ORDER Osthmanthus Beef…read moreVeggie Platter Additional items not included on this review STARS (stand out qualities) -Food (5/5 stars) - delicious flavor -Service (3/5 stars) - clean and well kept -Ambiance (5/5 stars) - stunning decor! STAIRS (areas of growth) -More attentive service to each table -Offer water (no one offered and we had to ask) -Waiting staff speak more loudly (I think it was only specific to one of the waiting staff - not all) Thank you Paolo, the restaurant and others who made this happen! Overall, lovely experience! Great place to bring friends or coworkers!

I got to attend this Yelp event with another Yelp friend, and I thought it was quite an interesting…read moreexperience. We checked in and a server escorted us upstairs to a table. Upon sitting, we were just sitting around for awhile until a server came up to us to tell us how to order. I was kind of disappointed that the instructions were unclear. I think they were also confused that both of us were each attending for the Yelp event, even though we both checked in. So after asking multiple questions, we understood that we had to order the complimentary soup and combo from the menu thru the QR code at the table and the discount will apply later. We ordered extra meat in addition to the ones included in the experience. Since we arrived closer to 8pm, there weren't many tea options left for the soup base. We opted for Jasmine Tea. It was cool to see tea being a soup base for hot pot. We then proceeded to the sauce bar to make our own sauce. There were also a few snacks along with the sauce bar. When our food arrived, it was a nice presentation. But they forgot one meat and both of our veggies for the combo until we asked. I also think they might've switched the spice level on our soups, because we requested Beef Oil to be mild and the Golden Sour Cabbage to be medium spicy. But the Beef Oil was way too spicy. Although our experience wasn't the best because things were unclear, we finished and enjoyed all our food. Thank you to Four Seasons Tea House Hot Pot and Paolo for organizing this event!

Mountain View's version never disappoints. While I do not drink, I recalled them offering 5 types…read moreof German beer, several types of wine, and bottle water. The food offerings were standard fare: German food and art/wine goodies. The huge tent was packed with more patrons than ever before. As usual, the bands and contests (stein holding, costume, beer belly, and yodeling) were the highlights.

Was almost 100 degrees out this past Saturday, but that didn't stop us from attending this free…read moreevent in Mountain View and celebrating Oktoberfest! It was loud as hell inside the main tent from all the chatter among hordes of visitors crowding underneath the shade, seeking relief from the blazing heat. But the old-looking speaker system still did its job, as the live music could be enjoyed even without the best sound quality, volume was just right with fun performances on different instruments like the saxophone, accordian, trombone, slide guitar, and bass. Big Lou's Oktoberfest Band was amazing on stage in the afternoon. The entertainment didn't stop there. The audience was able to engage in a number of amusing competitions throughout the day... yodeling contests, costume contest (the winner dressed as a beer mug), beer belly contest (with silly contestants showing off their gut to the crowd), stein holding contest (separate men's and women's), and a chicken dance. We had fun watching, participating, and just being filled with laughter. There were several food tents offering a combination of German dishes and your typical fair food. The sausage plate was delicious. Tried several beers too and they were all pretty good, especially Stein's Oakland United Beerworks Tropical IPA. But in the spirit of this festival, of the german beers, my fave was the Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen. The size of this event was not very large, taking up just 1-2 blocks, and street parking not too difficult to find. The main attractions were the beer and entertainment, and we definitely had a great time taking advantage. There were also just a few merchandise vendors including face and arm painting, as well as a whole section/street with porta potties. Overall, a well organized event, hardly a wait for anything, and lots of friendly people all around.

Super duper event. Unique. Splendid. I have a new found love for matcha…read more Paolo et al were great as usual. It was well organized, then giveaways and snacks were a nice touch. I really did enjoy the owner coming out to talk to us about matcha. The stuff comes directly from their home town at the foot of Mount Fuji. While other matcha houses have shortages, they have a steady supply here. Otherwise they get on the phone, and mom and pop walk over to the supplier to see what's up. Tables were nicely set up. Met sevral nice people. Don't you love yelp events? Had a nice chat with the person across from me. Then talked at length to the person on my left. And got to hold hands with the lady on my right, Fun time had by all!

