Elite Event: Nosh La Noche @ Bourbon & Beef

For my 100^th review I thought I’d make it a very special one: my first YEE! Yay!
I worked my way up to get to this status or how Drake would sing «started from the bottom and now we’re here…» Hehe
The location was great. BART accessible and parking was available on the street. Didn’t take my long to find a parking spot on the main street.
As soon as I got there i was greeted by Michael R. Then the great Nique came along and welcomed me. She told me to help myself and to grab a drink. With encouragement I did so.
What was happening? Here are the following dishes, snacks and drinks that were being handed out:
Negroni: aged in their own little barrels with a slight sweetness and smokiness mixture that was just right. A bit strong but if you’re into whiskey or bourbon then this was the perfect drink to sip the whole night.
The crab cakes with aioli were a hit! Yummy I must say!
Riblets: they were a bit spicy, but not too spicy where you couldn’t stop eating them. It was just enough for you to come back for a second round.
Fried shishito peppers: for some it was a little spicy. the one i ended up getting was super spicy and my mouth was burning. My tongue was on fire! At first I was taking sips of my Negroni but that was not doing it. i had asked the bartender for some water and ended up drinking about 4 glasses of water. Super spicy. I was sweating like a pig in a blanket! Yikes!
The service was awesome! the food kept coming out and the bartenders kept serving the drinks one after another! The ambiance was great! Meet great Unilocalers for the first time and I hope I am able to make it to another YEE! Can’t wait to meet more Unilocalers in the coming future =D
I’d definitely come back another time. B&B was a great adventure on a Hump Day! Nique did a great job with this event! Thanks Nique!

Short Story:
Hands down the coolest restaurant Unilocal event that I have been to this year! Can I get a woot woot! :)
Long Story:
So, I signed up for a Unilocal event and was lucky enough to get in. The event went from 9PM to 11PM. I got there close to 8:45PM and the place was already packed! The line was out the door. So, I lined up and didn’t have to wait long to get in. Inside you seat yourself and on the tables were some Unilocal schwag. The food came out in short order and consisted of small ribs, crab cakes, green beans, and more!
You order the drinks at the bar and it was also complementary. The server were all very nice and knowledgeable. The décor and ambiance were truly amazing. I worked in that area and am happy to say that they definitely made interior and exterior improvements to that place. The windows and lighting open that place up so much more.
Verdict:
I am definitely a fan. I’m going back to eat there as a patron ASAP! Thank you Unilocal and Nique to a fantastic YEE event! Woot!

This was my second visit to Rockridge’s newest slice of swankness, Bourbon & Beef, and for a weekday vegetarian, you might find this repeat visit curious. I mean, with a name like that, the average Oakland vegetable eater might rename the place «No & Thanks» (or something more expletive) but guess what guys? This is a nice bar.
It won’t be so busy, fellow Unilocalers, the next time you come through but it will be poppin’ enough to make you feel «in». Thank you, B&B and Unilocal for cramming so many of us in: your inclusive attitude, despite a bottleneck layout, was really generous.
I like the lighted backdrop at the bar which was my main view that evening. Though if you’re coming for dinner, the real-​deal red upholstered chairs are pretty comfy (and heavy as if to suggest you to take your time and stay a while).
On a normal day, I recommend you order the deconstructed salmon salad. It is beautiful, delicious, and great for people who either like variety or have OCD (each ingredient is put in a separate little pile on a wooden cutting board).
But for bar nights, as this event was branded, do sit at the bar. The stools will give under your weight and leave you plenty of room for the knees, even if you’re tall like I am.
I love the two bartenders who were serving the night of the event. Scott and David are a well-​matched duo: they’ve got a good cop, bad cop dynamic that gets more entertaining the more you drink. Scott has this no BS, balls on the bar kind of attitude (he wipes the bar down obsessively, just in case that last image got you worried) whereas David will flash you a conspiratorial smile and make you a drink that isn’t on the menu. Then again. Scott might put something unfamiliar in front of you and say «drink it» with the subtlety of a bull in ballet shoes. And then David will show up with secret tips on how to have good breath before a date. I think that bartenders are more than half of what makes a bar compelling or meh so I really appreciated this team. The cocktail list itself is excellent, with a gamut of cocktails from the sugar rimmed martini glass variety to the rocky tumblers for the stiff-​lipped drinker. The bar is well stocked and their draught beers (Stella and Negra Modello) show good taste.
Music was groovin’ with some great latin tunes and people were getting sweaty with those shishito peppers. Yum!
Thank you to the wonderful owner, kitchen team, waiters, and Unilocal organizers for such a good school night soirée!

