in my backyard and that it was at a small restaurant, making the event all the more intimate.
My favorite part was the pizza dough lesson. I’m a foodie at heart and love to make pizzas from scratch, so it was great to see a professional do it!
The food was so delicious, the crowd was lively, and the servers were on top of their game!
See you at the next YEE event! :)

Forge made me all giddy last night!
The event was packed! (Packed with Elites… and some regular customers who just couldn’t get enough)
The background music set the tone. I walked in and heard the white stripes, MGMT, & The Pixies: my kind of party!
We got an expert breakdown pizza lesson on how they bake the dough and toss along with details about how much they sell out each day.
I love meeting new Elites, and catching up with familiar faces! We had some good laughs last night. They sell a great Rosé from Napa & an amazing Honey wheat beer!
Oswaldo was or server. He took care of us real good! And I have to give it up to him for making all those trips and running around! Luke was such a cool cat, he bussed our table & even came to give us a goodbye! He offered us his personal pizza!
I’m such a fan, I felt like family. All the staff was so down to earth and super chill. Even Michael the owner represented well. Loved this event! Made my Rainy Tuesday 10x’s better!

As always, thank you, fabulous Nique, for throwing a delicious and intimate soirée!
The pizza: Brussels sprouts, bacon and potatoes? Yes, please! Loved the perfectly chewy crust and all the unique flavors.
The wine: On tap! Makes it that much quicker to fill my glass back up.
The staff: Super friendly and accommodating.
The ambiance: Dimly lit, candles, as romantic as a pizza joint can possibly get!
The Unilocalers: So glad I finally got to meet Tam!
The random: I thought having ribs on the menu was a little strange but they are so good. No sauce. Just meat with a perfectly crackly exterior. Get your man food on.

What a great Event! It was like seeing your favorite band play an acoustic set because it was that intimate. Forge’s 700 square feet was packed with excited Unilocalers ready to eat what turned out to be some of the yummiest pizza I have had to date. It was nice to see some familiar faces and get to chat it up with some new people.
My favorite pizza was the Three Cheese because I love cheese and happen to have a fondness of Arugula. The crust was pretty special and later in the evening we found out why. Chef Jeff put on a clinic about how they make their dough. It involves a starter, a days prep, and a whole lot of flour! The lesson/​demo gave me a greater appreciation for artisan style pizza and allowed me to see how much they enjoy what they do. And how do these folks get psyched to turn out 200+ pizzas a day??? They listen to the Black Keys… how cool is that?!
As always, Nique F. put on a fantastic event and came with some fun Unilocal swag. I left with my Unilocal LIFE fingerless mitts some playing cards that will no doubt be receiving some play over the holidays and my.

This event should get ALL THE STARS! Seriously — a few stars for the delicious food and drinks and another few for the fabulous company… and by «company» I mean both my fellow Unilocal Elite and Forge itself as a business.
Halfway through the event, I said I wouldn’t eat any more pizza and then someone set down a potato/​bacon/​brussels sprouts pizza in front of us. Ummm… I’ll make room. That was by far my favorite, closely followed by the pepperoni/​jalapeño one and the one that had the arugula salad on top.
This was a lovely, intimate event. Thanks, as always, to the hostess with the mostess, Nique!