This was my first yelp event wherein I met up at a specific time and place to join fellow yelpers…read moreto sample goodies. I love matcha, so this Lunch & Learn at Ryokucha Cafe on Friday, November 14, 2025, definitely piqued my interest. I arrived at the storefront at exactly the 12:30 PM start time; however, their tiny parking lot was completely full, so I had to drive around the block a couple of times to find street parking. I later learned that the adjacent underground garage was available for us to use. Wish that information was shared with us in the email. Luckily, I was only five minutes late to the event. I don't like being tardy. Upon arrival, I was greeted at the check-in table, showed my attendee QR code Party pass, and grabbed a yelp sleep mask. A small table and three chairs were added to an existing table of yelp participants to seat Yikai and Fumika, my new yelp friends whom I met here, and me. Boxes of individual packs of baked buns from Sheng Kee Bakery were available for grabs at a table by the front counter. This was our lunch. I picked a hot dog bun and a pork bun both of which were super soft. Shortly after being seated, we were given another yelp gift, a nice food container with accompanying eating utensils. I envisioned the event to be similar to a wine tasting where all of the small drinks are pre-poured in small cups and presented on a tray with labels for each and a host speaks on each as you sip them. Instead, as each beverage was made, the pours were done at the table. It wasn't the most organized flow, but it was steady. Our table, or at least the end where I was sitting, didn't hear of any talks on the origins, preparation, nor health benefits of matcha, which was no big deal to my tablemates nor me since we were engulfed in socializing and sharing our opinions of each sip with one another. The experience was definitely all about matcha. After snacking on Sheng Kee buns, we were served a tiny scoop of Matcha Soft Serve, an array of generous sips of Ryokucha's signature matcha drinks, and a sample of their Hojicha Latte. Below are all of the items that we got to try: Macha Soft Serve - Made with real milk. I took a Lactaid and enjoyed this. Blueberry Matcha Latte - This was Naomi's (another new yelp friend whom I met here) favourite. At initial sip, Yikai exclaimed, "Whoa! That is special! Very unique. Definitely good, but sweet." I liked this drink, too, but didn't find it to be very sweet, which was great. Banana Cream Matcha Latte - Naomi was not a fan of the version made with oat milk, citing the chalky, powdery texture. She preferred this made with real milk. Initially, Yikai skipped this sample, but Naomi and I insisted that he taste this one because it was not sweet. The banana flavour really came through, but it didn't make it to the top of my list. Mango Matcha Latte - I really tasted the mango here, too, but the drink was a bit too sweet for me. I didn't hear anyone else comment on this one. Strawberry Matcha Latte - This was also good, but on the sweet side. Yikai commented, "Interesting. You can see strawberry chunks." Hojicha Latte - After his initial sip, Yikai said that "they keep bringing more and more unique stuff." I enjoyed the warm, toasty flavour of this roasted Japanese green tea. This won the top drink of the day vote from Yikai and me and I ordered it for my complimentary drink item, 50% sweet and made with almond milk. Yikai said that even 50% would be too sweet for him. I didn't expect it to be since the sample tasting I had wasn't very sweet at all. Welp, in the end, I agreed with Yikai - perhaps I should have asked for zero sweetness because the 50% ended up to be too sweet for me as the ice melted that I ended up giving my beverage to DJ. He said that he liked the flavour. Perhaps, during the tasting, I didn't find the Hojicha Latte to be very sweet because it was the last sample I tried...after the others which were much sweeter. What a great way to bring together people with similar interests like tasting and rating edibles and potables. It was a rare time for me to enjoy taking shots and notes on served items without someone growing impatient with my yelping (a.k.a. family). Come on yelp friends, you know what I am talking about, right? I can't be the only one on here who feels pressured to snap shots within half a second, so that others can dive in! Needless to say, I had a great time, meeting and mingling with yelpers over shots of Japanese tea. Shout out to Ryokucha Cafe for a welcoming and fun event. A million thanks Paolo for looking out for me, ensuring that my drinks were made with milk alternatives.

