Elite Event: Adult Summer School Launch Party

Better late than never, but getting my Unilocal on as I had a fabulous experience at my first Elite event in SF. LA West Elite events have some serious competition! A special thanks to Abby S., Unilocal team, and The View team at the Marriott for creating a top notch event to kick off the summer.
There was quite a buzz when I first walked in. Servers were walking around offering food in addition to multiple food stations with bites of sushi, charcuterie, pork belly with fried rice, dumplings, and more. There was a dessert table, and my favorite were freshly baked lemon cookies topped with the Unilocal logo in to-​go bags. And hanging out on the Penthouse level doesn’t hurt! The view all around is absolutely stunning.
The View staff were genuinely friendly and on top of it. They kept food and drinks coming, clearing out plates and glasses, and keeping the crowd happy. I enjoyed wine and had a sip of the Sutro Splash and Gold Rush, which were tasty. There was no shortage on food or adult beverages!
I’ve been to The View once for drinks in the past, and I’m glad I had the chance to try their food this time and mingle with fellow Unilocalers. I recently visited shortly after this event to bring out of town guests, and they had a great time (future review to come)!

Abby, The Unilocal Team, & The View you really made this event 5+ Stars! Is it even possible that I’m blown away even more at each event?!
I can’t really explain exactly how excited I was to see this event was going to be at The View. When I moved to SF I came with a list of places that I wanted to try, The View was high on there. 1.5 years later Unilocal made this possible! Glad my first experience there was an Unilocal Elite event!
I loved that we were able to try 3 new cocktails and provide feedback. I opted for the Sutro Splash which was great! There were a ton of great small bites which were beautifully presented. The dessert table was almost too pretty too touch!
As always my favorite part was meeting so many new people. I had a really busy day at work and did not want to stay too late but after meeting new friends we stayed long after the event.
The lemon cookies with the a gracious invitation to be able to make a reservation for an upcoming visit to The View will most definitely be used by me soon, I cant wait to take my parents and friends!

Amazing venue, excellent service, and tasty food and drinks! A big thank you to Abby, Chuck, and the rest of the Unilocal and Marriott teams for making this happen!
My favorite food was the pork belly fried rice and I enjoyed the Gold Rush cocktail, although it had a noticeable number of small waxy flakes in it from one of the ingredients. I also liked the Trolley Car but would cut back on the apricot purée just a bit.
I really enjoyed meeting some fellow Unilocalers (this was my first event) and discovering The View, San Francisco’s answer to the lounge at the top of the Hancock Tower in Chicago. I’ll definitely be back!

This event took all my previous expectations of Unilocal Elite gatherings (which admittedly were already pretty high thanks to a stellar SF community), and blew them sky high. 39 stories higher to be exact!
At 5PM, the sunshine pierced through the grey overcast downtown skyline, banishing all memories of the drizzly grey morning. Out the utterly transcendent window, we watched thick beautiful fog roll in from the west, as the sun set in golden glory over the hills and houses of this city we love so much.
The evening was perfect — wonderful company, flowing conversation to match the flowing cocktails, delicious dishes both savory and sweet. The highest praises to the staff of The View and The Marriott. The food was incredible, inventive, and there was so much of it! The sushi was fresh, the shrimp and pork belly dishes were melt-​in-​your-​mouth amazing, and the incredible spread of charcuterie took it over the top. Everyone was friendly, charming, and generous providing a beautiful social atmosphere that complimented the beauty of the venue.
The drinks of the night were good and strong! All tended to be on the sweeter side for my tastes, but the flavors meshed well and I liked how they were themed to city landmarks. My favorite may have been the Trolley Car with the sugared rim — delectable!
Thank you so much to Abby and the rest of the Unilocal crew for putting together yet another fabulous event. The bar just keeps getting set higher and higher! I am so honored to be a part of this community and am looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

This was my first Elite event and it did not disappoint. I had to read the reviews and some of the people who reviewed I was able to meet so that was good. Because I was actually pretty nervous about going alone. The hosts were welcoming so that made it easy. And I got to meet our great community manager.
I’ve been to the View before so I went to the normal section.
But I didn’t even know this part existed. The View Lounge is a great space with great views of the city. I stayed in the corner where I could see Alcatraz in the fog.
When they say some small bites. That was wrong. There was a lot of food to sample and a lot of drinks too.
If this is how Unilocal Elite events are then I am thoroughly impressed. I was already impressed with the View. Its one of my go to places since my office is a block away.
But now I have another story to tell about it. Thanks.
It was great hearing the Marriott Managers talk about the new changes. Again since I’m close by. I’m sure I’ll get to sample the new offerings too.