This event was really fun. Even though we pretty much overcrowded the place, it was quite an enjoyable event. Who knew there were so many Unilocal night owls out there? I would’ve stayed later but I had a bit of a drive home. I had mixed feelings regarding the food. Some of the beef items were outstanding and some of the others were sort of meh.
I had a sip of the bourbon cocktail which was quite strong. The wine was really good though. I only had a little bit.
It was great to see a good mix of new school and old school Unilocalers in attendance. Nique does a good job of mixing it up.
Overall, the hour I stayed went quickly. I wish I could’ve stayed longer to try the pork belly. Most people seemed satisfied at this event. Even though space was a bit tight, I enjoyed it. I’ll write more later but overall, I want to say thanks to Nique and the Bourbon & Beef staff for staying up late with us.

My first YEE! Before heading over, I had glanced at the menu and some of the reviews for Bourbon & Beef and was pretty excited to taste what they had to offer. My friend and I got there right at 9pm and there was already a long line, but Nique and Shirene did a fantastic job of scanning everyone in and giving out nametags in an orderly fashion.
The restaurant itself is kind of small, so at times it felt like being in a can of sardines when we were standing by the bar, but I did think the community-​style table in the front window was nice, since it wasn’t as loud at that end and it gave us the opportunity to talk about the food and mingle with other fellow Unilocalers around the table.
As far as the food goes, it was all very flavorful and delicious! Just a tad bit too spicy for some of the dishes. My favorites would have to be the sweet and spicy pork riblets with the jicama salad and chipotle aioli and the the fried crab cakes. Delish! The pork belly with the homemade tortilla was also quite good, but by the time it came out I was already so full.
The signature drink of the night was the Bourbon negroni, which was a bit too strong for my liking, but went down pretty smooth with the hint of citrus. The stella was also a good pairing for some of the small bites.
Overall, this event was fantastic and definitely worth staying up late for even though I had work early the next morning. The food was great and the waiters were all friendly and welcoming, so I definitely want to head back to try out more items on their menu!

Where can I begin! We arrived at 915pm and the place is packed with elite Unilocalers and flyin’ like a G6.
We were greeted by the lovely Shirene and Nique and off we go into this hot little spot! I got a glass of Chard and looked around for a place to chill. Wished I had gotten there right at 9pm because there was only a limited number of seats so we stood most of the night. Mingled with some new Unilocal elites and everyone was friendly and easy to talk to.
Our gracious waiters and waitresses came by to each table throughout the night with delicious bites such as jalapeño poppers, fried smelt on tomato slices, crab cakes, spicy chicken wings and short riblets and other goodies that were decadent and tasty. I do notice that there wasn’t any vegetarian options offered so that would be a definite plus if they can have more options for us veggie lovers on the menu.
One note was that one of the bartenders that I ordered my drink from was a bit rude. I asked him what kind of wine he has and he rolled his eyes and said 2 whites and 2 reds so I asked again what kind of whites and reds and he didn’t seem to care to answer. He gave my drink to another Asian girl at first as well and didn’t apologize when I mentioned that to him and he just shoved the drink to me and spilled a bunch of wine on the counter in his abruptness. I do understand it was a busy evening but would expect better service than what I was given at the bar.
All in all, another awesome evening spent with an too cool for school crowd. Thank you, Nique, Shirene and the rockin’ staff at Bourbon and Beef for taking away the midweek slump and replacing it with a fantastic evening!

Great location, friendly staff, strong drinks, and food with a spicy kick!
Another great Unilocal event put on by Nique. Liked the idea of the big communal table in the front. Appreciated the fact that the bar offered their signature Negroni, champagne, wine, or beer.
The food was a lot spicier than I imagined but still delicious. The peppers had a great flavor, the smelt was good but a little too fishy, the chipotle BBQ riblets were delicious and my favorite was the crab cake. I have a feeling the pork belly would have won if I had a chance to try it.
Overall another awesome YEE!

After a several month hiatus from Elite Events, I finally was able to make it to my first fall YEE outing! Only a block away from Rockridge Bart, this was conveniently located in the heart of Rockridge. Parking could be tough but we were able to park at the BART station.
Love the décor, particularly the communal table in front. Great for large groups and parties. The bartenders were really friendly, helpful and made the drinks well.
As far as the food goes… All i have to say is that my mouth was on FIRE after leaving the restaurant.
The food:
Caliente!!! that’s all I have to say! The majority was spicy. Probably a little too spicy for my taste to be quite honest.
Over the course of the night, we were able to try lots of different samples of the following.
First dish was AMAZING. I don’t know if it was the Angus beef, but whatever it was, it wanted us craving for more! Unfortunately I never saw them bring it out again!
Almonds with meat — The meat was good but was overwhelming had too many almonds.
Fried Shishito Peppers — These were definitely on the hotter side than most places we’ve had these. Typically only 1 out of every 10 are hot but I think every single one I had was spicy!
Spicy riblets — Super hot. Very flavorful but if you don’t like it hot, avoid at all costs!
Fried Smelt with aioli — some tasted really fishy. I’m not a big smelt fan but those around me said the same thing.
Super bummed that I missed out on the Pork Belly. That dish looks AMAZING. Every time they came out, people kept rushing to them so I never got to try it. I guess that’s more reason for me to come back to this place and have it!
Overall, I would go back to Bourbon & Beef just to try the Pork Belly and get a second help of that beef dish.
Great job Nique and team for another great YEE event.