So lucky to have Mary V leading our NorthBay group... just back from another amazing event!…read more Special shout out to her intern Ruby... better hire or quickly or one of us will! Many thanks, Alan

Ordering: smooth process-after checking in for the event, we went ahead and scanned the QR code for…read morethe menu. For this you can directly order and no worries on the charge- so long as it's the one hotpot & one drink. Service: very attentive and kind throughout- when seated brought our water. All staff are wearing masks appropriately! (Not something I consistently see when out now) Hotpot: - I've always loved Tasty pot and happy to support their 7 year anniversary, this is a locale I haven't been to but have been to the one in Berkeley - flavor- for Taiwan stinky tofu and spicy pot the flavor is spot on. Feel to add extra add ons as needed to support the business - bathroom- the womens bathroom has a broken faucet but it was working just loose. - portions- the $20 pots tend to be larger but al come with water and it's great :) Now I'll be frequenting this spot when the craving hits for hotpot :) glad to have come around for this event

To start, thank you to our CM Katie for organizing another amazing Yelp Experience!…read more This is my second time coming here and it gave me confirmation entrees (we got the Lanzhou noodles this time) are HUGE. It was good enough to feed two people + some to-go. Broth is really clean and not too heavy. I wish the noodles were cut a little though because they're pretty long. We went during lunch so it wasn't very busy. Staff were very attentive bringing out refills of water and individual bowls to share. Dinner tends to be really packed. We also got an beef pancake roll which was really yummy. It was packed was packed with cilantro and other veggies which made it super refreshing Overall super great experience! And the Yelp Chopsticks are very cute!

TLDR: Delicious noodles, but I felt a bit uncomfortable! The customer service was nonexistent…read morehonestly and on top of that... there was a man (possibly the owner?) who was very blunt and judgemental. He didn't seem very happy to be a part of this event... 4/5 stars for the Lanzhou noodles! I really enjoy a clean clear beef broth, and this is a great option for it. The noodles were honestly too soft for me, but the noodles I got were the perfect shape. I definitely recommend the thin flat noodles. They give a big portion! You scan a QR code and order on the phone. There's complimentary tea given, but if you want water, you need to ask. After we finished our meal, I let a waitress know that I was there for the Yelp Elite event and she greeted me happily, then referred me to the other man (the owner or manager?). He bluntly says "you're supposed to let us know before you order" and I quickly apologized... When I was ready to pay (since we got an appetizer too), he brought the Square system with Apple Pay to our table. I nervously pay since he's staring us down and when I'm deciding to tip, I quickly type an amount and he suddenly gets VERY UPSET because of how much I tipped. No matter the amount I tip... a business owner should never chew out a customer for a VOLUNTARY tip... AT LEAST I TIPPED SOMETHING??? This was a bitter way to end my experience here....

My 3 year old dog and I had an amazing time! My dog has reactivity issues so I was nervous taking…read morehim in. I called ahead of time and they were very understanding and accommodating. When we arrived, we were promptly greeted and felt very comfortable. My dog didn't bark even once! He learned the obstacles very quickly and was happy the whole time. The trainer also informed me of tools and tips for helping his reactivity which was very kind. He loved the treats we used so we bought some at the end of our class. Would recommend!

We had a blast at Zoom Room today. As we walked in, we were warmly greeted by the trainers and…read morewalked over to our designated area. We did 3 rounds of agility circling through each group individually. The flow was so smooth and seamless that 30 minutes just flew by so quickly. Tom was our instructor and he spoke so well and clearly with his instructions. He really cheered on each dog and made everyone feel so supported. The Yelp poop bag holder was such a nice and thoughtful touch. This was such a unique event unlike any other I've ever been to. Thank you Zoom Room and Katie for having us!

I was super excited to try out the Smashburger! We live in Japan Town which is super close to this…read moreplace. As usual Yelp (Abby) come through with yet another "Smashing" Yelp event! The event was well organized and staffed! The staff of Smashburger were outstanding and were super friendly. They even made a special tasting menu for this Yelp event! Smashing Baby! There were five burgers and two chicken sandwiches to taste, and most were amazing! My favorite was the Bay Area Burger, which I can't wait to enjoy again. There event starred with smashing fries, sweet potato fries, onion rings and vegetables; all equally delicious! The onion rings stood out as they were lightly battered, which is so different than most places. The event ended with peanut butter, vanilla and Oreo shakes! Did I mention Gordon Biersch beer! I am so full from this devine menu, I'm not sure how I will get through the night. Based on the nutritional sheet, I've consumed at least 2,500 calories tonight! Gluttony?!? In the end, it was a smashing event and food. I met some new Yelpers, silver and gold! Special thanks to Abby and Smashburger staff and marketing guy!

