Elite Event: Urbn St Brewing Co

An event in El Cajon?! OMG. Finally! Yayyyyyy!
Lots of beers to try, and I had been curious to come and check out this location since the last time I’d been here it was El Cajon Brewing Company which had terrible, terrible apps & food.
Out with the old, and in with the new! The staff at each beer station were friendly, kind and knowledgeable. I liked the little «stamp cards» because they helped keep you organized and remember what you’ve tried and what you haven’t. It was like a beer tasting! Cool!
The pizza was actually pretty good, and I think Main St El Cajon really needed a fresh face around so I’m excited to come back here sometime for dinner or something! I will definitely be ordering chicken wings! Tasty!
Thanks to Estefany, looking stylish as ever w/​Lorde-​ish fierce lipstick & the awesome Brad as always. Us Unilocal Elites will follow you to the edges of San Diego and back, no problem, as long as it’s one of your events man!

So it was first time here, and I ordered the flights of 4. I had the brown, saison, hypocrite (was my favorite), and bravecourt Irish dry stout was good.
Not too strong bitter wise, and this is coming from a person that’s not a stout fan. Very laid back and relaxed. Will be returning again for sure!

I completely forgot to write my review for this event.
The fact is, every event as a Unilocal elite squad member is truly always a fun experience.
I rarely bring a plus 1 and the food set up was funky at this one so we were not able to go near the food but the generous beer tastings and wonderful new restaurant blew me away.
The longest I would drive to el cajon, this place was great. Service was impeccable, we came across some very friendly folks who work there and very proud of their food and the establishment.

I don’t head out to East county much, but this is a perfect place to grab a beer and hangout with friends!
Venue: Huge! You can definitely pack this place up for a Sunday football brunch! Lots of room, tables, and a great outdoor space.
Location: If you live in East County, this would be the spot to go after work or have a football night! Right in the heart of El Cajon next to the lighted overhead neighborhood signage. Plenty of street parking. I scored and got the first parking spot on the street!
Atmosphere: Rustic casual.
Staff: Super nice! It was a bit hectic with all the Unilocalers eagerly awaiting the food. They did a great job!
The FOOD: Love it! There is definitely something about that Mashed potato pizza. You would never think to have mashed potatoes on pizza, but it was great! I loved that it was smooth, creamy, and had that comfort food feeling. They passed the test for my love of wings! Not too spicy, not too sweet, meaty with a slight crisp! I’m not a beer drinker, I shocked my girlfriend who loves love loves beer, by how much I actually drank. I really enjoyed the Saison.
I’m so lucky to be with such and awesome group of Unilocalers who enjoy great places, share an amazing love of good food, and as always being in great company! Thank you Urbn, Brad and Estefany for hosting the awesome Elite Unilocalers!

Parking, oh my God, so much GLORIOUS PARKING!
That’s immediately what I was decreeing as I pulled into this event with glee, and it only got better.
Urbn treated us to a feast of a tasting with delicious chicken wings, salads, craft beer and an almost endless variety of coal-​fired artisan pizza slices!
We elites were sectioned off, taking up half the restaurant. Even though it was business as usual in the Urbn restaurant/​bar/​brewery, the staff did an incredible job of bringing out a constant lineup of food to our Elite section. Food went very fast, as eager Elites dove right in as a new pizza was brought out and dropped off on the long craftsman wood community table. That made it so that we were eating items VERY HOT, which I love!
Although many people weren’t quick enough, my Elite event companion (aka Plus-​One) and I were lucky to have tried almost all the pizza varieties. The most enjoyable for me was the mashed potato pizza: the thin delicious layer of potatoes with the occasional chunk on a thin crust.
Speaking of the crust, this was New Haven style pizza — so the edges were perfectly crispy and heartily rustic. Think: BASIC in East Village but thinner on the bottom. I admit though that I was only nibbling those edges in order to save room for more food and beer!
I also enjoyed the chunky, fresh tomato sauces on the eggplant parmesan pizza and the pepperoni one (by the way, the pepperoni pizza tasted as good as a thin-​crust slice in New York!).
While it was a bit of a frenzy for the food, my Plus-​One and I enjoyed the much more relaxed set up of getting drinks. We slowly worked our way through our punchcards, scoring beer from different stations throughout the restaurant, and there were never any lines. We tried the:
–Urbn St. IPA (6.5%, biscuit, orange, lime, floral, well-​balanced, assertive bitterness)
–Urbn St. Brown (5.3%, graham cracker, earthy, roasty, citrusy hops, chocolate)
–Urbn St. XPA (4.0%, light, balanced, citrus, honey, british malts, floral hop nose)
–Urbn St. Saison (6.9%, hazy straw blonde, light body, spicy, slightly herbal)
–Seasonal: Urbn St. EESB (6.3%, bright, toffee, lemons, black currant, light chocolate)
My favorite was the Saison which had a light summer flavor and a touch of strawberry aroma but still the earthiness of a Belgian beer. It was also nice to take a break from the main room and sit in front of the open kitchen near the brewing station, as we could watch the kitchen staff at work making the next pizza.
Thank you to Brad B, Estefany, and the incredibly generous Urbn St. Brewing Company, as well as the friendly staff who took care of us all night.

