Yelp Elite Event @ Orson
Category: Local Flavor [Edit]
Neighborhood: SOMA508 4th St
(between Bryant St & Harrison St)
San Francisco, CA 94107 (415) 777-1508
- Good for Kids: No
144 reviews
Neighborhood: Fisherman's Wharf
"Boudin sourdough bread bowls. The chowder in this city isn't like Monterey Bay, but you can't beat the aesthetic. A friend's family owns…" read more »
46 Reviews for Yelp Elite Event @ Orson
A list of things that deserve mentioning from this event.
1. The Female Yelployees (Jessica, Connie, Nicole, & Candice) were lookin' good, bright, bubbly, friendly, and talkative as ever.
2. Elizabeth Falkner was funny, personable, and an absolute pleasure.
3. Those little chocolately cheesecake things were amazing.
4. The decor of Orson is gorgeous.
5. The Knock Out Punch contained grappa people! To the bartender who offered free dinner to anyone who could guess it please send me my coupon despite the fact I figured it out on the way home :-P I'm just kidding but I was proud of myself once I realized it.
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I had a great time and so did my +1, roommate/friend, Si-Eun! It's definitely a Yelp event that I won't forget because... I got in even though guest list has reached full capacity (Thanks Jessica!), it was part of my b-day weekend celebration, I picked up my cool Yelp hoodie, seeing Elizabeth Falkner was awesome and food was delicious!
- house-smoked prosciutto and salami
- mini pork buns
- fried tofu with bok choy kimchi
- mushroom dumplings
- potato saffron soup shooters
- split pea soup-filled puffs
- raw trout on chips
- white chocolate drizzled with truffle honey
- chocolate french toast
My favorites were the potato saffron soup shooters, raw trout on chips and white chocolate with honey, which I enjoyed with a total of four Lavendar Citrus Coolers :-)!
I was loving the space -- open, modern, lofty! Hoping to have dinner here soon!
I can never manage to make these post-Elite event reviews more than a masturbatory shout-out to the people who I ran into that night so that they remember to masturbatorially shout-out to me at the next one and on and on and so forth.
So, uh, if you want a detailed account of Orson, read someone else's reviews.
That's all the useful you get for this one.
*Bonus points to Candice for perpetuating my belief that I'm bad ass and still in the Yelp punishment corner by asking "Uh, aren't you banned from the next five events?"
How'd I manage to sneak into this one?? ;)
Oh, and to everyone who was hiding out near the kitchen hoping to snag food - the servers were actually coming from OUTSIDE and in the front door. Of course, if you SMOKED, you would know this.
And who says smoking isn't COOL?
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Can it be that it was all simple then?
Or has time rewritten every line?
If we had the chance to do it all again...
Tell me...would we?...could we?
Celebrity chef Elizabeth Falkner must be asking because she's hoping lightning will strike twice for her given the justified acclaim she has received for Citizen Cake. Well, the wondrous folks at Yelp organized what was at least for me, the best mixer ever, in Falkner's (relatively) new space in the gourmet ghetto that is 4th Street south of the Bay Bridge approach.
I have to say I prefer a daytime event since I like to recognize fellow Yelpers beyond the shadowy figures I see at most of these parties. And I have to say my hit rate was pretty good at this one. In their infinite wisdom, the attendance was limited to about 250 people - a smart, smart move because it never felt overly crowded. Sure, people were hovering at the kitchen door awaiting the next appetizer, but I'm sure they'd be there even if there was one other Yelper there.
It is a gorgeous open space where the bar/lounge is actually bigger than the dining room upstairs. Lots of couches and low tables for mingling, but Jamie W. and I decided to park ourselves at the bar so we could wet our whistles on the Lavender Citrus Coolers and Action Jackson's Knockout Punch. And indeed we had a few. All the food we had were very tasty, the best being this little puff filled with split pea soup that bursts in your mouth. There was also a deep-fried tofu cube that was amazingly flavorful, as well as salami slices on clothes pins and ahi tuna on little chips. I had the soft chocolate rolled in hazelnuts but missed the brownies...there were vultures among us.
Kudos to Nicole, Jessica and the rest of the Yelp staff for continuing to exceed expectations on these exclusive events. I would love to come back for a real dinner though it sounds like the mythic $60 ribeye steak may mean taking out a second. Everything else on the dinner menu sounds awesome. And did I mention that Elizabeth Falkner herself showed up for the entire event? Very nice, very tolerant of us Yelping hooligans...and smart enough to realize she is surrounded by foodies with potentially poison-pen keyboards.
