Best Catering Companies 2022
RAPT Hospitality
RAPT Hospitality offers a variety of hospitality services to clients in the New York City metro area. This includes luxury catering, in which it gives customers access to a wide array of culinary dishes. RAPT Hospitality's chefs specialize in American cooking and culinary cocktail craft, using ingredients from local and urban farms throughout the surrounding area. It is available year-round and provides its services for weddings and other private events.
Indiana Market & Catering
Indiana Market & Catering, based in New York City for over 30 years, can provide simple food deliveries or full-service catering and event support. For clients’ events, the business provides deejays, décor, 3D lighting, and transportation, among other options. David Turk, the company’s owner and founder, has worked in the catering industry for over 30 years. He is a member of the Excalibur Society for Hospitality and Service Excellence.
Sweet Basil Catering
A Bride's Choice Awardee of 2010, Sweet Basil is a woman owned full-service events and catering company in New York City. The company is known to create a variety of cultural and seasonal foods with beautiful aesthetics. They offer a wide range of catering and events services from private parties, galas, weddings, corporate events, and fundraisers. Its owner and creative director, Amy Aversa, aims to make special and unique events for its clients and guests. The company enjoys impeccable customer satisfaction ratings from its clients.
FCI Catering & Events
FCI Catering & Events, based in New York, is a catering service with dishes that incorporate seasonal, locally-sourced ingredients. It is the International Culinary Center’s exclusive in-house catering and event production provider. Notably, FCI Catering & Events has been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, New York Weddings, and Rodale Wellness.
Neuman's Kitchen
Neuman's Kitchen, based in New York for over 30 years, caters weddings, corporate gatherings, and other special events. The company’s President, Paul Neuman, is a Past President of the International Special Events Society’s New York Chapter as well as the Executives Association of New York City. For its high-quality food and customer service, Neuman’s Kitchen has received awards from Manhattan Bride, Martha Stewart Weddings, Leading Caterers of America, and Junebug Weddings.
Elegant Affairs
Elegant Affairs is a full-service, off-premise caterer providing its services for corporate, social, and non-profit events in New York City, Long Island, and the Hamptons. The company is available for weddings, social soirees, and private celebrations, serving hors’ d'oeuvres, appetizers, innovative food stations, and entrees. Owner Andrea Correale has appeared in various media channels, including Fox, CBS, NBC, and MTV. She also contributes to Social Life Magazine and Hamptons magazine.
Abigail Kirsch
Abigail Kirsch is a New York City catering service that is named after its founder. The company operates a number of New York Metro area venues, and it can also provide catering services at clients’ own venues. Predesigned sample menus for lunches, dinners, corporate meetings, and other events are available on the Abigail Kirsch website.
CLOUD Catering & Events
CLOUD Catering & Events, in Long Island City, has been operating in the NYC Metro for over three years. The caterer’s Executive Chef, Tyler Lyne, has been living in New York City since 2006. He has worked at CRU Restaurant as well as Bouley, Momofuku Ko, Ciano, and La Esquina. The CLOUD Catering & Events menu includes vegetarian options as well as poultry, meat, and seafood. Mr. Lyne received recognition from Zagat as one of the publication’s New York City “30 Under 30” chefs.
Above & Beyond Catering
Above & Beyond Catering, located in Dumont, is a catering service that also operates in the New York City Metro. The catering team receives thorough Kosher certification from the Orthodox Union, and the staff chefs can prepare dishes suitable for vegetarians and vegans, as well as meat-eaters. Interested potential clients can browse Above & Beyond Catering’s website for detailed information about its bar mitzvah, bat mitzvah, and wedding packages.
Amy Ruth's Harlem
Amy Ruth's Harlem, founded in Harlem in 1998, is a chicken and waffles restaurant with catering service available for customers throughout the area. Carl S. Redding, the restaurant’s founder and owner, has populated the menu with soul food recipes that he learned from his grandmother, Amy Ruth. Catering clients can select from a range of food options, including breakfast buffets as well as lunch items such as fried chicken, catfish, ribs, and various side dishes and desserts.