I am truly on the floor, I mean it… I am typing this from under the couch.
Well, I am truly floored by the generosity and attentive service at Urbn.
I always like to acknowledge how truly lucky we are to be part of the Unilocal elite squad!
Where else can you bring a plus one to see new restaurants, meet cool people (or not so cool vultures who sit around waiting to tackle a pizza), taste free beers, taste free food and walk away with some cool Unilocal swag?
I got to taste the margarita pizza, delicious!
Those beer punch/​tickets — PURE GENIOUS!
Service — Outstanding.
I think the set up in the food room (chairs surrounding food) allowed for some not cool behavior and kids forgot to play nice and think of others but over all this was (as usual) a great event, I love seeing the familiar faces and the things I loved about this business are:
–Ample parking
–Great service
–Outdoor patio area
–Beer selection
I did not get to taste much food but the margarita pizza I had was divine.

I am sure there will be those who will say something about the food, the venue, the beer, the location. However, I often go to Elite Events to socialize, meet old, new and other Elites and their plus ones. As much as I enjoy the perks of free drink and food, it’s the company that matters.
When I first became Elite, we were all giddy and gathered often in small groups to share, chit chat and observe (this is the fun part). But after several years, you become what Elite members are supposed to be, Ambassadors for Unilocal to others and to the businesses that host this events. Some businesses go out of their way to provide the most and best to their ability and others fall short sometimes. However, when you have challenges, what rises above are those businesses that take criticism and learn and adjust. They will eventually get more business as they learn what works best for the customer.
Alright after that lecture, here are my musings on the Elite Event at Urbn St Brewing Co. It’s nice for Urbn to host our group, we were given tasters of several of their local brews, my favorite was the Summer (XXPA). Since I am not a beer expert like most of the others, I reserve judgement to drink what works for me. Urbn pizza is always good, I wasn’t able to taste some of it but I was happy with the various salads provided and mozzarella on the stick with fruit and veggies. I did get one of the mini meatball, just the right size for tasting.
You know what the best thing about last night is, I enjoyed seeing old and new Unilocalers. Some even actually live close to the venue and what so often happens, they normally have to venture out into the city to go other events and here the event is close to home.
Brad and Estefany, thanks for all your hard work and efforts. Urbn, thanks for hosting and especially Laila (i hope i have that right) who organized the event. along with the bartenders, servers etc who I am sure was not surprised that food disappeared quickly after being set down. Maybe another time, I can meet people here for some chicken wings, pizza and some Summer beer (I like mine light and fruity — the beer I mean).

This was my first event in San Diego. It was fun times! Thanks to those who adopted me into their conversations and circle of friends. And thanks Brad for introducing me to new people and making me feel welcomed!
Someone accurately described the food as a scene from Nat Geo. The swarm of hungry helpers toward the food was quite terrifying! I managed to sneak in and occasionally grab some unwanted nibbles, but I ended up shying away to become more of an onlooker. I have to say «thanks» to one of my new friends, who snagged a piece of the mashed potato pizza for me. Mashed potatoes on a pizza with cheese and bacon? GENIUS.
I visited every station for my beer samples, this process was more mellow and I even got to chit chat with the brew master. The IPA was my favorite and after hearing about how much extra work is put into the making of a batch, I couldn’t help but to love my IPA that much more.
Once we were finished with our rounds to every beer station, we ended up near the food table and guess what? Urbn St was still generously pumping out the food! And even better? The voracious crowd had died down and I was able to casually grab a slice without risking my life.
This was a great Elite event and I’m looking forward to more in SD!

