2024
Last updated:
LicensingUser ReviewsMystery Shopping CallsOur goal is to connect people with the best local professionals. We scored Nashville Catering Companies on more than 25 variables across five categories, and analyzed the results to give you a hand-picked list of the best.
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(13)Loveless Events is a full-service event venue serving the metro Nashville area. They offer a variety of services, including on-site and off-site catering. They offer a variety of menu formats, including southern style buffets, plated meals, family-style dinners. They have a 4.8-star rating on Facebook. Customers compliment the amazing staff and tasty food.
Beyond Details Nashville is a boutique catering and events planning company. It has operated since 2005 and specializes in wedding and party catering services. The firm offers in-house services, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner catering; custom chef-developed menus; wedding planning; food serving; and buffet design, to clients throughout Central Tennessee. Customers can also benefit from graphic and interior design services. Beyond Details Nashville has won the Couples Choice Award from Wedding Wire.
(14)(10)Clean Plate Club is a full-service catering company based in Nashville, Tennessee. They have more than three decades of experience in catering events of all sizes. They are experienced in catering Bar/Bat Mitzvah’s, production events, social events, corporate events, and weddings. They offer fully customizable menus to suit each event. They are an approved caterer for a number of locations in the area, including The Parthenon, The Belle Meade Plantation, Grand Ole Opry, Belcourt Theater, The Temple, and more.
(181)(2)Edley's Bar-B-Que is a Nashville restaurant that specializes in southern barbecue food. In addition to dine-in service, they also offer catering services and event space for all types of occasions. Catering can be picked up or delivered to the event. All of the food is made fresh daily. The catering menu includes a variety of meat, sides, appetizers, drinks, and desserts. Customers compliment the fantastic food and service they received from Edley’s Bar-B-Que.
(35)(12)(3)Ambrosia Catering is a business that has been serving the Nashville community for more than 30 years. It presents a wide variety of menus for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, boxed lunch, and appetizers. A corporate menu and barbecue party packages are also available for different sizes of events. The business specializes in catering for weddings and personal or corporate holiday celebrations. Moreover, it has served Tim McGraw, Dolly Parton, as well as the Country Music Festival.
(12)STF Events & Catering is a Nashville-based business that specializes in providing unique menus and event plans. Their menu includes hors d’oeuvres, buffets, plated dinners, whimsical appetizer items, and more. The locally-owned business has served the area for more than a decade. STF Events & Catering has a five-star rating on Facebook. They receive compliments on the flavorful dishes and friendly service.
(524)(2)The Sunflower Café is a Nashville company that specializes in vegetarian cuisine. Customers can choose to eat at their dine-in location, take-out, or catering services. They use fresh, local, and organic ingredients for their seasonal menu. Food items include veggie burgers, salads, vegan BBQ, wraps, and more. Their catering menu includes options for boxed lunches, dip party platters, appetizer platters, sweet platters, salads, main dishes, side dishes, and beverages.
Wonderland Catering Services is a business in LaVergne that accommodates corporate clients and residents in Nashville and the surrounding areas. The company's chef and owner, Tina Quaye, uses her more than 20 years of experience in the culinary arts industry to deliver quality experiential catering services to families and businesses in the metro. Together with her staff, Quaye prepares special occasions menus, box lunches, and platters. Wonderland Catering Services also offers event set up and break down services.
(297)(172)Chef's Market is a locally-owned Nashville business that has been in operation for over a decade. They offer a variety of culinary options, including a dine-in restaurant, delivery, and catering. Their catering menu is fully customized for each customer. They have a 4.5-star rating on Yelp and a 4.7-star rating on Facebook. Customers speak highly of the delicious food and excellent staff.
Sandra's Catering offers full-service gourmet catering for the middle Tennessee area. They cater events of all types, from picnics to elaborate weddings. They offer drop-off or wait staff services. Their menu includes a wide selection of hot and cold hors D’oeuvres, lunch items, dinner items, side orders, and desserts. They also offer fully customizable menus.
(17)(5)(3)A Catered Affair has provided catering services to Nashville and surrounding areas since 1997. They offer event planning, venues, and full-service catering. They are the exclusive caterer for Legacy Farms and a preferred caterer for a variety of wedding venues, including Cheekwood, The Cannery, and Belle Meade Plantation. They have received many awards from WeddingWire, including the 2014 and 2015 Couples’ Choice Awards and the 2012 and 2013 Bride’s Choice Awards.
(7)Flavor is a locally-owned catering business serving the metro Nashville area for over a decade. They cater a variety of venues, including The Canary Ballroom, Front Porch Farms, The Ryman, Cheekwood Botanical Gardens, Ascend Amphitheater, and more. They offer a variety of menu themes, including fine dining, backstage events, corporate meeting buffets, and southern wedding style. Flavor has a five-star rating on Facebook.
(1557)(592)Monell's is a southern-style restaurant serving the Nashville area since 1995. They offer a family style dining experience in one of their three locations or catering to on-site and off-site events. Their menu includes a wide selection of appetizers, salads, meat, sides, and desserts. Monell’s is the recipient of the 2015 WeddingWire Couple’s Choice Awards. They have a 4.8-star rating on Facebook. They receive many compliments from satisfied customers on the quantity and quality of the food.
(81)(2)Stage Lift Catering is a full-service catering company serving middle Tennessee and the metro Nashville area. They offer customizable menus in a variety of styles, including buffets, seated dinners, cocktail parties, and more. They provide their services for all types of events, from corporate luncheons to awards banquets. The business owner and Chef, Jim LeClaire has more than three decades of culinary experience.
(27)(6)Dream Events & Catering is a full-service event company serving Nashville, middle Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. The locally-owned business has been in operation since 1991. They provide catering, entertainment, planning, and design for all types of events. Their catering services include breakfast, lunch, dinner, beverage stations, buffets, plated meals, desserts, box lunches, menu planning, customization, and more.
(979)Smokin Thighs is a locally-owned Nashville restaurant that specializes in smoked and grilled poultry products. Customers can choose to dine-in, order from the food truck, or off-site catering. They offer a selection of appetizers, chicken salads, and smoked or grilled wings with a variety of flavors. Their catering menu includes a selection of family take out and office party take out options. They have a 4.5-star rating with TripAdvisor.
(2212)(1)The Southern Steak & Oyster is a Nashville-based business that offers restaurant dining and catering services. The restaurant offers a shuck-to-order oyster bar, locally-grown produce, directly-sourced local beef, sustainable seafood, and more. Their food style includes indigenous flavors with exotic ingredients. They cater a wide range of event styles, including intimate cocktail receptions, casual buffets, and lavish full-service seated dinners. They are also licensed to provide hosted bar services.
(10)(4)Actual Food Nashville is a locally-owned catering company serving the metro Nashville area. They offer full-service catering and event planning. They use fresh, local ingredients to create healthy menu options. The business has a five-star rating on WeddingWire. Customers compliment the fresh, creative food and the professional service.
(13)(6)G Catering is a locally-owned business that provides off-site catering services for the metro Nashville area. They provide catered meals for all types of events, including corporate, special events, and weddings. They are a 4.8-star rated business on Facebook. Customers compliment the excellent team of professionals.
(120)(10)Eat Well Nashville is a meal preparation and catering service with a healthy twist. The company's meal options include breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks, as well as build-your-own options, kids' meals, and family-style meals. Eat Well Nashville can meet the needs of specific diets, including Whole 30, keto, and gluten-free. Other services include nutrition and wellness coaching, with a focus on learning how the body uses nutrients and how to achieve a healthier lifestyle.
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.