What a fun evening! Thank you Nique for organizing this event :-) This was the first Unilocal Elite event I’ve attended (yeah, I’m a rookie), and it definitely lived up to my expectations!
My husband and I were able to meet new Elite friends, as well as see some familiar faces. The lovely Shirene came by our table numerous times to make sure we were having a good time and to see if we needed anything. Our waiters/​waitresses were also very attentive to our needs. Shout out to Trevor for keeping us hydrated with water & adult beverages and for making sure we were able to sample each item.
Food– amazing! Some of my favorite dishes were the crab cakes, fried shishito peppers, riblets, and pork belly. Kinda sad that I didn’t get to try the ahi tuna. Apparently it didn’t make it too far from the kitchen before it was gone. I guess that just gives me a reason to go back!
Drinks– classy and tasty. The signature drink was the Negroni. It was reminiscent of an Old Fashioned, strong for some, but perfect for my taste. Other drink options were champagne, white and red wine, and beer.
I do agree with the sentiments of some of my fellow Unilocalers about one of the bartenders being a little ‘cold’. I got that vibe also. But overall, great event! Oh, and the Unilocal playing cards, gloves, and mints were a nice touch. Looking forward to going back to Bourbon & Beef for a regular sit-​down meal.

This was my first Unilocal event and from reading reviews from the previous night I was expecting great food and vibes from Boubon & Beef.
When I first got in, I was greeted by Nique who was super sweet and friendly. From the outside, Bourbon & Beef seemed a bit larger than I thought. Its actually a small space but its very nicely decorated.
I knew this place was Latin themed but none of the food seemed Latin. I also was expecting great bourbon and beef but I got none of that tonight.
Appetizer #1 — Shishito Peppers — these were super spicy! I loved it. I know like one in every thousand are hot but all of these were hot and I did not mind!
Appetizer #2– Fried Smelt– this was extremely fishy. Most of the ppl in my table agreed that it was fishy.
Appetizer #3 –Pork Riblets– These riblets were a bit tough to chew but the seasoning was great. It seemed sweet at first and then ended with a spicy kick!
Appetizer #4– Crab Cakes– this was so-​so. For some reason, the inside of my crab cake was cold.
Appetizer #5– Shrimp cakes — This was really sweet. Almost too sweet.
Appetizer #6– Pork Belly on Home made tortilla — I think this was one of the best dishes. The pork belly was crispy and oily –what more could I ask for? Definitely would recommend this one.
I heard there was a lamb meatball but unfortunately I wasn’t able to taste it but I heard it was amazing.
The waiters were extremely nice and friendly, but the bald bartender was quite cold. The bald bartender didn’t even ask me what I wanted or make eye to eye contact with me. He also gave my drink to another group and quickly left to the other side of the bar. I asked for change and before I could ask him what I wanted he just gave me some bills and left again. The other bartender Robert (?) was very attentive and I wish I got him instead.
I understand the bartender was busy but bad service really leaves a foul taste in my mouth. Anyways, I think I would come back to try their other dishes and maybe tonight was just an off night.
Thanks Nique and all the chefs and servers for hosting such a fun night.

Spicy!
Well, well, well… and by well, I mean bourbon. What can I say? This was yet another top notch YEE.
Nestled along College Avenue, merely steps away from Rockridge BART is Bourbon & Beef – a cozy yet swank restaurant with Latin inspired cuisine. Dim the lights, put out a gorgeous bouquet of roses, and you are all set.
Food Offerings
Grilled chili peppers — Delicious, but oh so spicy!
Fried smelt with aioli chili sauce — hit or miss pieces, some melt in your mouth while others are too fishy.
Spicy riblets — Caliente!!! Very tasty but not for the faint of heart. I had to drink to glasses of water to cool down my tongue from one tiny riblet.
Shrimp cakes with fresh coconut — Sweet and savory! Absolutely perfect combo. Has a meaty texture.
Crab cakes — crunchy, plump, and delicious!
Unfortunately, they ran out of pork belly and steak crostini.
The Venue
Small and intimate, definitely a good place to bring a date or a small group of friends.
Location, Location, Location
Beyond perfect with the exception of parking, but close to public transportation along College Avenue.
Service
Friendly, charming staff, but a little disorganized. The bar got more food than my table, which was next to the window.
Overall, I would definitely go back to Bourbon & Beef. Thank you to Nique for yet another great event. (Shout outs to Phillip D., Jon M., and my wonderful roomie Allison W.)
I heard that Bourbon & Beef has an amazing bottomless mimosa Sunday brunch and Living Social deal going on. I got a taste and now I want more!
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