FOOD - 5 stars...not a stinker among the bunch being served
AMBIANCE - 5 stars...nice, open space...could be coming back very soon as a paying customer
SERVICE - 5 stars...that bartender was pumping out the cocktails like there was no tomorrow
TOTAL - 5 stars...oh yeah, I'm coming back...
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Since I had to work on Sunday, Mother's Day, my husband took care of the Tempura Assassin cub while I hopped a ferry from Marin to SF.
From the Ferry Building, I walked down Market Street and made a few stops to do some shopping, then clicked on wooden soles over to 4th and Bryant in my bright red Swedish clogs.
When I arrived at Orson, the first thing I felt was under dressed. Yelpers are some stylish folks. Here I was in jeans, clogs, and a brown Goorin baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes during my seafaring commute. Most women wore dresses and stylish outfits that required dry cleaning.
The second thing I felt was alone. I didn't know a single soul. Considering this was an afternoon of freedom and independence for me, I didn't mind that so much.
First stop was to taste wine from K&L Wine Merchants. I sampled the red they were pouring. When I ran into the lovely Jessica T., finally someone I knew, she suggested I try the wonderful mixed drinks at the bar. Normally I'm not a mixed drink person but thought I'd give them a try.
The drinks at Orson were phenomenal. I think this had to do with three things:
High quality hand crafted vodka from Tito's Vodka http://www.titos-vodka...
An artful mix of vodka, lemon juice, lavender simple syrup, and soda water, served over ice with a lemon twist
A cutie named James who embodied the classic, good natured, and attentive bartender. He mixed wonderful drinks and was a great representative for Orson.
At one point an Elite Yelper complained to James about her drink being too citrusy. He graciously spilled a little out, added some soda water, and handed it back to her. Lucky I wasn't in his shoes. I would have spilled the whole thing out and pointed to the door.
So I told him, you will NEVER hear me complain about a free drink. Besides, as James made them, they were pure perfection in a glass from the first drink to the fourth.
Unless you sat near the kitchen door, most of the food was gone by the time it reached the end of the bar where I was perched the entire time. I only got to sample a few things, all promising morsels that enticed me to think about coming back.
Come 2PM they kindly asked us to think about shoving off. So I wandered out on to 4th Street, smacked my lips, and decided to walk over to Japantown for some obento.
It was a good time. Service was excellent, the space gorgeous, atmosphere lovely, drink and food presentation thoughtful and creative, flavours wonderful; all elements that inspire me to return. Only more appropriately dressed next time.
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Thanks to Patron and some serious moneymaker dancefloor shimmying the night before, I waltzed into the Orson Elite event an hour late - sans nametag and smelling like I'd just fallen off the tequila truck. But some things are worth waiting for, like a date with me or a visit to Orson.
My observations:
1) Contrary to what the ex-boyfriends say, I actually like sunlight (and wooden crosses & garlic). Now, I know that dim-lighting flatters, but natural light can be hawt, too. Orson took a great warehouse space and made it bright and airy and beautiful. Love the Orson name on the window.
2) I think Carlos A. and Lauren C. took me out the night/morning before and gave me a plus one for the next day as some sort of initiation test. This reminds me of that cult in Oregon where you give the leader a bunch of $, the group strips off your clothes, drops you off in the middle of the woods and you have to find your way home. Except, Yelp isn't too much of a cult, doesn't take that much of my money, and my clothes haven't come off at any Elite events yet.
3) I like food served on sticks. Which probably stems from a minor Hot Dog on a Stick childhood obsession, but if you pass me something on a stick, I'll put it in my mouth. This has gotten me into trouble in the past, but Orson's tasty treats were welcome food to my empty tummy.
4) It's possible to get delicious free drinks without feeling obligated to let some guy grope you. The Lavender Citrus Coolers were delicious. Part of what makes Elizabeth so amazing is her unique flavor combos (and the fancy names of her creations).
5) There are SO many hot Yelpers. I finally met some of my hardcore Yelp crushes. Seriously. I think it's time for a co-ed Yelp Fashion Show. When? Next Friday evening. Where? My bedroom.
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Usually, there is a flood of reviews during, after, and sometimes even before an event. Where is everyone today? Too many Lavender Citrus Coolers or the Action Jackson Knockout Punch really did knock 'em out? The Lavender Citrus Coolers were very refreshing, and thankfully, they did not remind me of lavender-scented toiletries. I was hesitant on ordering the Knockout Punch for fear that the bartender would mistaken my order as a request to be knocked the eff out. Luckily, my order of two did not result in two black eyes.
