Bella Weddings and Events is a Jacksonville-area catering company, providing a range of catering services as well as wedding planning, rentals, and entertainment. They strive to help couples achieve their vision of a perfect wedding day, with three convenient, customizable packages to choose from. Bella Weddings and Events has a overall five-star rating from clients on theknot.com.
Founded in Jacksonville in 1991, Biscotti's features a private dining space with innovative cuisine. This restaurant was named one of the city's four best places to eat by the New York Times Travel Section and is noted for its Sunday brunch. As a full-service catering company, Biscotti's offers lunch and brunch delivery, a la carte menus, sit-down dinners with passed hors d'oeuvres, and other customizable options.
Jacksonville's Black Sheep Restaurant offers catering that features their gourmet take on modern American cuisine. Customers can choose from boxed business lunches with a range of options for corporate meetings and a sliders menu featuring miniature versions of club sandwiches, roast beef, and other favorites. Catering add-ons include homemade macaroni and cheese, potato salad, cured meats, cheese and fruit plates, and more.
Located in Jacksonville, Catering by Liz Grenamyer has a reputation for elegant events. Founded in 1993, this business is staffed by highly-experience culinary professionals who produce outstanding menus for all occasions. Catering by Liz is frequently named among the city's best caterers. Clients say they provide excellent food and excellent service that never disappoints.
Davoli's Catering can help cater any Jacksonville event, from breakfast and lunch buffets to elegant wedding receptions. This family-owned business has more than 45 years of experience and has prepared meals for the likes of George W. Bush, Chris Rock, Nancy Reagan, and Kenny Rogers. In addition to their traditional menus, Davoli's Catering has recently introduced a selection of healthy options such as pan-fried tofu.
Founded in 1994 in Jacksonville, Designed Events Inc provides professional, high-quality catering, event planning, and bartending. Each custom menu is designed to provide clients a unique culinary experience, with options for corporate events, weddings, themed cocktail parties, and other social and business events. This business has a 4.8 out of 5 star customer rating on Wedding Wire and a 4 out of 5 star review on The Knot.
EFS Catering is an on-site catering company that serves Florida's entire First Coast, including Jacksonville and surrounding areas. This caterer specializes in elegant weddings and can also provide menus for corporate events and other occasions. Their executive chef has more than 30 years of creative experience and a passion for making dishes look as wonderful as they taste.
Established in 2004, Enza's Italian Restaurant provides authentic Old World catering throughout the Jacksonville area. They specialize in parties of all sizes, from small dinners at home to corporate galas for up to 200 guests. This restaurant has reviews of 4 out of 5 stars or greater on Yelp, Google, OpenTable, and Trip Advisor. Enza's also offers fun cooking demonstrations and other events.
Located in Jacksonville Beach, Gregory Paul's features fresh, seasonal, customized catering menus for all occasions. Clients who need well-made food for corporate events and other parties can call a specialist at this location to help create an individualized selection of options that will leave their guests satisfied.
Mambo's Cuban Cafe is an authentic, family-owned Cuban restaurant serving the greater Jacksonville area. Established in 2007, they also provide catering for weddings and corporate events. Catering packages include delicious food at an affordable price point, with menus customized to reflect any style of event. Whether clients are interested in tasty hors d'oeuvres at a cocktail party or a several-course meal, Mambo's can deliver.
Not only has Matthew's Restaurant frequently been named one of the best places to dine in the Jacksonville area, but they also offer catering services for weddings and other events. Full-service menu and event design is offered both at the restaurant and at the client's choice of location. This business has a perfect 5-star customer rating on Wedding Wire.
Mojo Q Holdings offers Southern blues inspired barbecue catering for casual and refined events throughout Florida. The Jacksonville location, Mojo BBQ, serves up pulled pork shoulder, beef brisket, Texas hot links, and other smoked meats along with homemade sides, salads, sandwiches, traditional desserts, and all the extras. Their specialists can help clients design a package to make any party great.
Located in Jacksonville, Si Senor Fresh Mex is a family business serving 100 percent authentic Mexican food made from fresh ingredients. Their catering menu includes a range of traditional entrees and combinations, including tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and sopes, along with sides and salads. Clients can also opt for a full bar or soda and juice service only. Si Senor will cater at their restaurant or the customer's chosen location.
The Perfect Pear Catering Company strives to cater events of all kinds with delicious gourmet fare and whimsical presentation. From corporate dinner parties to galas and elegant wedding celebrations, this company prides itself on impeccable attention to detail. The Perfect Pear Catering Company won the Wedding Wire Couples' Choice Award for 2016 and has also been named among Best of Weddings by The Knot.
The Potter's House Soul Food Bistro features traditional Southern cuisine at its iconic Jacksonville location. Founded in 1998, this bistro has catering menus that include favorites like fried chicken, pork chops, honey baked ham; fresh homestyle sides like cheesy mac and sweet buttered corn; and delicious traditional desserts like bread pudding and peach cobbler.
Well-Oiled Events does business with clients in the Jacksonville metro area, providing catering services as well as special event preparation. Its catering services are organized by a trio of experienced hospitality professionals who can provide custom arrangements to clients who need to serve guests in different ways. Well-Oiled Events offers a range of culinary options, enabling clients to create custom menus based on their budgets and the types of food they desire to serve their guests.
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.
The three main styles of catering are buffet, plated, and family-style.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