We’re born alone, we live alone, we die alone. Only through our love and friendship can we create the illusion for the moment that we’re not alone.
Orson Welles
How you lit up the darkened room last night. You were the brightest star in the night. :-) I knew I had to have you the moment I laid eyes on you. Your reddish brown glow hypnotized me. Your smoky scent made the room spin. As my lips caressed you I tasted you and I was yours. What an exotic blend of flavors you had… Rosemary, garlic, Thai chili, lemon with just a hint of smoke. I thought you would lie there and I would have my way with you but no. You were full of fire and passion. I lost all control at that point. Fingers, my tongue, your exotic juices, were everywhere! After I was spent I downed a full glass of refreshing cucumber water to cool off. I though we were done for the night and could just relax and socialize a bit. How wrong I was within minutes you lay yourself down on the table to tempt me again. I could not resist seeing you there just waiting for me to take you in my mouth again. This repeated itself too many times to count! At the end of the night I recall being in a daze and waved weakly as Brad come by to see if everyone had a great time. I never drank so much water or was so tired after an event. :-)
Thanks to the amazing people at Urbn St for keeping the wings coming all night long and the water container filled. Those amazing wings… Juicy, full of delicious flavor, and fire. :-) Thanks to Brad and Estefany for the most excellent party! Please don’t blacklist me. I promise to get a booth next time. Thanks to my Unilocal friends: Faye, Juliana, and P.J. for your friendship and not unfriending me! Thanks to Mai for getting me home safe.

You had me at Pizza and beer. Coming all the way to east county for this but once I was there, I didn’t even notice that I was in east county. The food came out a bit slow initially and the Unilocal vultures were attacking but toward the final hour, there was still plenty of food coming out.
I’ve been to URBN and Basic before but the food was a bit different here. The first few pizzas seemed rushed and was on the soggier side and was a little bland. The pizzas that came out later was definitely more like what I was expecting. It was nice to see that they brewed their own beers here. Beers were definitely on the lighter side and they seemed to pair with their pizzas. They did have a big tap list, so I’ll be back here when I’m in east county.
Big thanks to URBN for hosting us and thanks to Brad, Estefany, and Unilocal for making all this happen.

Like almost all of the events I’ve been to, this event was sweeeeet! Lots of good food, drinks and those awesome Unilocal giveaways! Check-​in process went smoothly where we received a pint glass w/​a list of beers that were available. Was hoping the pint glass had the Unilocal logo & that we could keep em, but it didn’t and we couldn’t…bummer. It’s okay though, the event went great regardless. The set-​up of the restaurant had a good flow to it. The kitchen had windows so people can see them making the pizzas. The bar was towards the back right near the brewery. Ample space & decorated with kegs & kegs of beer.
They had seats lined up against the wall, a few tables inside and out and plenty of standing area. The stations of beer were spread throughout the restaurant, a couple in the back area where we were and a couple near the bar & brewery. There was a long table set up where they placed the food. Had about 3 – 4 different types of salads, managed to try the one with croutons & veggies which was good! The croutons were soft– I’m guessing because of the dressing– and the veggies were fresh. Got to try most of the pizzas, BBQ is still my favorite then came the Mashed Potato & Bacon Pizza. The other pizzas were: Sausage & Pepper, Margherita, Eggplant & Vegan which I did not get to try. But that’s ok cause I had my fill of the other items. The mini-​meatballs were delicious!
They also had chicken wings, which I didn’t get my hands on, a bit disappointed about that but the beer made up for it! The best one I tried was the Porter, which was surprising because I’m usually not into dark beer. The «Saison» & «Summer» the lightest beers there, was not my cup of tea– cup of beer I should say. Came up on a few goodies as well: Unilocal earbuds, tags for luggage & a lanyard! Thanks URBN for your hospitality, the staff was great in all aspects & thanks Unilocal for the event & my come-​ups!

No one told me I had to prepare for battle before my first Elite event! I missed out on the first few rounds of pizza because I was too shy to push my way through. Eventually hunger took over and I squeezed my way in to snag some slices to share with my +1. The mashed potato pizza was the star in my eyes, as always, and it didn’t let me down. I also enjoyed the salad skewers which were easy to eat while balancing some beer in my other hand.
I enjoyed walking around the whole restaurant/​brewery to try out each of the different beers. It was nice to talk to the people pouring our beers at each station and hearing what their favorite beers are. My favorite was the Wheat Porter and my boyfriend enjoyed the IPA. I really liked the open layout of the place and if I’m ever back in East County, I’ll be sure to hit this place up!
It was nice meeting some other Elites and I can’t wait to meet more in the upcoming events! Thanks for having me Brad and Estefany and happy eating everyone :)