What are the odds? First time YEEer, with an event practically hosted in my back yard? (Seriously though, I probably could’ve checked in from my living room). Nice, cozy event as well to break-​in the initial first time jitters. I tell you one thing though, the jitters didn’t last very long as even as an Elite Newbie, I & the Wifee were recognized almost immediately by the master of ceremonies, Nique? *GASP* Be still my beating heart! Then no more than 10 minutes later as we were wandering around aimlessly, Amy P. came by to introduce herself & offered us a seat at their prestigious table! Everyone was just as cool as they’ve been online & it was so great to finally meet everyone in person.
Amazing…, Amazing time… Great Food that literally kept coming, great variety of drinks on tap, great & friendly people (FINALLY meeting outside of the virtual-​world) as well as fantastic & friendly service… I haven’t enjoyed food as much with others around me, JUST LIKE ME…, EVER… I had to ask my wife to pinch me as this truly felt like a dream… Additionally, Every new dish at the table was followed by a universal, unspoken etiquette of «don’t touch» until everyone at the table gets a pic. Usually it’s just me with the camera & I no longer felt like the minority! :)
Funny how I was practically a complete stranger outside of the online environment, yet felt almost immediately at home, literally within minutes after stepping foot through the doors… What a great formula Unilocal has devised… Great Food/​Drink + Great People who are passionate foodies = A UNANIMOUSLY Good Time… By default, there is an immediate common bond/​topic of discussion where EVERYONE can relate… This makes it impossible for anyone, regardless of how shy, or whether they typically aren’t the type to initiate conversation to remain quiet. Everyone was talking, smiling, laughing, etc… (Including us) in a way that any outsider would’ve assumed we all knew each other for years. If the rest of the planet followed a similar model that Unilocal has implemented here, the world would be a much better place… :)
Fantastic job Nique & Fantastic service & food Forge! Looking forward to whatever else you’ve got planned/​up your sleeve the next time around.
Literally, STILL Smiling…,
Bryan & Stell R.

Had an amazing time at Tossin’ it Up last night as R squared (me and my +1 also named Robin) sampled pizza galore while sipping a glass of magnificent chardonnay (and a stout for the other Robin). We had a «cut-​in-​half and share» strategy which worked great b/​c we got to try more pizza plus pass the pizzas over to other Unilocalers.
I need a new paragraph to talk about the pizza alone. Wow, talk about delicious. I’m actually not a crust-​eater but every piece I tried, I had to have it. Something about the garlicky flavor intermingled with the crispy thin texture… can’t wait to go back and have more!
My favorite part of the evening was the pizza dough lesson where I had my mind blown at just how making their pizza is more art then science. If the baller doesn’t make the perfect ball or the pizza dough artist doesn’t perfectly stretch the dough (which is upside down to the way I thought it would be done), then the whole pizza needs to be thrown out!
As always, loved seeing some of my old Unilocalmigos and making new ones:) Thanks to all you guys as you made the night a great one and thanks so much to Forge for hosting us as well as Nique for putting on another fantastic event!
Unilocal 100 Challenge: 94/​100, pictures #96−102/100**completing the East Bay Picture Challenge:)

Awesome event! From the Pizza sampling’s right to the company and onto the Pizza tossing lesson from Chef Jeff Amber.
Since this location opened up a little closer to my home a short while ago I’ve been wanting to come a visit so seeing an event posted on the Elite page I literally squealed in excitement. Nique knows exactly the right events to put on.
Food samples were delicious, I tried the The Margherita and Pepperoni along with the Ribs. The Pepperoni was pretty spicy! I learned from this visit that the menu is different here compared to the Oakland location.
I was slightly disappointed that our table didn’t get to try some of the items others did (Salads, Peppers and Flatbread along with other varieties of Pizza). We got 2 Margherita Pizza’s and some Ribs until a nice Unilocaler offered us some of their Pepperoni Pizza. Maybe sitting by the door wasn’t such a good idea.
Staff were great too and Chef Amber showing us how to make these delicious Pizza’s really was the highlight of the event for me. I’ve recently taken to making Pizza at home so these tips will certainly come in useful!
Sad to say that many years ago as my first job I worked at Pizza Hut UK (cringe) and earned myself the title ”Star Pizza Maker”. It’s safe to say those Pizza’s are nothing like those here at Forge at all. I’m already thinking of my next visit to Forge for a slice of the delicious, fresh thin crust.
The surprise Pizza Trivia was fun however I am almost certain our team did not come first.
Thank you Nique and Forge! I am officially already a fan.