Attiki is a family-owned and operated restaurant serving the New Orleans area. They specialize in authentic Mediterranean food created from their family recipes. In addition to dine-in services, they also offer events and catering services. Their menu includes Baklava, a vegetarian pasta tray, grilled leg of lamb, tabullah, and more. Attiki has a 4.4-star rating on Facebook.
Bayou Barn is an event center located in Marrero, Louisiana. Their facility includes an 8,400 square foot barn, dance hall, heating, air conditioning, a covered pavilion, an outdoor deck, and landscaped grounds. In addition to hosting events, they also provide on-site and off-site catering. Their menu focuses on traditional Cajun and Creole cuisine made with fresh ingredients. Customers compliment the charming atmosphere, delicious food, and friendly service.
Cajun Seafood is a family-owned and operated business with three locations serving the metro New Orleans area. They have been in operation since 1995, providing in-house dining, catering, and event planning services. They use fresh, local, and seasonal products for their menu. Some of their menu items include fried rice party platters, party wings, Cajun gumbo, fish, shrimp, and boiled seafood. They have a 4.6-star rating on Facebook.
Deanie's Seafood is a family-owned New Orleans restaurant that has provided fresh seafood dishes for more than a half-century. In addition to their family-friendly dining, they offer private dining spaces for special events and off-site catering. Their full-service catering includes options for bartenders, servers, and station attendants. The menu includes party trays, salads, roasted meats, entrees, hors d’oeuvres, and more. Deanie’s Seafood sources their seafood from Louisiana waters. They earned their Louisiana wild Seafood Certification in 2014.
Drago's Seafood Restaurant is a family-owned business with locations in New Orleans and Metairie, Louisiana, and Jackson, Mississippi. They have been in operation since 1969, providing seafood in a family-friendly atmosphere. They offer in-house dining as well as off-site catering services. They have catering vehicles, including a repurposed fire engine and EMS vehicle. These vehicles are equipped with beer taps, charbroil grills, two large HDTVs, and an ice-cold Jägermeister dispenser.
After catering their own wedding, Jen and Brandon established Elysian Events Catering to provide all aspects of catering services to New Orleans and the nearby areas. Providing fresh and seasonal ingredients, the company offers custom menu options and wedding packages for its clients. The team's catering options include breakfast, brunch, lunch, buffets, and family-style dinners. Canapé stations as well as chargrilled and raw oyster bar options are also catered by Elysian Events Catering.
HK Nola is a New Orleans food business that was established in 2010. Their services include dine-in, full-service catering, groceries, and a juice and coffee bar. They specialize in fresh, organic, kosher foods that are locally sourced. The restaurant is certified kosher. Their menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner items, such as gluten-free quiche, gourmet rice bowls, smoked sweet potatoes, and more.
Killer Poboys is a New Orleans-based restaurant that specializes in New Orleans-style sandwiches. Their menu includes a variety of poboys, such as seared gulf shrimp, cheddar omelet, smoked salmon, and more. They also offer catering services for special events, business lunches, and all types of occasions. They have a 4.8-star rating on Facebook.
Liberty Cheesesteaks is a locally-owned New Orleans business that specializes in Philly Cheesesteaks. They offer a variety of cheesesteaks and other subs. Customers can choose to dine-in or have their event catered by Liberty Cheesesteaks. The restaurant has a four-star rating on Yelp and a 4.8-star rating on Facebook.
Namese is a New Orleans-based café that specializes in Vietnamese cuisine. They offer in-house dining as well as catering services. Their menu includes fried pot stickers, crab rangoons, crabby rice, fried shrimp, and more. Namese has a 4.7-star rating on Facebook. Customers rave about the excellent food and service.
New Orleans Catering, Inc. has provided catering and event services to the metro New Orleans area since 1981. They specialize in traditional New Orleans and Louisiana cuisine. They offer a variety of catering menu options, from seated dinners to cocktail receptions and buffet style dining. They are recipients of WeddingWire’s 2016 Couples’ Choice Award and The Knot’s 2016 Best of Weddings Award. They are also a certified provider of authentic Lousiana wild seafood.
Nirvana Indian Cuisine has provided classic Indian cuisine to the metro New Orleans area since 1982. They operate out of three locations in the area. Menu items include samosas, pakoras, tandoori chicken, vegetarian dishes, and a variety of other authentic dishes. In addition to in-house dining, they also offer off-site catering services. They have a 4.2-star rating on Facebook.
Palate New Orleans is a catering and special event business serving the metro New Orleans area. They focus on the use of local traditions and flavors. Their services include complete party planning for corporate and private events of all sizes. Customers compliment the amazing menu, beautiful designs, and the businesses’ ability to bring an event to life.
Rosy's Jazz Hall has provided catering and event services for the metro New Orleans area since 1999. They operate out of a historic New Orleans venue that once hosted the top names in jazz and popular music. They offer fully catered events in-house. The award-winning menus range from modern-day fare to traditional New Orleans classics. Rosy’s Jazz Hall won the 2013 Bride’s choice award from WeddingWire and the 2015 pick from The Knot. They are also a featured wedding venue for Borrowed & Blue.
Southern Hospitality Catering is a full-service catering company serving the New Orleans area since 1984. They offer their catering and event planning services for occasions of all sizes and types. Some of their catering menu specialties include smoked catfish, hoisin Yellow-fin Tuna, blackened sea scallops, turducken roulade, and much more. Southern Hospitality Catering has a 4.7-star Facebook rating.
Superior Seafood & Oyster Bar is a New Orleans restaurant that specializes in authentic Louisiana seafood and Creole-inspired dishes. Their menu is a mixture of year-round staple items and seasonal items, as well as a full-service oyster bar. They also offer an extensive catering menu for pick up or delivery. Menu items include large trays of Tchoupitoulas chicken, shrimp and grits, pasta Vieux Carre, and a selection of A La Carte items.
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.
