Elite Event: Golden Badge Happy Hour @ FIVE

I’ve got 5 on it… Well, 5 stars. I have only been elite for 4 years so I am still one year away from golden *fingers crossed*!
I love five and thought this location was perfect to host this intimate event. I loved the ice breaker cards we received at the door with fun facts about our fellow elites.
After grabbing an amazing cocktail and some killer hush puppies I was on a mission to find my card mate. At first I was doing a better job matchmaking but eventually I found my fab elite. It was indeed a golden moment, thank you Nique!
I loved the big Unilocal badge photo opp and I really enjoyed the more intimate feel of the event. It allowed me to mix and mingle with elites I had never met before.
Once again Nique and the CM’s struck gold (see what I did there?)!

This was my very first Unilocal elite event! Thank you Nique, Unilocal,and FIVE for a fun-​filled evening. I especially loved the ice-​breaker the Unilocal team had prepared for us, where we were each given an index card with some fun facts taken from the profile of a Unilocaler in attendance and we had to go find that person in order to enter into a drawing. It definitely got me to interact and make new Unilocal friends (hello Mandy, Ruobin, and Jason)!
The finger foods were all so good and kept coming out of the kitchen so quickly that I wish I had more hands (or at least more tables). Some notable mentions include the seared ahi tuna, giant grilled shrimp skewers, and crab cakes; washed down with the tasty Pimm’s ginger cup refresher.

5 stars for the Golden Badge Happy Hour @ FIVE!
& not only for the sake of numerological symmetry, but because the folks at FIVE really knocked it out of the park.
Outstandingly friendly & informative service, endless rounds of stupendously delicious Guatemalan Mai Tais & Pimm’s Cup Refreshers + tray after tray after tray of all sorts of tasty nibbles. FIVE absolutely spoiled us Elites with their over-​the-​top hospitality.
Speaking of being spoiled, the Golden Badge Happy Hour @ FIVE! was a truly special treat for just us Elites. Sure, bringing our +1’s is fun but it’s great to be around those who share the same Unilocaling affliction like at Elite only events.
Thank you FIVE & the Hotel Shattuck Plaza for hosting our little get-​together in your very lovely space. Thank you Nique F. for yet another totally fan-freakin’-tastic YEE. & thanks both old Elite friends & new for a fun Tuesday evening sans +1.

Thanks to Nique, Jocelyn, and the Unilocal and FIVE teams, I had so much fun. I thought the event would be much smaller than it actually was, so I was pleasantly surprised and excited to see so many people there. The ice breaker idea was awesome ESPECIALLY when paired with the 2 special cocktails provided (Guatemalan mai tai and Pimm’s ginger cup refresher) — it got some of the more shy of us talking to new people and making new Unilocaly friends. Basically, we were given an index card upon checking in with the description of another Unilocaler in attendance (gleaned from their profile), and we had to go around and find the person it described, and get their autograph on the card.
I definitely made some awesome new friends this way! Shoutout to Mandy, Ruobin, and Jason! Sophia and other new Unilocal Elites, welcome! We banded together and started helping each other find our icebreaker buddies. We were successful for the most part! I should’ve taken a picture with my buddy… I forgot. :(
The FIVE managers/​owners were mingling with us too and were super friendly and wonderful. I really enjoyed the food and would definitely be interested in coming back, especially for those crab cakes and grilled shrimp — YUM. If you want to know all of what we ate… just check Jana S.‘s review. :)

I was trying to find the check-​in listing for this event, during the day of the event. Sadly, it did not come up for me until I had to find it on some fellow Unilocalers review.
With that said this Happy Hour was definitely legit. The FIVE staff did a great job in catering to the overwhelming amount of folks who attended this event. Of course let’s not forget the lovely Nique (our East Bay capitan) who organized this awesome time.
My personal favorite food and drink of the night respectively goes to:
The Bone Marrow/​Red Onion Baguette. Jesus, that was a superb and savory bite. I would never thought of red onion going along with bone marrow. Now it makes me want to experiment with other possible combinations (wasabi and pork belly?)
The Mai Tai: Unlike the other cocktail Pimm’s Refresher (which was a bit heavy handed on the ginger). All the components complimented one another and it had a sweeter finish.
Nothing says indulgence than, good company, tasty plates and a lively atmosphere.
I’ll definitely be coming back for brunch in the future. Cheers!