Got to say, since Abby’s switch from South Bay community to SF, the few elite events I been to have been absolutely amazing and this one tops it off! Hosted at The View? Already a great spot to take people out of town but it was even better to experience it having the whole place to just Unilocalers, compared to the usual touristy and crowded night time crowd. We even got to catch the sunset and watch the fog come in over Twin Peaks.
Experience was summed up: very accommodating staff, delicious off menu cocktails, wide sampling of their lounge bites, and excellent hosts! I like the added touch of having a social media contest while at the event, it helps re brand the Marriott image as not just a large hotel chain, but one that has an adept social marketing team.
Three cocktails were offered, the Sutro Splash one even used local Alameda based St George’s Gin which is one of my favorites. Out of the food, I was a sucker for the Pork belly rice, I’ll be sure to order that again next time I bring people back.
Major thanks to the Unilocal team & Marriott staff for hosting a successful YEE!

This event was so much fun, HUGE thank you to Abby for putting everything together!!!
My friend and I arrived around 6 and the place was packed! First thing we noticed was the amazing view, it was so breathtaking. The food was delicious, the drinks were tasty, and the people were friendly! This was my first event as an actual elite member, and boy was it a great experience. My favorite of the food would definitely be the table wtih the bread/​hummus/​cheese/​meat and my favorite of the 3 drinks would definitely be Sutro Splash! It had a very refreshing taste to it compared to the other two, and definitely not as strong (or at least didn’t taste as strong) hahaha
All the staff were super friendly and welcoming. They were constantly refilling food, making rounds and cleaning off tables and taking our drink orders! All in all, it was a great event and will definitely keep this place in mind when my girlfriends and I are looking for a place to just hang out and catch up!

WOW this was an amazing event! I’ve heard many great things about The View and I’m so glad I finally got to check it out last night. I got some gorgeous pictures before the fog rolled in. This may have been one of the best Unilocal events I’ve been to. The food and the cocktails were amazing. My favorite were the sushi rolls, I wish i got more while they were still available. The Gold Rush was my favorite drink of the night, well balanced and very stiff.
The food and cocktails were great, but it was the service that really made this event special. Usually at events I feel like I don’t talk to people as much because I’m spending most of my time waiting for food or drinks. The wait staff and servers at The View were very welcoming and accommodating. Anytime they saw my drink empty they would come by and ask me if I wanted another one and come back in a couple minutes with a new drink. This really gave me the chance to mingle and meet new people. I ended up staying at The View for 5 hours! All the staff members I spoke with (John?, Cindy) and the bartenders were so friendly.
I live 2 blocks away and planning to take my boyfriend here during the weekend. Great job to Abby and the host!

It’s funny because I know for a fact that me and Jessica L. are far from anti-​social cats yet every time we go to an event, we end up just mingling between ourselves (+ having the time of our lives as well with just each other. It might just be true love.)
NOW THE MAIN EVENT
Twas awesome! This was my second Unilocal (elite) event and it was a huge step up from the first one. Granted the first event I attended was a much smaller venue and laid back so attending the event at The View was a much different experience! True to its name, The View has quite a view of San Francisco. It’s on the 39^th floor of the Marriot Hotel and it’s so high up that as the night progressed, you could see Karl (the fog) rolling in and eating up the city.
The food was u g h m a z e b a l l s. Everything was placed so beautifully, so damn aesthetically pleasing. Anyone who knows me knows aesthetics is what always gets me to spend money. There was a charcuterie table with an assortment of meats, cheese, and dipping sauces, an open bar with 3 specialty drinks for the night, a cute little placement of mousse desserts, and a hot foods bar with little dishes of shrimp, bread and cheese, and pork belly fried rice. My favorites of the night was the little cheese ball puffs (I only had one because Jessica L. stole my first one. True love I’m tellin’ ya) and the tuna poke.
It was a great night. The servers were fantastic — they constantly came up to us to ask if we needed anything, the food was delicious, and you know what’s the best thing about being around fellow Unilocalers? It’s that you can take your time taking photos of everything you eat and you won’t get shifty eyes and silent judging smirking for it because EVERYONE ELSE IS DOING IT TOO.
Thank you Abby and fellow elites for such a memorable night!
(And Jessica L. for waltzing around Target drunk with me /​emojiheart)

