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Bistro Cacao is a French restaurant in Washington DC that can be hired for catering events. Winner of the OpenTable Diners’ Choice award in 2015, the restaurant has been mentioned in the Washingtonian, The Epicurianist, and The Washington Post. One customer stated in their review, “Bistro Cacao is one of DC’s newest little gems, and is sure to remain a favorite for its creative elegance and romance.”
Catering by Seasons is a La Prima Food Group company that is Green Restaurant Certified and serves its clients in DC. Following the company’s local and environmentally friendly goals, the Seeds to Celebrations program launched in 2012. As one client stated, “The food was exceptional from start to finish, and many guests provided immediate feedback about how delicious everything was.”
Eat and Smile Catering is a locally sourced caterer that opened in 2007. The company buys from farmers within 150 miles of its location in Washington. Following its many principles of locality, the caterers include a “strong core of environmental friendliness and sustainability” in as many aspects of its function as possible. WeddingWire and The Knot gave the company multiple Couples' Choice Awards.
GetPlated is a catering service based in Washington, DC that prepares custom menus for weddings, social events, and corporate gatherings in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The company provides personalized culinary services, preparing the menu according to the mood and theme of the event—whether rustic or romantic, chic or classic. It caters smaller gatherings, like office meetings, to big-scale occasions. GetPlated co-founder Keyon Hammond is a classically trained chef with more than 12 years of experience working at a premium country club.
Have Some Charisma is a catering company that serves clients throughout the Washington DC metro area. It handles a variety of catering needs for clients with both personal and business-related event plans. Clients can choose from a particularly large selection of entrees, sides, and desserts to create custom menus for their events, and these selections can be tailored to fulfill their unique budget and guest-related needs. Have Some Charisma also offers fine dining experiences.
Heirloom Catering and Event Design offers catering services for weddings, corporate events, and social celebrations. Personalized designs are also available, from the menu to the overall theme of the event. The company has been featured on Healthfully Ever After, Let’s Talk Live, StyleBistro, WeddingWire, and Washington Life Magazine. One customer stated, “The food was probably the most delicious food I’ve ever tasted, definitely not your typical catering food.”
Mai Thai Restaurant has been serving authentic Thai cuisine in DC for over 20 years. Along with the dine-in experience, customers can also hire the restaurant to cater personal and professional events. Three separate locations are available to call upon for service.
Occasions Caterers has been open in DC for 30 years. In 1993, the catering company had the honor of being selected by the Presidential Inaugural Committee to cater for President Clinton’s inauguration after-party. Since then, the business has been hired to service many events hosted at the White House. The Washington Business Journal named the company Top Caterer in 2007.
Based in Washington, D.C., Paris Caterers provides clients across Washington, Virginia, and Maryland with distinctive handcrafted menus tailored to their culinary preferences and style. The company also travels throughout the country to cater destination events. Founded in 1973, Paris Caterers has hosted corporate and social gatherings using primarily fresh, locally grown ingredients. By choice, it only hosts one or two events per day so it can provide each client with a unique and sophisticated experience.
Purple Onion Catering was founded in 1990 with the goal to “provide exceptional food and service” to DC. Typical events are weddings, corporate, and private parties. Menus are custom made, while event details are individually personalized for each client. The company is a member of ISES, as well as SESMA, ICA, and NACE. It was also awarded 2010 Best of Weddings by The Knot, Best of the Best in 2014 by The Wedding Look Book, and Couples’ Choice 2016 by WeddingWire.
Putting on the Ritz has almost 30 years of experience catering to the Baltimore and DC area. The company has earned many awards over the years, such as Howard Magazine Caterer of the Year, Bride’s Choice and Couple’s Choice Awards, first prize in the Catersource Summer Symposium Buffet Competition, and Restaurant Association of Maryland Caterer of the Year.
Ridgewells Catering has an astounding 85 years of experience catering in DC. The company donates to nonprofit organizations in support of “a variety of health, education, women, and children’s issues.” Typical events include not only weddings and corporate events, but birthday parties, mitzvahs, baby showers, and anniversary celebrations, as well. Along with multiple titles from ISES, the company has been awarded Caterer of the Year by Event Solutions Magazine and the Volunteer Service Award for its contributions to the National Kidney Foundation.
Rito Loco is a burrito company in DC. Both the restaurant location and the food truck offer catering. Corporate events, parties, celebrations, weddings, and reunions are all events the company serves with its full-service catering. As one reviewer stated, “You won’t find rice, beans, or sour cream in Rito Loco’s burritos. Each is jam-packed with your filling of choice.”
Root and Stem is a catering and events company in Washington DC. The Green Restaurant Certified company is split into two divisions that cater to corporate clients and those seeking services for more private social events. Because of its focus on Green practices, the caterers use locally grown produce, offer customers reusable ware, and recycle as much waste as possible.
Southwest Catering Co prepares and serves various meals for any event in Washington DC and nearby areas. The catering company offers buffet and server-style courses for small dinner parties at home or large events. For customers who are busy during the work week and have no time to cook, the business also provides meal preparation and delivery options for lunch, dinner, and dessert. Southwest Catering Co has been in the food service industry since 2022.
Well Dunn Catering has over 30 years of experience catering from its location in DC. The company services weddings, corporate, and social events. Along with the menu, decor and management are supplied for the occasion. The business follows the Green Initiative and sources its ingredients and supplies from local organizations whenever possible. Unused food and other raw food staples get donated to “charitable groups who operate soup kitchens and other facilities” in the surrounding neighborhoods.
Wicked Waffle is a soup and sandwich shop in Washington. The restaurant believes in a “no butter, no syrup" philosophy, and emphasizes the “600-year-old European treat” by using waffles in replace of bread. A dedicated waffle iron gets utilized for the gluten free waffles on the menu. Customized menus, linens, décor, equipment, and service staff along with its catering services.
Windows Catering Company has been catering events in DC since its founding in 1987. Weddings by Windows, Full-Service Events, and Corporate Express are the divisions offered to assist with customers’ needs. The company has been awarded the Catersource Achievement in Catering Excellence and is a Certified Green Restaurant. In association with the its "green catering" philosophy, the company uses Energy Star appliances, environmentally friendly cleaning products, high-efficiency light bulbs, and low-flow water sink valves.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