Since the invitation came with a disclaimer that the food was just for tasting [in other words, small portions and/or scarce] and not as a meal, I made sure to have breakfast beforehand [Lime Tree leftovers - YUM!]. What I DID end up trying was an interesting [some good, some odd] mix of savory and sweet:
Deep-fried tofu with a slather of house-made kimchi on top.
Meat slices on clothes pins [cured in-house!].
Mini pork buns [a little too salty and a little too fatty].
Split pea soup-filled puffs [my favorite of the bunch].
White chocolate + honey [which I mistook for cheese].
Chocolate cake too...
I missed the soup shooters, the fish on chips, and a few others.
As for the space, LOVED IT. Five stars on the space alone. High ceilings, fantastic skylights, beams across the top, bar as the centerpiece of the lower level. It's a shame they aren't open during the day. There's such great natural lighting! The 250 guest list was perfect - plenty of room to sit, stand, and rub elbows. And also impressive? Chef/Owner Elizabeth Falkner was present at the event, from beginning to end, mixing and mingling with the crowd. SUCH a gracious host - signing books [even random pieces of paper] and taking photos!
There were also artists [Seth Armstrong and Ariel Rippner from the Art Academy] sketching in two different spots downstairs. Was that a Yelp or Orson idea? The "photo booth" upstairs was great [We paid a short visit with Mr. Winkle], and I'm looking forward to seeing how all the shots turned out. I always love these daytime events. Great job, Yelp and Orson! Despite the mediocre reviews [http://www.yelp.com/bi...], I'd probably give this place a shot on my own dime. I consider myself fairly adventurous.
As usual, links to photos:
tinna h - http://flickr.com/phot...
yelp photo booth! - http://flickr.com/phot...
carlos a [Official!]- http://flickr.com/phot...
carol l - http://gallery.mac.com...
connie c - http://www.flickr.com/...
donna h - http://www.flickr.com/...
eric l - http://picasaweb.googl...
eric w - http://www.flickr.com/...
jason k - http://www.flickr.com/...
miika m - http://www.flickr.com/...
neil c - http://www.flickr.com/...
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Only Elizabeth Faulkner and her Orson Welles-themed franchise could make meat on a laundry clip classy. And delicious.
Once again, the Yelp staff managed to top themselves. Like Phil H, I enjoy the daytime events because Daytime Nancy is a little more civilized than Nightime Nancy. She can actually have conversations without shouting (she's old), doesn't suffocate in the mad stampede to the open bar, and somehow the daylight counteracts the alcohol, producing a mild buzz rather than intoxicating hangovers associated with nightime imbibing.
The ratio was perfect -- not too crowded and plenty of room to mingle and enjoy the art and cool industrial space.
I was starstruck by meeting Elizabeth Faulkner, my first celebrity chef. She is charming, charismatic, and awesome. Her food fantastic. I missed out on the soups, but enjoyed nibbles of smoked trout (or salmon?), the afore-mentioned meat on a stick, and desserts -- it's not for nothing that Citizen Cake put sweets on the map.
Wine was provided by local merchants K&L -- just down the street. I didn't sample any of the delicious-sounding cocktails, because Daytime Nancy knows that sugar + alcohol + her = danger. Judging from the happy glow of the crowd, they were keeping everyone in fine spirits.
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Located in an old steel mill, Orson is a very great venue, feeling like a trendy bar but warehouse-y feel. The food was great, but like most of the Elite events I've been to, you need to be quick and on your toes to be able to sample the menu! Every time a waiter came out, it was amusing to watch the swarms of people rush in and the food disappear within seconds! The citrus drink with Tito's Handmade Vodka was well-made. The wine was decent, but I personally liked the wine provided by J.Lohr at the Parcel 104 event (the Silicon Valley equivalent event) better. The photo booth idea was also really fun!
Another great event at a great venue! Many kudos to Nicole G., Jessica T., and Elizabeth Falkner for the fun time!
Pics are available at: http://gallery.mac.com...
I had a lot of fun photochopping some of them! :)
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A) This was the greatest Elite event EVAH!!!#$OMG!!1
or
B) This was my first Elite event... evah.
A) I managed to evade all photographers despite being there for 1.5 hours.
or
B) The Yelperazzi only take pictures of the popular Yelpers*
A) I did not recognize a lot of people despite having gone to quite a few Yelp events and knowing a lot of Yelpers
or
B) There's been a LOT of Elite turnover this year (me included)
A) -1 star for not receiving my Elite hoodie
or
B) I forgot to pick up my Elite hoodie, still -1 star
A) I elbowed my way through crowds for slivers of salami hanging from clothespins
or
B) what the fuck?