Brad and Estefany put on the best events, don’t they? This one was really fun, with delicious​pizzas, meatballs, salads, caprese skewers, wings, and BEERS! Yes, this is a real brewery, normally producing 6 – 8 brews on a semi-​rotating schedule.
As invitees to this Unilocal Elite +1 Event, were able to sample six of Urbn’s tasty brews using the punch-​card they provided us. And tasty they were! I especially enjoyed their wheat porter, although the saison and EESB gave the porter a run for the money! All of the brews were fresh tasting, even the IPA (which was not the least bit skunky).
I have not been to their two other locations, but the Ubrn St. Brewing Co. is a great addition to the downtown El Cajon scene. Apparently, it is also a big improvement in many ways over the (now defunct) El Cajon Brewing Company, which used to occupy this spot. At our event, the atmosphere Brad and Estefany established was festive, as usual, with an open-​air ambiance that worked really well on this warm post-​equinox fall evening. The class and style of the Brewing Co. helped tremendously! We were able to wander about the restaurant, tour the brewery, and move in and out of the patio area that had been reserved for us. The management and staff were nothing but friendly, and a great time was had by all.
The time flew by, as did the food, but at the end of the evening, everybody was smiling. I liked the tastes of this new place very much and am looking forward to returning to dine on my own dime. Can’t wait to have more of that pizza!

Loved the flow of this place and event!
Great idea for tasting the beer! I knew exactly what was what Thanks to the spread out tasting stations and punch cards!
The pizza, salad, and appetizer tastes were perfect. They came out at the right pace.
Although seating was limited, I was able to find seating with 3 other people.
I really liked the large opening to the outdoor area.
I got to meet a newbie Unilocaler, Timothy L. And his +1, Kristy. :) it’s fun to introduce, the way of the Unilocal elite event to someone new :) they were great company.
Favorite pizza feature: the crust.
Favorite appetizer: the meatball and the veggie skewer
Favorite beer: the porter! Yum.

Unilocal Elites and their plus ones are always very fortunate when a business like Urbn St. Brewing Co. opens up their doors and provides a mêlée of beer tasting, coal fired pizzas, salads, wings, meatballs, beef tartare, and skewers.
This event provided some delicious pizzas, including a mashed potato and bacon pizza that tasted like a baked potato on a pizza (
), and a Margherita with a beautiful red sauce packed with a zesty flavor, great cheese, and an excellent chewy crust (
). Although the pizzas were great, my favorite of the evening was the beef tartare mixed with herbs and spices served on a crunchy crostini (
). I was able to try the wings and the rest of the items, but I did get to munch on a few skewers, which were quite tasty (see). As for the beers, I enjoyed the light summer ale very much (
).
Urbn provided nice friendly service at the beer station and the kitchen was doing their best to get food out to not only hungry patrons, but also Unilocalers that were enjoying the event. However, I could not help to observe that they were stretched, but they kept their game faced on, and proceeded forward. On that note, thank you Urbn for opening your doors and providing a pleasant evening and hospitality. By the way, the background music was great.
Brad B. and Estefany thank you for putting this together and organizing the event, and thank you Mark for taking your great pictures. It was great to see you all Unilocalers. Until next time indeed…

Pizza + Beer=Good times.
Pizza+Beer+Yelpers=Great times!
I’ve been to the Urbn in North Park but hadn’t ventured out to El Cajon before tonight. The drive to El Cajon wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be at all! I’m definitely more willing come out to the east side more often now. The layout at this location is slightly different from the one in North Park but it’s equally open and welcoming.
The staff at Urbn was very courteous and did their best to keep up with the hungry Unilocal crowd. Of the dishes I was able to try my faves were the Eggplant Parmesan pizza (absolutely scrumptious. I’ll definitely be back to Urbn for some more of that goodness) and the Chopped salad (the walnut brittle made my tastebuds dance with glee).
The selection of Urbn craft beer was superb. I made it a mission to taste all 6 on the punchcard. I’d like to say I had a favorite but my palate isn’t refined enough to tell one hop from another so they were all good in my book.
The company was fantastic as always! Catching up with my fav Unilocal elites and meeting new favorites and their plus ones always makes for a good night!

Day-​um this place is hella far!!!
Honestly, I came to venture out to new territory and to socialize. The food and beer were all bonuses. I’ve been to their sister restaurants and I already know this place is solid.
I did try a couple pieces of the thin crust pizza, a couple pieces of bread and hummus and the chicken wings. All very delicious. The beer tasters were such a great idea! You get a sample of a flight of 6. The lighter beers were ideal and to my liking. I was driving so I definitely limited my alcohol intake.
I met some really cool new Unilocalers! Welcome!!! I hope to see you at future events. I saw some of the old school peeps who are always great to see.
The service at URBN was welcoming and I enjoyed talking to the staff. They were truly working it!!! Although the other side of the restaurant was open, URBN still made sure we were well taken care of.
The distance was well worth the experience and the interactions. Thanks Brad and Estefany for setting this up. Also Chris for taking all our photos!!! Lastly, thanks URBN for hosting us Unilocalers and our plus ones.
Cheers to beers!!!