Damn. I’m impressed. What a great way to end spring and kick off summer!
The food was the bomb dot com. My favorites were the Fra’mani charcuterie selection and the baked Laura Chenel goat cheese. The saltiness of the charcuterie paired perfectly with the Sutro Splash (it’s a creeper y’all!). The braised tomatoes the goat cheese sat in was perfect. Each bite was the perfect medley in my mouth.
The staff was great. Cindy (I think) gave us some extra info on how we sat at the edge of the building in the corner. Even she gets nervous walking over there! She also gave us some history of the lounge, saying it’s been around since 1989 — opened the day of the big quake in 89! Only one martini glass made it out undamaged. They should really display that somewhere for a little historical reference. Adds a little history to the place.
Party favors: cute bags of lemon cookies + ice cube trays.
Pro tip:
Park at 5^th and Mission for $ 1.5/hr after 6p. But be forewarned about car break ins.
TLDR: yo imma let you finish your bomb ass food and all, but the staff of The View was the greatest of all time.

Thanks Abby for organizing another amazing Elite event yet again! A great kick off to Unilocal Summer School. And thanks to The View and its staff for hosting :)
Like the name suggests, The View is a gorgeous venue with a spectacular view of the city! Modern, sleek and a classier lounge for happy hour. I can’t believe I never knew about this place! Definitely bookmarking as a new spot to bring friends from out of town.
The event itself:
I was expecting just some light appetizers and drinks like the event page mentioned, but was surprised (and very pleased) at the quantity and variety of food provided: sushi, pork belly, shrimp, tuna tartare, dumplings, mezze, cheese plates, cheese balls, desserts… Everything was delicious! I wasn’t planning on or expecting to eat much, but left very full (too full, in fact). I especially loved the pork belly and mezze. And the chocolate spoon in the pot de crème! And we even got little goodie bags with cookies to take home. Drink-​wise, I tried the Gold Rush, which I’d recommend if you like bourbon. I saw a lot of people with the Sutro Splash though, which looked fruity and really pretty!
The View staff were friendly and very attentive, frequently clearing our plates, refilling our drinks and offering us more food.
The event overall was amazing and definitely set pretty high standards for anyone’s first Elite event, but I’m docking a star because I was under the impression there would be mixology sessions and architecture tours. Nonetheless, still a great start to Unilocal Summer School and looking forward to the other Summer School events!

Big thank you to everyone at Unilocal and the Marriott that help to put it together, especially Abby. I felt welcomed into the group from the start and the food and drinks were absolutely exceptional. There was more than enough for everyone, and the staff ensured everyone left full and happy. The impeccable views give The View its namesake, and did not disappoint. I especially loved watching the fog roll in from the West… that’s an enviable picture. The View was just recently remodeled and some of the art they have placed around deserves to be in a gallery. Definitely added to the experience.
The cocktails were being tested by the hotel, which was kind of cool, and I tried the Sutro Splash. It was just the right amount of fruitiness and not too harsh. The added raspberry really completed the image of a sophisticated cocktail with a long list of ingredients. With regard for the food, everything was excellent — the crostini and fried cheese ball (not sure the real name of this) was a bit heavy and I couldn’t eat all of it. Also, the tuna tartare was delicious, but maybe needed one more ingredient (my friend makes it with avocado). However, the shrimp was cooked perfectly and seasoned well, and the cheese plate with jam, pecans, and raisins on the branch was a perfect combination.
Favorite part: The spoon. was. chocolate.
My first Unilocal Elite event was more than I ever could have asked for. Everything about this evening was 5 stars from beginning to end and thanks again for putting it together. I’ll definitely be coming back to share the view with others and to see which cocktail makes the cut!