Naw this was pretty fun, I broke my Elite cherry, met a few people for the first time (ANDY F. OMFWTFQUEERBAG!) , and said hello to old friends.
Not much to say that hasn't already been said here. It's hard to really get a feel for the food when it's just little bitty tastings. Great drinks. The staff was super nice, and for that I will probably return for dinner someday.
* = Attention Whores!
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* Chef Elizabeth Falkner was intensely charismatic. I think I'm in love.
* Yelp's Angels - Connie, Nicole and Jessica - were truly amazing as always.
* The appetizers and drinks were fun and delicious, served by a really polite staff.
* The venue was perfect - spacious, artsy, and cozy with ample sunlight.
* The photographers, Carlos and Richard, did an outstanding job, this time featuring a photobooth.
* Meeting new and old Yelp friends (you know who you are!) was the highlight of the day. xoxoxo
THANKS AGAIN for the great event, Yelp!!
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Arghh!! I searched for this and couldn't find it when I searched so I created one right after I got home. :( Oh well... repost it over here!
Wow!! Another great Yelp Elite event put on by the staff!!
There was a constant flow of goodies to come through and munch on and Elizabeth herself came through and did rounds to greet and mingle.
I'm surprised that Orson only got 3 stars for restaurant reviews... the event went off really well. There was plenty of alky (like at all Yelp events) and I REALLY liked how they're starting to do crowd control... Some of the old SF events were just tooo crowded and insane.
Food was AMAZING... the house smoked proscuitto, ham, and salami was kick ass. The desserts that came around were spectacular... I totally fell in love with the white chocolate drizzled with truffle honey. The wines and vodka sponsors were amazing... the white wine paired perfectly with the proscuitto!
I guess I should list out everything I gobbled up....
Proscuitto and Salami on Clothespins: Teehee... Meat hanging out in plain sight. I thought the salami was a bit too much on the fatty side, but it was cured VERY well. The proscuitto was freaking AMAZING. Sam wanted to buy pounds of that stuff so we can gorge ourselves silly in the middle of the night when we have hungover cravings. Actually not really. He wanted to buy it to send to friends and family who really really enjoy proscuitto. It paired SOOOO well with the white wine... I think it was an Anderson Valley Cab Sav. The aftertaste was nutty and YUMMY!
Sausage on a Stick: I was ok with the sausage... I thought mine was a little on the dry side. Never a fan of deli mustard so it was a major turnoff for me.
Pea soup in a fried ball: The idea was kick ass. But then. I hate pea soup. I hate peas. PERIOD. I actually liked this... although I felt that the soup flavor fell flat and there was too much breading to soup ratio. But then again, how many people can say they've had fried soup!? Muahaha... I CAN!! (so can everyone else at the event.... )
Fried tofu with the bok choy kimchi: I REALLY liked this dish. Being that I bit the bullet and went veg. a couple years ago for a couple months when I was on a cow hugging rampage (I was also 20 pounds lighter.... ahhh those days...) I really became a tofu connosiour. This tofu was amazing... reminscent of the San Jose Tofu Company tofu.... It was good quality tofu and the fried crust was well seasoned. The salted bok choy paired VERY well with it... I will be dreaming of fried tofu cubes tonight.
Mushroom Dumplings: MMMMmmm... I'm Taiwanese. Just dunk anything in the deep fryer and I'll be happy. These were little wonton skins filled with chopped mushroom and something else. Well flavored with essences of Thai basil and mint? and definitely cilantro. Very delish... Unfortunately I only saw it go around once. :(
Some sort of bread on a stick with curry topping: Didn't do it for me. :( The flavor combo didn't fly too well...
Pork buns with salt and pepper: You know some asian restaurants have the salt and pepper squid/porkchop? Well the buns were tossed in salt and white pepper which made it delish.. but a bit on the salty side. Being the fatties that we are, we drooled at the site of the chopped pork belly filling. VERY YUMMY.
Chocolate french toast: thumbs down... it was wayyyyyy too mushy. Almost like a fudge. Would have been a thumbs up if it was called chocolate fudge. The infused maple syrup was kick ass! I was licking it off my fingers like a greedy staved Somali.
Potato Saffron Soup Shooter: Ehh... I'm ok. It was good... but not as good as some of the other amazing stuff that came out.
Chocolate square cube thingy rolled in crushed crunchy bits: I think it was rolled in coffee beans or something? It was good... just slightly bitter. :(
Fish on Chips: OMIGOD.... that was freaking amazing. It was like some kind of smoked trout that was drool worthy. I almost did a tackle on the waiter to get seconds that would have made the Packer's Defense proud. Smokey.... tender... and the creme fraiche and scallions were perfect!!