Bistro Caterers
Bistro Caterers is a NYC caterer providing breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. Clients may either pick up food from the business’s Lexington Avenue location, or order food via phone or the app Seamless. For breakfast, Bistro Caterers offers oatmeal, egg dishes, and a range of breads and pastries. For lunch and dinner, Bistro Caterers’ menu includes soups, salads, burritos, tacos, sandwiches, snacks, and an array of beverage options.
Cocktail Caterers
Cocktail Caterers is a food and design catering company. The business is located in New York City's Chelsea neighborhood and serves the New York Metro area. Owners Kurt Kretzschmar and Michael Watts opened their company in 2007. Customers can choose from customized menus ranging from small plates, tasty bites, hot food stations and tablescape buffets for private or corporate affairs. Cocktail Caterers is certified by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and is a Small Business Association member.
Feed Me More, Inc.
Feed Me More Inc. is a catering business that serves both private and business clients and regularly prepares food for events both large and small. Clients can create custom menus depending on their guests and the themes of their events, and selections can be curated to fit within budgets at different ranges. This caterer offers full-service catering for clients who want guests accommodated, but it can also drop-off food items if preferable to clients.
Mangia NYC
Mangia NYC is a catering company with over three decades of experience serving customers in the NYC area. With a strong focus on regional Italian cooking, the company offers services ideal for corporate events, conferences, and special occasions. In addition, it offers assistance during the event planning phase including bar staffing and rentals. Mangia NYC strives as much as possible to work ethically and to maintain close relationships with suppliers, adopting a farm-to-table philosophy and working with environmentally friendly products.
Diane Gordon Catering
Diane Gordon Catering is a woman-owned business that serves New York City and other nearby areas. It provides premium catering and event planning services to tech and real estate companies, law offices, educational institutions, and financial firms. Its team of chefs develops and prepares menus with a wide variety of international cuisine that includes French, Italian, American, and Spanish cocktails, entrees, and desserts. It promotes sustainable food production and service by sourcing its artisanal ingredients from local farmers' markets and using eco-friendly serving ware.
Edenopolis
Based in New York and offering full-service catering, Edenopolis builds custom menus for each of its clients. It also coordinates rentals and venues, and it assists with flowers and designing event concepts. The business's cuisine choices incorporate international elements but use locally sourced ingredients, including wild-caught seafood and free-range chicken. Edenopolis can serve weddings, dinner parties, and corporate gatherings, among other types of events. Owner and chef Richard Vanderplas personally walks clients through the planning and catering process.
Saffron 59
Saffron 59 is a NYC Metro catering service with a range of Southeast Asian cuisine options. Irene Khin Wong, the company’s founder and principal chef, was born in Myanmar and raised in Canton. Ms. Wong routinely returns to these locales, as well as Singapore and Northern India, to expand her culinary range. In addition to Irene Khim Wong, the full-service catering team at Saffron 59 includes an expert pastry chef from Tokyo as well as two expert mixologists. Among Saffron 59’s signature drinks are classic drinks as well as tropical cocktails.
Chama Mama
Chama Mama is a catering company in New York City that offers Classic Georgian cuisine with a modern spin. Caterers serve the specialties, The Tone, khachapuri, and the qvevri to office parties and private and business events. They also make custom event menus, including ADJARULI KHACHAPURI, 4 slices of IMERULI KHACHAPURI, 6 slices of MEGRULI KHACHAPURI, and other brunch meals and desserts. Chama Mama also offers delivery services throughout the city.
Metro Events
Metro Events is a New York City-based catering company that offers corporate catering and event planning services. It serves theme buffets, hors d'oeuvres, breakfast to lunch, and desserts for all types of events and settings. Clients can get in touch with one of the company's catering planners to discuss and collaborate on creating unique menu plans and set-ups tailored to the needs of their event. Metro Events keeps an impressive roster of clientele, which includes Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co., L'oréal, CNN, MTV, and CBS.