Thank you Unilocal,Abby and The View Lounge at the Marriott for making a girl feel elite!
Although it’s popular with tourists and the bridge and ferry crowd, this place is a perfect place for locals to appreciate their beautiful city. While Top of the Mark is stodgy, The View is friendly and inviting. The cocktails are strong and delicious. The food was not your typical bar food, it was sophisticated, not greasy and very filling. The staff was super helpful, friendly and never let an empty drink stay that way for long. The décor has a Mad Men vibe but the key feature is of course that spectacular view of San Francisco.
I would highly recommend coming here for out of towner visits, date nights, girls night out or when you’re having a bad day at work. All that natural light is good for the body! It’s a perfect place to end the night and watch all the city lights (it closes at 1 am). It would also be an amazing venue for a wedding or corporate event.
This place reminds me of why so many people leave their heart in San Francisco.

I see from some of the reviews here that this was the first Elite event for some people. I remember the first Unilocal event I attended. It was a really small get together at a local business and it was very laid back. This event at The View was no different in many ways, it had the same laid back vibe with great people and great atmosphere. The View really is an amazing lounge space, with the remodel they really cranked it up to 11. Out of all the Elite events I have been to this one sticks out as the most sensational, the food and the drinks were outstanding along with the view and the amazing service. Thank you to everyone at Unilocal and the Marriott for throwing such a great party.
The General Manager explained about the remodel the space had undergone, making it a lounge space for San Francisco being of the utmost importance. I also like how they are keeping it real and true to San Francisco. So many places have changed so much in recent years, it can be hard to keep up and stay relevant. Watching the fog roll in over the city from the Richmond as the warm sunlight drenches The View’s Southwest facing bar is truly a unique San Francisco experience and very relevant not only for those of us who live here but for visitors as well.
The cocktails were amazing, one thing I overheard more than just a few people mention was the strength of the drinks. Really strong drinks with great flavor. I love the Giant ice cubes in the Sutro Splash and Gold rush, really dynamic visual impact. The food was fabulous, I can’t think of one thing that was less than amazing. The pork belly was my favorite, it had so much flavor and melted in your mouth. All of the food was sophisticated and visually stimulating on top of being delicious. People might think I’m nuts but maybe tone down the cocktails a little bit, no need to crank them up to 11.
Thanks again to everyone who worked hard to make this such a remarkable night for all of us Unilocalers, it was so much fun. Abby, you are a rock star.
This is absolutely a place I want to take my friends from out of town as well as finding an excuses to go hang out after a long day in the office. As the GM mentioned in his introduction of the space, its a great place to start a night and to end a night. I couldn’t agree more.

WOWZERS!
That’s what I said when I first had a chance to look outside the geometrically shaped windows and out into the SF Skyline. Then I saw the army of serving staff and the delicious bites waiting to be devoured and knew this was going to be AMAZING!
Everything was on point. Since I was one of the first people there promptly at 5:30, I snagged the best seat in the house with quite possibly the best view of the actual city. Service was on point and super friendly. The food was presented in beautiful fashion. I have to be honest, I went for the pork belly fried rice… a few times. Somebody had to eat it and it kept getting restocked. The charcuterie table had all the right fixings and had the creamiest of hummuses.
I was a fan of the Sutro Splash… I mean I have to be. I live on Mt Sutro so it would only make sense!
The GM of Marriott did a good job of bringing back the LOUNGE concept to these upper floors instead of switching them to suites that none of the normal folk can access, but this place… I will definitely bring my special dates here. And thanks to the special VIP reservation ticket, I’ll have a bigger smile on my face as my girl and I enjoy the sunset in the not to distant future! Thanks again ABBY!!!

I havent been to many events, but this is the best one yet and I felt compelled to write this review.
Staff and management were super cool. There was an abudance of food and drinks and desserts. No drink limit, either.
And did I mention that The View has THE View?
Will be sure to take the husband here next time we are having our couple night out.