White Chocolate with Truffled Honey: OMIGOD. My tastebuds were orgasming. Can I even say Orgasm on yelp? Anyway.... I'm a freaking sucker for truffles (the mushroom kind... not the chocolate kind.) Cook me a meal with white and black truffles and I"ll marry you. Provided that you'll continue to cook me truffles.... anyway. The truffle oil was freaking amazing with the creaminess of the white chocolate.... MUST GET MORE!!!!
Lavender Citrus Drink Thingy: This was better than the punch in my opinion... I liked the lemony tang... paired with the lavender infused simple syrup... Yummy!!
Punch thingy: It was ok..
Wow.... can't wait to come back to Orson for a regular dinner!!
5 Stars for the planning and the food! And the fact that I got a picture with Elizabeth herself and she signed her cookbook for me
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Awesome!
Was there with my dedicated +1 savoring Elizabeth Falkners little tidbits of exquisite surprises on the palate. In addition, the free drinks were the topper to my sinful noontime escape.
Natural lit, loft like venue with the perfect bar set in the middle of the floor to encourage movement. The bartenders as well as the waitstaff were amazingly kind and helpful with the throng of hungry people. I was much impressed with Seth Armstrong, one of the artists sketching away. The +1 took time out to speak to him a bit while I admired his base sketch before the oils to come out.
I promise to mingle more next time. I don't pop out until the evening, sort of like a vampire ;)
http://www.flickr.com/...
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My first Yelp Elite event (thanks Sharon J.) So, in order to be a good +1 I left home early to make it into the city on time. Good thing too since Fremont to S. Hayward BART stations were closed and everything in my station was chaotic -- all of those crazy week enders trying to get their cash into the machine and it doesn't work, kids and strollers, only three trains an hour leaving the station, and everything else. Non-the-less I was in a great mood and made it to Orson's in plenty of time.
Now to the important part --
Taking Tinna h.'s list and adding to it, the dishes included:
- Deep-fried salt & pepper tofu with a slather of house-made kimchi on top.
- Meat slices on clothes pins -- prosciutto and salami [cured in-house!].
- Mini pork buns
- Split pea soup-filled puffs
- Chicken Sausage [with Dijon mustard mixed inside for an added kick]
- Potato and saffron soup shooter
- Raw trout on chips with a dollop of a type of sour cream
- Lemon Curd with something I don't remember
- White chocolate + honey
- Chocolate cake
- chocolate rolled in chocolate crumbs
- Root beer floats (rumored)
The chicken sausage and the lemon curd were my favorites.
As mentioned, the drinks were absolutely FAB! I wanted the citrus drink but when the bartender came to serve me it was Action Jackson so I had to order her drink. It was a secret punch. It was good. But nothing prepared me for the Lemon Lavender Drink. It was the perfect mix of vodka and lemon of tart and a bit of sweetness in the back of the throat. YUM!!!
Thanks Yelp for a great event! The place was not too crowded and it was so nice to get to meet so many new people -- Thank You for making this non-Elite member feel so welcomed. (Oh, I had a camera but I took like 2 pictures when I arrived and then forgot about it)
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This Yelp event was a hit. Orson as a venue was beautiful on a midday Saturday (they really should open for lunch!) with natural light streaming through the skylights and highlighting the interesting steel mill qualities that still adorn the place. The drinks were tasty, but I was disappointed that they ran out of one of the two kinds by 1:00, before I was able to try it! The appetizers were looovely! The waiters were swarmed whenever they appeared from the back. They all had such cute ways of distributing the food, such as the salami and prosciutto hanging from clothespins, or the lemon curd sitting on bent spoons. It was hard to get a feel for how dinner would be like at Orson with such small samplings of the food, and the environment would be totally different as well. This event did spark my interest though!
I looove love loved the photo booth. High five to whoever came up with that! The pictures that resulted were soo cute and sooo fun! Check out my profile pictures...you'll see :)
This was such a cute, fun event! Somebody needs to print biiig copies of the pictures of Nicole, Jessica, and Connie at the photo booth so all us yelpers can all sign it and they can frame it up over their fireplaces.
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This was my favorite yelp event thus far!
The space is absolutely gorgeous and it's impressive that they kept the integrity of the building and history intact.
There was enough space to move around and I could actually hear other people talk (typically hard at events) but it was a well attended event with a lively crowd.