GOOD THING YOU CAN’T OVERDOSE ON FUN
Too much of a good thing can kill you: too many vitamins; too much water; you can probably die from eating too many tacos (shudder). But us Unilocalers are lucky you can’t overdose on fun.
I wonder what Unilocal Elite Events like the one at Five would be like IF YOU COULD die from too much fun. Let’s ponder, shall we? There’d be no great icebreakers to start off the night (guess what, Alameda Unilocalstar… I’m still looking for you!!!). Absolutely no mingling and getting to know other people (Amy, Christina, Jason, Wil, et. al.) Definitely no delicious Guatemalan Mai Tais. (Definitely!) No meeting the manager, chef, and restaurant staff! No awesome photog snapping pictures of our threesome with oversized props. No crab balls (how fun is a ball in the mouth!!) No opportunity to write about all the fun, when it’s all over.
So yes, we are lucky. Since I know I’m safe, I plan to keep on having fun and keep on writing about it. Thanks for such a fun event, Unilocal.
Now, I should test my overdose on tacos theory…

Amazing people, amazing food, amazing drinks… What can be better?
I’ve walked past this place thousands of times, but never thought about going in. When I saw Unilocal was hosting an event here, I had to be a part of it! I’m so glad I got in!
Even before check in, they had an ice breaker ready to hand me! (This richmond-​based Unilocaler that says ‘dude’ way too much). Unfortunately, I never found her! But I enjoyed the amazing appetizers and cocktails along the way. I loved the Primm’s cup special they were handing out. I didn’t really like the mai tai too much.
I got to meet great new people. I am the shy type so this was really big for me. Everyone was super friendly and had no problem striking a conversation with you.
Loved it! I can’t wait for my next Unilocal event!

Guatemalan Zacapa rum, ginger beer, Pimms, seared ahi, crab cake balls, bone marrow, hush puppies, grilled shrimp, free-​flowing Acacia wine, plantain chips, grilled veg, charcuterie including coppa and prosciutto, fresh baguette, water crackers, and the biggest wheel of triple crème one ever did see… not to mention the gorgeous blue cheese.
That was just the tip of the iceberg, because as scintillating the food and venue at Hotel Shattuck’s lobby, equally so the great company I kept.
Way too much fun before slogging it in the ICU. simply loved the great service and nice FIVE lounge.

Five is a beautiful venue. Modern, chic, classy. I could definitely see myself coming back for HH after work sometime with good company (that means you, Lorrayne L). A big thanks to the staff that so graciously facilitated us getting our food and drank on, all of which was SOOOO tasty, btw!
Take a look through the photos. Go ahead, I’ll wait. Mouthwatering, no? Bone marrow crustini with onion compote, jumbo shrimp skewers, mini crab cakes with recognizable chunks of crab, seared tuna canapes (my favorite item of the evening, if anyone was curious), cured meats galore, a beautiful cheeseboard, fruits, veggies and — how could anyone forget — refreshing cocktails and wine options! Yep. All certified nomzness foh sho.
As for the event itself… Well, Unilocal Elites know how to get down! I had a really good time mixing and mingling with such a great and down to earth group. Nique and the gang really outdid themselves. This event was a the perfect way to reward Gold Badge Elites for all their hard work in being awesome Unilocalers. Even though I’m still a Red Badge holder, I’m glad I was given the chance to rub elbows with so many review-​writing veterans. I have to say, meeting 7 and 8 year Elites was a bit intimidating, but true to the Elite title, they were a fun and friendly bunch! I can only hope I might one day have that shiny Gold Badge next to my own name ;D. Until then, I’ll just continue to eat and write and enjoy the company of other Unilocalers that love to do the same.
Thank you, Nique, Five, and of course the vendors, for putting this together. I’m sure I speak for everyone in attendance when I say this Golden Badge Happy Hour ROCKED OUR SOCKS. Success!

Amazing, classy, fun.
It was clear that Unilocal and Five really wanted to pamper the Gold Elites.
The extremely charismatic bartenders were serving amazing cocktails that were made with a love for the craft. The Mai Tai made with muddled caramelized pineapple was absolutely delicious. The pinot noir and chardonnay were also great.
Food was plentiful, certainly enough for dinner. In addition to a cheese, cold cut, vegetable, and pickles station, there was also a constant stream of hors d’oeuvres from the kitchen. They were all very elegantly plated and tasty. My favorite was the tuna on a potato chip, but there were also crab cakes, fried plantains, shrimp skewers, bone marrow on toast, and hush puppies.
I had a great time catching up with veteran Elites and I was also happy to meet a lot of new Unilocalers. I will certainly want to come back to Five, especially now that I am in possession of a 15% discount coupon.
Thanks to Nique, Jocelyn, East Bay Unilocal,and Five for a spectacular event.
Best happy hour ever? Best Happy Hour Ever.