Toum
Toum, which gets its name from the Lebanese word for “garlic,” is an NYC restaurant, caterer, and food truck. The menu includes shawarma, kebabs, falafels, hummus, and rice pilaf, as well as a garlic sauce, the restaurant’s signature food option. Vegan and vegetarian items are available. To provide catering to its New York Metro clients, Toum partners with the online services Fooda Catering, Cater2.me, and FoodtoEat.
Champignon Madison
Champignon Madison is a New York City restaurant and catering service whose menu includes hot and cold coffee drinks, baked goods, sandwiches, paninis, salads, soups, and a bevy of desserts. Interested potential clients can easily order catering service through Champignon Madison’s online system. Catering clients may either select from the company’s predesigned menus, or they can design their own.
Red Table Catering
Red Table Catering, founded in 2002, is an NYC Metro catering service that has been based in Brooklyn since 2005. Owner and Head Chef Brooke Costello began cooking professionally as a teenager. Before creating Red Table Catering, he worked at the London-based Italian restaurant Bertorelli, Ruby’s BBQ in Austin, and Word of Mouth Catering, also in Austin. He later spent three years designing and preparing dishes in Santiago, Chile.
Miss Elisabeth’s Catering
Miss Elisabeth’s Catering is an NYC Metro catering service founded in 2003, with food options ranging from simple family-style meals to four-course gourmet dinners. The owner and Executive Chef, Elizabeth Weinberg, is a Barnard College graduate who later studied at the local French Culinary Institute. Ms. Weinberg buys fresh ingredients at the Union Square Greenmarket. Whenever possible, she and her cooking team use seasonal, organic food, sourced from local providers.
Jacob Soul Food Restaurant and Salad Bar
Jacob Soul Food Restaurant and Salad Bar, established in 2009, is a buffet-style restaurant with Southern Comfort-style meals, as well as fresh fruits, vegetable dishes, and salads. Rachid Niang, the restaurant’s founder and owner, is an immigrant from Senegal who went on to graduate from a university in France. Catering options are available for churches, nonprofits, clubs, and special events throughout the five boroughs.
Salumeria Biellese
Salumeria Biellese is an Italian-style delicatessen and gourmet food shop located in New York City's Hell's Kitchen neighborhood. In 1925, two Northern Italian men from Italy's Biella Province founded this shop that relies upon traditional food preparation skills and Old World recipes. A variety of sausages, salumi, pasta and sandwiches are all freshly prepared on site. Salumeria Biellese has been awarded the Slow Food NYC Snail of Approval and has been featured in publications such as Bon Appetit and Gastronomica.
Expert Answers To Common Questions:
- Introduction
- Can a catering company serve alcohol?
- Are catering tastings free?
- When catering for a party, how do you calculate how much food is needed?
- When should you reserve catering services before an event?
- Do you tip the caterer?
- What is included with catering services?
- How many different catering styles are there and what are they?
- Do catering companies rent tables, chairs, tents, tablecloths?
- What is the best way to tell your caterer your event date has been changed or canceled?
- What are hidden fees that catering companies have?
- How do I start a catering business from home?
- How do I rent a kitchen for catering?
- How can I promote my catering business?
- What licenses are needed to start a catering business?
- How much do caterers make per event?
- Where can I find catering leads?
- Q: Introduction
- A: Catering is a convenient service that brings restaurant-quality food and beverages to a variety of social gatherings. It's beneficial to weddings, workplace celebrations, and other events because it invites guests to relax and enjoy a festive meal. While there are many dedicated catering businesses that transport food and equipment to their clients, many restaurants also offer catering as part of their dining services.For those interested in a career in catering, the flexibility to take your business anywhere is one factor that may make the industry attractive. Like traditional restaurants, caterers often specialize in one type of cuisine, and they can vary widely in price and capacity. Whether you're looking to hire catering services for your next event or you want to learn more about the profession, take a look at these frequently asked questions below.
- Q: Can a catering company serve alcohol?
- A: Just like brick-and-mortar restaurants, catering companies need a liquor license to serve alcohol to patrons. If a caterer is serving alcoholic beverages, guests under the age of 21 are allowed on the premises, but they may not buy or consume alcohol.
- Q: Are catering tastings free?