And finally, some male yelper eye candy, thank you!!!
Elizabeth Faulker obviously cares about her business and showed her kindness and congeniality by graciously mingling with yelpers, posing for pictures and signing books.
The food was tasty and the servers and bartenders all very sweet.
I soooo wish I could make it to the Bourbon and Pork dinner this coming Thursday. Happy SF Cocktail Week everyone - now get out there and show your support!
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I've been to a lot of Elite Events and have to rank the event at Orson up there with the best of them. There was a good size crowd but it never felt crowded, the space was amazing (the sun beaming through the skylights set the tone) and both food and drinks fantastic.
As stated in many other reviews, you Yelpers are damn good looking - I didn't feel worthy...especially in the company of my smoking hot +1. Luckily the drinks were free - as we all know, I get better looking and funnier the more everyone else drinks.
Many thanks to Connie, Jessica, Nicole (aka the Three Miss Yelps) for another outstanding event!
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Can the fabulous yelp crew do any wrong? Not in my eyes.
Connie, Nicole and Jessica are awesome. Nicole did a great job with this event. The space was AMAZING. I was walking around taking pictures and all the natural light was fabulous.
I was a bit too busy to actually try most of the food, but I did interact with Orson staff and they were SUPER friendly and personable.
The drinks were very tasty and the few things I did eat were awesome.
I liked talking to the artists that were there. I'm very jealous of their talent.
This event wasn't too packed and there was plenty of space to walk around freely and socialize.
Props to Richard T for running the photo booth with the softbox lighting and everything.
It was awesome that Mrs/ Ms Faulkner was there to socialize.
I'm glad I was able to make this event and glad that the events keep getting better and better.
Some of the pictures I took:
http://flickr.com/phot...
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Seriously, this space is beautiful! I have already recommended it to friends who are looking to book spaces for weekend events, etc. Not even sure if this is possible, but WOW it was gorgeous during the day on Saturday!
Always nice to see the yelp crowd, I always love seeing me some Mick F. and it was great to finally meet Phil H.! My plus one and I really enjoyed the mixed drink with lavendar, WOW. I think we may have had two or three each, Oopps!
I also loved the signature wine poured by K & L, apparently it's their private label?! Anyway, the Chardonnay was very nice, I would recommend it.
My only gripe, well, the food situation. I was a little hungry when I arrived and by the time I left I was in full on starvation mode. I have to admit that we were advised that the food would be minimal, so my state was really my fault. However, it would have been great to get just a couple more samples of the food. Someone should try to explain to people the rules of mobbing the wait staff two steps from the kitchen.
However, all in all a great yelp experience. It had been a long time since I had attended an elite event, and I loved seeing so many familiar faces!
Thanks yelp!
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5 years ago I heard raves from my friends from Austin about Tito's handmade Vodka. They told me how smooth it was, and how many awards it won at the time. Such was my curiosity that I actually tried to order a bottle via mail, only the shipping made it ridiculously expensive. Oh well, another time perhaps Tito..
Fast forward to present day: yelp, Elizabeth Falkner, Orson, TITO! Holy crap was I excited for this! Orson, the venue was a really nice space, I liked their cool bar design and the skylights above. For just some added coolness, yelp dropped a few artists showcasing their talents.
The cocktails and wine were fantastic, I thoroughly enjoyed the cab while plundering the Salami and Prosciutto clothespins things. I really wanted to try some of the other items, but they got snapped up too quickly. This left me to focus on drinking massive amounts of Tito's Vodka instead, which luckily is really smooth and easy to drink... Perhaps TOO easy...
A run upstairs led to a yelp run photo-booth that is actually really helpful in piecing together some of the fuzzy parts of the event. I saw a lot of new faces at Orson, and got to meet a bunch of new people. My only regret is not having more time to meet more of you all. Hope to see you all again soon :)
My pictures:
http://picasaweb.googl...
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Yes, an event in the day. :)
I can never make it to any of the elite events because there always at night. I don't like going home so late. This event was perfect.
Elizabeth Falkner is such a nice person. A very down to earth woman and wonderful chef. I'm very glad she had us yelpers. Thank you Elizabeth and the yelp staff.
The food was delicious. I loved the meat, especially the sausages. The salmon was to die for. Unfortunately, I was not able to try all the food because the waiters kept zooming past me. The Action Jackson Knockout Punch was very good. I'm not very much into alcohol, but I liked that drink.
I had such a wonderful time.
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It was great! To spend a couple of hours on a nice day inside a place that takes in the sun and free drinks? Wait a minute... The best part: All the beautiful Yelper women!