I know that one of the main purposes of Elite events is to introduce some of the most vocal Unilocalers to new businesses and products. That goal was achieved last night. FIVE was such a wonderful space. The management and staff made us feel so welcome, and the small bites were to die for. I will not hesitate to return here for a nice dinner with my family or with friends. I also enjoyed the Pinot very much and will look for Once Upon a Vine in my wine buying future.
The ice breaker was simple, yet brilliant. Who knew that our profile responses, however flippant or well considered, would be a topic of conversation at an Elite event? I feel like I met almost everyone in the room in our attempt to find our matches. And of course, you cannot beat the East Bay Elites for friendliness and interesting conversation.
Wonderful to travel up on BART with Suzy S, see all my old friends, see pics of Aaron’s darling new daughter, and meet so many new friends. I especially enjoyed getting to know the lovely Jocelyn at the end of the evening.
Thanks, Nique and Team East Bay. You always put on a top notch soirée.

First off, Thanks to the Unilocal Golden Badgers who are honored at this event, second thanks Nique for keeping doing such hard work in making these business contacts so we may have parties like this, you and your crew rock!
To the General Manager, Exec Chef and staff at Five, Thanks for hosting the Unilocalers, I had a great time, the Acacia Charonnnay and the Once upon a Vine Pinot Noir was awesome and tasty… The food was great, I tasted things I would never have tasted before and the Crab Cakes were tasty as well. Thanks to the lead bartender for making such awesome drinks. The staff there did a great job and making us feel like VIPS.
I love that the Hotel was so close to Bart, If you’re in downtown Berkeley be sure to check out Five and there great happy hour, the food is great and the staff will make you feel at home.

Thank you Nique! This is my sixth year being elite and I was honored to be able to join everyone at this event. The ice breaker was perfect. Whoever had my card must have been a shy one because they never found me. I love the Sharks but promise that I do not bite! I was really happy to find the Alamedan Unilocalstress of my index card.
The venue is gorgeous. All the black & white marble and mirrors make the bar pop. The staff was very accommodating. The fried plantains with crème fresh — oh me, oh my. The seared Tuna with wasabi was a perfect blend of flavor, texture & spice. The Mai Tai made with Ron Zacapa rum & roasted pineapple was the best Mai Tai I have ever had. Considering I am a Tiki Bar nut, that is saying a lot.
It was great to see some long time Unilocal and meet some of the new. So happy to meet some new friends along the way.(reppin’ the East, East Bay!).

The elegant setting, the exclusivity (no +1s), the amazing food & cocktails, the eclectic group of skilled and prolific writers… this is what all YEEs should strive to be. Nique and crew truly outdid themselves on this one.
It’s been a wonderful 15 months since I got my first Badge and I was so impressed with all the Unilocalers I met with 5, 6 and even 8 Badges. Definitely raises the bar and gives me something to work towards!
The icebreaker game was fun. Spent all night searching for the elusive Wendy H (the new mom with a Golden Badge who loves ramen) but never found her. But ran into familiar faces along the way and made the acquaintance of new Unilocal friends from all around the East Bay.
I’d walked by FIVE numerous times and am SO glad Unilocal gave me a good reason to check it out properly. It’s a beautiful restaurant with high ceilings and tasteful décor. The quality of the food and drinks was outstanding. Loved the Specialty Drinks designed for our event: the Guatemalan Mai Tai (Zacapa Rum, fresh lime juice, almond syrup & grilled pineapple) was delicious and the Pimm’s Cup refresher was simply delightful with Tangueray, Pimm’s No. 1, fresh lemon juice, ginger beer, fresh basil, strawberries and cucumbers. YUM. And I don’t usually like rum or gin drinks! Had a couple of glasses of the Once Upon a Vine Pinot which was quite good and makes me want to explore the Central Coast wine region further.
The hor d’oeuvres were an explosion of tastes and sensations with every bite. The skewered shrimp and crab cakes were especially memorable. Also loved the charcuterie and veggie platters, breads, cheeses and dips.
Thank you Nique for another wonderful YEE and reminding us why it’s great to be Elite!

Nique, Jocelyn and rest of the crew have done it once again. They really rolled out the gold carpet for their star elites. The ice breaker was a fun way to get to know new Unilocalers. I had two people come up to me asking me to sign their card. I wish the person I had was in attendance so I could finally say hello. Oh well, there will be more time for that.
It was great to see a lot of familiar faces and meet new ones too. That’s what Unilocal is all about — bringing people together for some good food, drinks and conversation.
FIVE gave us quite a treat with lots of tasty bites that seemed endless. In fact, there was a last call for food since there was so much. I had pre-​partied with an adult beverage earlier so I didn’t partake in the mai-​tais but they looked delicious. The wine also seemed to flow effortlessly but this lightweight can’t mix her drinks.
I really enjoyed the meat, cheese and veggie offerings as well as the hush puppies and plantains. They were probably my favourite of the night.
Thanks for letting us take over part of your bar. FIVE is pure class and so close to transit. I wonder what the hotel rooms are like inside.