That was fun. I had flashbacks of the Unilocal Hippie Holidays Elite Event at the urbn location in North Park a couple of Christmases ago. It was a repeat scene of people camping out at the food table waiting for the kitchen to send out a plate then ravaging it until picked clean.
I feel kinda bad if this was your first Event since the kitchen really tried to crank out he pizzas, but supply fell a bit short of demand, but then again I noticed folks who neglected to respect the ‘Tasting’ element as they loaded up full plates. It was uncomfortable being in the group dining table room because as soon as a pan or plate hit the table it was like National Geographic with a pack of wild animals tearing apart the prey. Hands, elbows, and arms everywhere! Madness!!! I think a pan got cleaned off in less than 30 seconds. Like whoa.
The spread out beer stations were light years more civilized. Punch cards and tasters for everyone, and you could visit the brewery tanks and chat with the brewmaster. Good times. I’m no home brewer. I just appreciate the finished product. The Summer, EESB, & Porter were my faves.
Loved the open patio layout near the neon El Cajon sign. Also liked the bar area with plenty of beers on tap, all the crafty Urbn ones and a wide variety of guest brews.
Thank you to the hardworking kitchen crew and runners delivering the goods and clearing out plates. The pizzas, appys, and salads were delicious. Thank you to the friendly beer station and punch card attendants for letting us enjoy tasters galore. We were very pleased with the wonderful and pleasant service from Team Urbn.
Last but not least, a great big thank you to the exceptional Estephany and super CM Brad for arranging another awesome event and making the space look absolutely Unilocaltastic.

A really chill event with lots of laughs. I definitely made my way to the food table early on and was able to try almost one of everything and then left the table for late comers. It was really amusing to watch everyone get closer and closer to the food as it came.
My favorite was definitely the Mashed potato pizza. Something about potatoes and pizza just go together. Whoever thought of this concept was a genius. Genius, I say. I also loved the wings, but I honestly couldn’t tell you which one it was. I just remember it being spicy and my lips felt a bit of heat on them. I don’t drink so I couldn’t tell you how the alcohol was, but I’m sure Jimmy D. could since I gave him all of mine. haha
I love the atmosphere that the place gave. The openness of the venue created such a calm environment where I could just unwind and chat with fellow Unilocalers and catch up. Great job to the Urbn St Brewing Co staff and Unilocal staff for holding this event.

I’m not smashed, but I cashed in on the Mashed Potato Pizza! Alert, an Irishman got loose in the kitchen, and he’s talented with taters! It’s a white pie with mozzarella, bacon, parmesan, and fluffy enough mashed potatoes. Love it!
The YEE at Urbn Street Brewing Co. in El Cajon was a great chance to share. I only like porters and stouts, so I shared my complimentary beer flights with other Unilocalers who were able to enjoy the IPAs and other beer styles. I preferred the «Gigo Hoppy Wheat Porter», which does have a little hint of vanilla. Randy bought a peanut butter coffee stout, and poured some in my glass. Yum! Thanks, you’re cool!
Wings kept flying away, so when I managed to get 2 wings, I gave 1 to a Unilocaler who hadn’t gotten any wings. She promptly flew away. I mean, she ate her wing. (-: Pizza was popular, and the kitchen fired up excellent pizzas all night. The slices disappeared the second they landed on the table. So later in the evening, when I found myself right in front of a whole BBQ chicken pizza, I took 2 slices and shared 1 with another Unilocaler who had missed the pizza.
Salads looked fresh and delish, and I tasted one with blue cheese and pear. Yummy!
Our photographer for the evening was a lot of fun, and pheasant to talk to! Thanks for being cool!
Estefany B was as cordial and thoughtful as ever. She offered me her seat when I was standing, and when she heard I only like porters and stouts, she offered to get me another beer card! I said no thanks, but it was such a kind offer!
The open spaces at Urbn Street Brewing Company have such a comfortable, relaxing feel. I’ll happily return here as a paying customer and order a whole Mashed Potato pizza, and bring family or friends to clink beer glasses with me!
Thanks, Brad B, and staff of Urbn Street Brewing Company, for a fine YEE!
Unilocalers, there’s no «a» in Urbn… look closely! I just noticed. (-;