Wait... No Elite hoodies or t-shirts?
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Definitely one of my favorite events for the venue alone in a LONG time. The sunlight was perfect, the crowd size was perfect, the Yelp staffers were as attractive as ever. Jessica looked like a model in her fancy overalls - something that would make me look like a lumpy farmer. Not so on her. But I digress...
Elizabeth Falkner seemed very nice - I tried to send Elena over to get the digits, but she failed at her task.
The drinks were also very good - at least what I had - there seemed to be plentiful red and white wine (two separate tables, never looked crowded) and the bar was huge. I had 2 or 3 of the lavender citrus cooler, but never made it to the punch in time. When I finally tried to order one, they were out.
The food, what little I had, was great. I'm really, really disappointed that i didn't get to try most of the amazing-sounding things that others had. I understand that it wasn't supposed to be a full meal, but a tasting implies to me that you should more or less get to taste most of what's on offer. This was definitely not the case. I understand that there are many costs to holding this type of event, but the restaurant and Yelp should really try to make sure that everyone gets to sample what's there.
Anyway - best Yelp event yet in terms of space and crowd size. I also really like the daytime idea.
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Nicole G. knows how to throw a party!
Elizabeth Falkner was a very gracious host & I was excited to take a picture with the amazing chef and restauranteur. The staff were all extremely friendly and helpful.
The presentation and flavor of the food really impressed me. I loved the Pork Buns with "fresno chili, maple and cilantro" and the split pea soup-filled puffs. Although I didn't try it, I heard the prosciutto was phenomenal. Hanging the thin slices by a clothes pin was definitely original and made for some great pictures.
The decor and layout of the restaurant made it both chic & comfortable, both upstairs and down.
Of course, the cocktails were great too! I would love to come back for appetizers and drinks.
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Yelp have done it again. They found a really cool location that had plenty of natural light and space to roam. It's too bad Orson isn't open during the day because it's a beautiful space that used to be or was it the space next to the Trocadero (read: old school S&M club and music venue). I remember seeing a swing band at the Troc way back in the day and I noticed the cages. Funny. But I digress...
The sampling of food pretty much melted in your mouth and the meat on wood made me laugh. (Oh, that's a priceless innuendo.) All of which were mouth watering and delicious.
I took my friend/co-worker to this event. He was so impressed he wants to go back. I'm a little scared of the exorbitant prices though. Kudos to Carlos A for taking awesome pictures as usual. I can't wait to see my photo booth pictures from the Yelp staff. I spent yet another beautiful day in the city thanks to you. Also, the mood lighting in the clean bathroom was pretty cool.
Bangin' tunes from the DJ + tasty bevy's + yummy treats + lots of new Yelpers = Overall, Orson is totally bitchin'. It gets a bitchin' review.
Oh and Donna H and Tinna H looked so cute with their new haircuts. Yes, it's been that long since I've seen them.
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I feel a tad bit foolish reviewing Yelp events since Yelpers [with opinions in tow] are by nature at Yelp events.
This I think will be a hearty "Thanks" instead.
Thanks for the free snacks which helped me in the afternoon to not make such an ass of myself while I sipped on yummy beverages of an alcholic nature.
Thanks to all the folks who thought the Hubbie & I looked adorable even though wearing matching orange was not intentional.
Thanks to Yelp & Orson for this great event.
& especially thanks to all the wonderful people we met especially Kerrie!
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Oddly timed on a Saturday at noon, but that just kept away the large crowds that Elite events tend to attract. This event was lovely. Classy old warehouse-y space --- very SOMA/Manhattan --- a mellow crowd (despite the free flowing wine and lavender flavored vodka drinks), and a host of fun and delicious nibbles of food that never stopped coming out of the kitchen. Jessica T, whom Wifey and I had never met before, stopped us as we made our way through the crowd to introduce herself and thank us for coming. It was a sweet gesture in it of itself, not to mention the fact that she hooked us up with a hoodie even though we didn't get a chance to reserve one. Thanks again! All around it couldn't have been a better introduction to Orson, a place which we'll definitely be trying out soon.
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It was my first Yelp Event and I enjoyed meeting many of the yelpers.
I was very intrigued by all the tasty bites being served. Didn't get a chance to try them all but I really want to go back and have dinner there.
The food was mighty tasty and I love my hoodie!
Thanks Yelp!