- A: If you're having a large event catered and expecting to spend a lot of money, having a tasting beforehand is often a good idea. Tastings are handled differently by catering companies; some may charge while others won't. In general, most caterers charge a fee, usually around the cost of a meal at a restaurant.
- Q: When catering for a party, how do you calculate how much food is needed?
- A: Caterers usually help their clients calculate food by offering a recommended portion size per guest. Taking this into consideration, all you need to do is multiply this portion by the number of expected guests to determine the total amount of food needed.
- Q: When should you reserve catering services before an event?
- A: The amount of time in advance needed to schedule catering services depends on the number of people and type of event. For weddings with 50 people or more, six to 12 months in advance is recommended. For smaller gatherings, a month or two should suffice.
- Q: Do you tip the caterer?
- A: Some catering services include tips in the bill, so you don't have to worry about handling this aspect on the day of your event. If the tip is not included, a minimum of 15% of the total bill is recommended, while tipping 20% is not uncommon.
- Q: What is included with catering services?
- A: In addition to the food you order, catering services can include delivery, linens, silverware or plasticware, plates and cups, a small heat source to keep hot dishes warm, and staff. When planning your event, it's always a good idea to confirm which of these items are included and necessary.
- Q: How many different catering styles are there and what are they?
- A: The three main styles of catering are buffet, plated, and family-style.
- Buffet-style catering positions food on tables, and guests are encouraged to serve themselves.
- Plated catering is usually for formal occasions where staff bring individual plates to each seated guest.
- Family-style serves larger portions of food served placed on each table to be split between guests.
- Q: Do catering companies rent tables, chairs, tents, tablecloths?
- A: Most catering companies provide the necessary equipment to serve food, such as serving utensils and chafing dishes, though not all have furniture, such as chairs and tables, to seat large groups of people. If you also want to rent dining equipment, a larger catering company is likely a good option.
- Q: What is the best way to tell your caterer your event date has been changed or canceled?
- A: If your event date has changed or needs to be canceled, let the caterers know as soon as possible so they can make the necessary arrangements. A phone call is usually the best option so you can speak with someone directly to ensure that your cancellation is confirmed. If sending an email, be sure to get a written confirmation.
- A: When budgeting your event, it's a good idea to be aware of some of the common fees catering companies may charge. The most common include:
- Hiring waiters and other servers
- Cake-cutting or uncorking fees
- Garbage clean-up fees
- Tableware and linen rentals
- Tax and service charges
- Q: How do I start a catering business from home?
- A: After putting together a business plan and getting licensed, you need some basic equipment, such as plates, bowls, silverware, and garbage bins, to get started with your catering business. This should be enough for a simple operation, though if you want to serve more people, acquiring staff and a kitchen is a must.
- Q: How do I rent a kitchen for catering?
- A: Renting a kitchen is an important step for caterers looking to expand their business. Look for a space in your area that is at least 70 square feet, and contact the owner for details on rent. Once you've signed the lease, the next step is outfitting it with the right equipment.
- Q: How can I promote my catering business?
- A: There are many ways to promote a catering business, though the most cost-effective for small businesses is social media. Here you can target specific demographics based on age, interests, and location to reach out to the ideal audience for your services. A press release can be another good way to inform local media outlets of your new business, while a blog can allow new and establish customers to follow you over the long term.
- Q: What licenses are needed to start a catering business?
- A: There are several licenses required to run a catering business. In addition to a basic business license (BBL), you may also need a county or city license for food handling and a safety certification. A liquor license is not a necessity but common for caterers who plan on serving weddings and other large parties.
- Q: How much do caterers make per event?
- A: The amount your catering business makes per event depends entirely on how much you charge for your food minus the cost of expenses, such as staffing and materials. These are all details to be worked out in your business plan, but a good rule of thumb is to walk away with at least enough profit to cover the time you spent earning it. The average salary for a caterer is between $18,000 and $42,000 per year.
- Q: Where can I find catering leads?
- A: Getting leads for any business can be tough, but there's no better asset than word of mouth. The best way to get new customers is to make sure you always offer top-level service to the ones you already have, so they recommend you to friends and family in the future.