Roll out the barrel, we'll have a barrel of fun Roll out the…read morebarrel, we've got the blues on the run Zing boom tararrel, ring out a song of good cheer Now's the time to roll the barrel, for the gang's all here Truly was a totally awesome event!! Roll out the barrel coz that's just how I felt...a barrel..that needs to be rolled out...hahaha...soo full!!! Like what other says 7 kinds of burger tasted...which is the equivalent of almost 2 big burgers..seriously!!! 3 kinds of fries, and onion ring (sorta)...plus OMG 3 kinds of shakes!!! and bottomless drinks for sure!!! Thank you Abby for such a very nice and very intimate event....Thank you staff at SmashBurgers and host...Nice to meet you Michelle (silver) and John (gold) (i get to meet at least 2 Yelpers that I've never met) and of course it was awesome to see familiar Yelpers too... PS Thanks for those red pair of cool Yelp socks...

Filoli is absolutely beautiful year-round, and springtime has its own wonderful beauty!…read more Boyfriend surprised me with a date to see the Chinese Floralia performance, which was so lovely and thoughtful of him! The NorCal Hanfu Association put on multiple performances of different Chinese performance arts dressed in hanfu and traditional Chinese dress from different dynasties. It was so much fun to people watch and see the crowds and see people who came to enjoy Filoli dressed in hanfu. We came on a Saturday, and it unexpectedly sprinkled on us on the way. Weather may be bipolar in the Bay Area, but it's still beautiful, and we were lucky the drizzle stopped for the performances. Not a whole lot is in bloom, but we did see Tulips, and the magnolia tree at the manor entrance is perfect for photos!

Thank you Paolo for this artistic event!…read more Hand thrown clay on the wheel for those of you who have this on your Bingo Card for things I must do one day. I've always wanted to try this so I was super excited to be here. It's actually very therapeutic! We had fun creating bowls and learning how to create those bowls! The best part is that if it falls flat it then becomes a plate! Congrats to all you artists out there! Support your local businesses! This studio is spacious and welcoming. It's like what you'd picture a pottery studio to be.

This was my first ever experience with clay and wow, it's so much harder than it looks! Luckily we…read morewere guided by Alex who was a fun teacher. Slowly but surely though, I got used to the motion and was actually able to create a bowl, albeit a lopsided one. Thank you Paolo for arranging this event with South Bay Ceramics!

After two years, Angelo B's questions remain unanswered. Plenty of events were listed on the promo…read moreposter, but no hours were posted! Neither the Yelp event listing nor the event website gave any hints to when the Adobo Cook-Off or award ceremony would take place. I arrived at the festival at 3 PM on Saturday to avoid the lunch-time crowd. Bad move. Why? By that time one of the only two vendors offering adobo SOLD OUT. Not surprisingly, the remaining $5 adobo w. rice booth had a small, growing line since they had to wait for another batch of rice to finish cooking. Luckily for me their adobo was delicious. Sure you had to navigate a few stray peppercorns and papery garlic skins, but each meaty morsel made my mouth water. The pork version was particularly addictive since my serving was delightfully vinegary and had the benefit of a generous amount of gravy. The shredded chicken adobo was good, but not as nicely seasoned. Most food vendors sold BBQ meat-on-a-stick dishes or teriyaki this-or-that. Boring. A couple others had more respectable Filipino fare [Mama Sita's & Gerry's Grill]. My favorite [and the most popular] booth was Magnolia Ice Cream. $3 for a single scoop. $4 for a double scoop (up to two flavors). The portions were generous so I felt happy to shell out the extra buck to get both Ube and Halo-Halo. Other flavors I remembered were Avocado, Mango, Mais Queso, and Buko Pandan. I'd go again... but maybe a little earlier. Think you missed out? You can catch part 2 of this year's Adobo Festival in Sacramento on August 21st & 22nd if you can't wait until 2011. Check the website for details.

I think they moved from where they usually are from Decoto to North Main next to Milpitas city…read moreLibrary. Although, we took public transit coming from Fairfield area, there was plenty of parking. Good to know in case we feel like going again but I doubt it unless they venture over to Solano. Too far for a rather small festival. We got there at the very start like 11:00-11:30 and got our very delicious food (ang sarap). I was super excited to go all week finding out I had the day off but at the end, I was on the disappointed side. I would've liked to hear more songs in Tagalog and I was expecting to get me and the fam Got Adobo ? Shirts. But they sold only sun hats, food, and jewelry. Guess I'll have to find them on line. But yeah. It was more of a bother than a delight to come to this event.