What an amazing event!!! I’ve been an elite member since 2014, but this is only the 2^nd elite event i’ve been to. After this, I definitely want to go to more!
The View is a beautiful bar at the 39^th floor of the Marriott Hotel in the heart of downtown San Francisco. The views of SF were amazing from all sides of the bar! I like that it had separate rooms so we could wander around.
My friend and I arrived around 6 pm, when the party was already in full swing. We were able to check in easily and grab the last few pieces of delicious sushi. We sat at an empty table and a friendly waitress took our order for drinks. My favorite of the 3 was the Sutro Splash! I heard the drinks are expensive here, but no wonder! They were all pretty strong and able to give me and my friend a good buzz for the whole night (and after, too… hahaha)!
The food was amazing. I was most impressed by the charcuterie table. The savory, thin slices of meat, sweet and creamy cheese, and that delicious red sauce went perfectly together on a bite size piece of bread! I also really liked the teriyaki glazed pork belly with fried rice. The pork belly was so tender and there wasn’t a whole bunch of fat on it.
All the employees were awesome and super friendly to all of us! I’m sure it was hectic for them, but they did great! They were constantly bringing food to us, cleaning up plates and napkins, and asking if we wanted anything else to drink, all while keeping smiles on their faces. I would definitely consider coming back here for a nice date night or maybe a girl’s night out.
And of course, thank you to Abby for putting together a wonderful event! I can’t wait to attend more in the future. What a great way to kick off summer!

Uhhhh-​mazing!
This is my first Unilocal Elite only event and I was a bit scared going solo for the purposes of going in blindly… But I had a blast! I checked in and received a cool flexible silicone Unilocal log tray. Walked into The View and was in love with the view!
I was also pretty blown away about all the food provided by the Marriott Marquis. I can’t remember the exact names, but all were delicious! And I really like how majority of the foods were made of cheese, my fav! The waiters and bartenders were super awesome. I got to try the Trolley Car (Hennessy, apricot, and one more ingredient with sugar around the rim) and usually I’m not daring enough to get a cocktail made of dark liquor… But I took the chance and I’m so thankful I did! It was SO GOOD. I could definitely tell it this drink was a dangerous (ly delicious) one but too good to stop drinking!
–1 star because it is a bit misleading with the description of the event «About the Unilocal Elite Event: From June — August, 2015, Unilocal SF is hosting a series of tours, classes, and workshops for the community to enjoy. «because this was just a mingling event like the others. I was expecting ‘tours’, ‘classes’ and ‘workshops’… But nonetheless, it was fun! Great job, Abby!!! I’m definitely coming back here with my friends to take advantage of the 20% off food and drinks ;)

This was my first Unilocal Elite event and it’s definitely one to remember! The food, the drinks, the view, and the vibes were just on point.
Out of all the drinks, I really enjoyed the Sutro Splash which was a mix of gin, green chartreuse, fresh lime, blue berries, raspberries, and prosecco. A rather girly drink but boy was it strong for me. The desserts were great and so were the small plates of food. The Marriott View was so accommodating and I can’t wait to come back with a reservation!
It was a bit intimidating at first because it felt like a lot of the Unilocal Elites knew each but everyone was pretty nice. Thank you Unilocal for an amazing time!

Boy oh boy, where do I start? This was my first Unilocal Elite event and also my first time to the View, and I must say I’m quite blown away (in a good way!). I was a little scared (and shy?) coming up here, but I left with some great experience, new friends, and a happy tummy! yum!!!
They have a variety of food, and YUMMMM, super tasty! My favorites are the xiaolongbao (the soup dumpling) and the pork belly! Super flavorful and taste absolutely delicious!
Now for the drinks. I got the Gold Rush (bourbon and honey syrup), and it was amazing! Maybe a little too bittersweet for me, but I couldn’t stop drinking it, it was still super good! They also have the Sutro Splash (gin, lime, blueberries, raspberries, chartreuse) which I regret not trying, and the Trolley Car (Hennessy, apricot) which was a little too sweet for my taste. but nevertheless still pretty good.
Amazing view! You can see Karl the Fog (yes I just learned today that the SF fog is called Karl!) slowly rising and making its way toward you. Great atmosphere, and awesome people! I’ll definitely be coming back here soon!