There’s not been an event yet that I haven’t enjoyed thoroughly. Certainly they’re all unique and as a consequence I’ve enjoyed them for different reasons and with different intensities, but still … I’ve loved them all.
Would you be surprised if i said I had a lovely time last night? That the company of those that have been doing this thing for longer than many had a breadth and depth not often experienced at the other events? That the time spent with people that through their history demonstrate their own enjoyment is pleasant time spent indeed?
No surprise!
You all looked marvelous, simply marvelous. Thanks for letting ragamuffin me rub your shoulders.
Please make this love stay.

I was lucky enough to have visited FIVE once before, coincidentally following the holiday shopping YEE in December, to share cocktails and laughs with the duolightful company of fellow Unilocalers T and M. How ironic that my next visit to FIVE would be for its own YEE? And with this new visit, what a delight to discover FIVE also serves food, and serves it very well.
What better way to celebrate the five+ years of talented Gold-​badged Unilocalers’ reviews than at FIVE? The creative pool was swimming with goldfish, and the folks at FIVE didn’t skimp bringing forth the golden fish food. Crab fritters, shrimp on skewers, a hill of charcuterie and another of veggies both raw and roasted were personal highlights of an amazing assortment of food.
The staff, awesome. I’m especially in debt to Greg M., the general manager of FIVE, who recommended and bought me a taste of Hooker’s House, a new bourbon for me. Just as great (if not moreso) was chatting with the Unilocal crowd, both new and familiar faces, and getting to cavort both before and after the event with a too-​few group of truly good peeps.
Nique & your Unilocalsquad, and the hosts at the beautiful FIVE — I am in your debt for a truly delightful evening. This is but a thanks, and not a review… but were it the latter, our night at FIVE = an easy five stars.

Giving 5 stars for the FIVE event.
+ Conveniently located right by BART
+ Delicious hors d’oeuvres that just kept coming
+ Fun scavenger hunt to meet fellow Unilocalers
+ Friendly bartenders/​staff
+ Good attendance
In the beginning, the space allotted to the event felt too small for the number of people who showed, not quite claustrophobic but definitely cramped. Still, it was nice that we were given our own space for the event (and our own drinks/​food!). The ice breaker of finding Unilocalers who match fun facts written on index cards was a great idea. Ended up meeting a lot of people who like Sriracha…
On to Appetizers:
1) I had no idea how to neatly eat 2 giant prawns on a stick without a plate and fork.
2) The waiters announced the names of each appetizer. I thought I had worked in the medical field too long when I heard «Bone Marrow,» but apparently this was actually the name of the dish! Bone Marrow on Toast? What was I eating?
3) The crab cakes and hush puppies were delicious.
4) Plantains were a little crisper than I would like.
5) Didn’t try the salami/​breads but there was plenty.
Drinks — Pimm’s Cup and Mai Tai. TBH I didn’t try the Pimm’s Cup. I noticed more than half the Unilocalers seemed to have it in their hand, but the first person I saw with it had a giant slice of candied ginger included. That’s all it took — one slice of ginger and I had made up my mind. Friends, I am no fan of ginger, sorry. I asked the bartender if all of them came with ginger, and then I was given a glass full of ginger on its own ughh I wasn’t asking for ginger… but thanks for the generosity! The Mai Tai came in a shorter glass, but it was good. In terms of wine, I much preferred the Acacia Chardonnay over the Once Upon a Vine Pinot Noir, but then again, I’ve never been much of a red wine fanatic.
Thanks Nique and FIVE staff members for such a great event!

This was my first Unilocal elite event. Yes, I’ve been a Unilocal elite for five years and this was my first event. Man, I can’t believe I’ve been missing such fun events!
I was super-​nervous going solo and not sure who I would meet. But when I got there, everyone was incredibly friendly and easy to talk to. Props to Nique for the great icebreaker game. I found my «I love Sriracha» person! And I have to say, I felt all warm and fuzzy when someone found me, «Did you just have a kid and love ramen?» Yes! That’s me!
I’m so energized from this event. It makes me love Unilocal even more. Unilocal elites are not snobby, just people who just love food and having a good time.
Oh yeah, and FIVE was great. Their cocktails were fun and sweet. I appreciated the grilled pineapple mai tai. The crab cakes were to die for and the skewered shrimp were amazing. What a spread.
I’m hooked.

Golden Badge Happy Hour@ Five was awesome!
–great cocktails
–great unoaked Chardonnay (Acacia), great Once upon a Vine Pinot Noir
–tasty cutting edge bar bites
–nice cheeses, breads, crackers, veggies, dips
Nique & crew & Five knocks it outta the park
–designated area for Unilocalers only so no hotel guests got any of the food
–easter egg type hunt («icebreaker”-stalking gold elite Unilocalers)
–starting on time.
–FIVE associates fab in answering questiions and handing out 15% coupons
(half raw salmon sounds interesting like the half raw grilled shrimp bar bite served).
–lots of new faces and faces of friends never seen before.
–bartable and parking nearby.