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We arrived
I met a few yelpers that I talk to but have never seen face to face (Gwynnie)
got seats at the bar which was fantastic (Andy Russell Christine Alan :-) made it super fun
the bartender was hot (seriously Ill be back for the bartender)and really friendly and seemed genuinely concerned if I was recovering from my hangover
the space was gorgeous
the drinks were great I couldnt even taste the alcohol in the lavendar drinks which was a plus for me and made getting over night before a whole lot easier (Tito's rocks ......yeah I just said rocks ok)
the food was tasty and innovative (the saffron soup was so good)
I will absolutely be back
I love my hoodie too
It was such a fantastic way to start my day ...
Thanks again Yelp (Jessica and Nicole and Connie :-)
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This was an absolutely tantalizing event, for all the senses. Visually, the interior of this polished steel mill (as called by Carol L.) was chic, clean, and simple just mastered....very much like a cleaned-up 5 o'clock shadow on a handsome man. They were playing silent black and white videos on a massive blank white wall, framed by black steel beams. Simplicity at its finest.
The staff was not only attentive, but an absolute delight to be around. There were never extra glassware sitting out...Jaysin is a champion and took extra special care of us when we told him we didn't have an opportunity to try the soup shots (and I'm so glad i did)! It is obvious that they love their job as it was reflected in their massive smiles and great attitudes. If they weren't carrying trays, I would have high-fived them all.
The food. woah. The food. The saffron and (?) soup shots were delicious. Our table agreed that the taste lingered....but very much like scent of your muse once they have left the room. All good and it makes you want more. The white chocolate and (curried something) desserts was amazing. Presentation of the food was original and experimental. Everything that came out of the kitchen, in fact, was experimental and very functional.
The music was complementary to the space and the group of elites. It was nice to have a swanky afternoon of drinks (surprisingly tasty lavender drinks and tasty wine), great company, great food, a awesome photo booth upstairs, fantastic reps from K & L Wine Merchants, stellar atmosphere...everything I could have wanted. Our group unanimously decided, we're comin' back this week....we can't wait for the weekend!
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This event was my first Yelp Elite outing, and I definitely had a great time. I have to admit that I was pretty surprised by the number of people--I was expecting it to be a lot more crowded, and the space could easily have accommodated 50% more Yelpers. However, I'm glad they DIDN'T invite many more people because the quantity of food was pretty low already. Now I'll grant, we were warned that this wasn't a lunch event, just tastes, but I did expect to see more tastes than materialized from the kitchen. That goes double for desserts. The event was billed as focusing on desserts, but I only saw 2 come out and only got to try 1 of them. Here's my take on the food:
- Saffron-potato soup (served as shots): Savory, but rather salty
- Salt & Pepper Tofu: Very tasty; would order on my own
- Chicken sausage: Excellent, with a bockwurst-like consistency. I liked the Dijon mustard being mixed in with the sausage filling
- Prosciutto: Creamy, smooth fattiness with excellent salt balance
- Salami slices: Moderately tasty, but oily enough that I really wished they'd been served on baguette slices rather than dangling from wooden clothes pins
- Pea soup croquettes: The soup was bland as was the excessive amount of croquette containing it; cool concept though
- Soft white chocolate with white truffle oil: cream cheese consistency, slightly sweet, and reminiscent of mascarpone
The citrus cooler cocktail was excellent, and I was impressed that despite the crush of Yelpers desperate to get hammered, the bartenders were making them quickly and efficiently. Balancing the flavors in a cocktail well is tough, and doubly so in a high-volume environment, so I was impressed that my first drink was perfect. The second was a little less well-mixed, but I'll credit burn-out. The K&L wine table was less heavily hit, but the Chardonnay was nice, though sweeter than most I've had. We Yelpers sure know how to tie one on...
The space itself was an unexpectedly good blending of classy and industrial. The natural light was beautiful and the funky, comfortable chairs were well-arranged to provide lots of room to mingle. It would be interesting to see the dinner layout. I appreciated that restrooms were available in 3 separate banks--one downstairs and two on opposite sides of the upstairs; extra points for them all being unisex. Props to the staff for remaining friendly all the way through the ordeal I'm sure we represented.
TRIVIA: The building used to be a working steel mill until the restaurant moved in, and many of the fixtures were left in place. Also, according to executive chef Elizabeth Falkner, they have a new tasting menu or you can simply order "Chef's Choice".
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Being lazy and late about getting to review this, i'm entitling myself to a useless riddled rambling review since no one needs to read it. no useful no funny no cool, and good riddance. you can blame it on the afternoon drinks, dismotivating in indirect correlation to quality (yes quality was good hence 4 stars the end).
Chesire Cat at his usual befuddling here-there-disappear-grinning-oddball petlike self, plus one and i running laps with neverending refr