Afro Deli & Catering is a Minnesota business with locations in St. Paul and Minneapolis. They specialize in African, Mediterranean, and American cuisine. Customers can choose from a sit-down dining experience in one of their restaurants or having a catered event. They offer a variety of customizable menu options for catering, including finger food, boxed lunches, and buffets. Afro Deli & Catering has a 4.7-star rating on Facebook.
Chowgirls Killer Catering is a Minneapolis-based company that has more than a decade of experience providing full-service catering. They offer menus for full-service catering, delivery, and plated dinners. They purchase many of their products from local farmers and offer a menu based on seasonal fresh items. Chowgirls Killer Catering won the 2015 and 2016 Best Caterer for a Small Wedding Awards from Minnesota Bride, as well as numerous other accolades.
ChuckWagon Catering is a Minneapolis company that has provided catering services since 1947. They specialize in BBQ with a Texas style influence. They have a variety of options to choose from, including a slow-cooked locally farmed pig, jumbo skillet parties, BBQ Chicken, pulled pork, and much more. Customers speak highly of the tasty food, professional staff, and seamless catering services.
Common Roots Catering is a full-service catering business serving the metro Minneapolis area. They offer a variety of services, including menu planning, event staffing, bar service, and eco-friendly catering. They also use local and organic ingredients to make their food from scratch. They operate in a variety of venues, including Orchestra Hall, The Blaisdell, Gale Woods Farm, and many others.
D. Brian's Kitchen & Catering is a locally-owned and operated business that has served the Minneapolis area since 1986. They offer in-store dining, take out, online ordering, and catering services. Their catering menu includes breakfast, boxed lunches, deli platters, gluten-free boxed lunches, desserts, and more. They prepare their food with all natural fresh ingredients. The eco-friendly company also uses sustainable packaging and hybrid vehicles for delivery.
D'Amico Catering is a Minneapolis-based company that has more than three decades of experience in the catering industry. The locally-owned business is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Minnesota Bride Magazine 2015 best new wedding venue and 2016 best caterer for a large wedding. They are an accredited with the Better Business Bureau and members of Twin Cities Metro IBA, International Special Events Society, Minnesota Restaurant Association, and more. They have a 4.5-star Facebook rating.
Dave's Downtown is a family-owned and operated restaurant and catering business serving the metro Minneapolis area. They offer breakfast and lunch made from scratch daily. Their menu includes a full variety of breakfast items, sandwiches, wraps, salads, burgers, chicken, soups, and more. Orders can be conveniently be made online.
Frankie's Chicago Style Pizza is a Maple Grove-based restaurant that offers catering services. Their menu includes pizza, salads, appetizers, sandwiches, pasta, BBQ, hot dogs, and desserts. Catered orders can be placed in the store or over the phone with a preferred 24-hour notice. The restaurant has a 4.7-star rating on Facebook. They receive compliments on the delicious food and quick service.
Green Mill Catering offers full-service, full menu catering options for the metro Minneapolis area. Their menu includes plated, boxed, or buffet-style lunches and dinners. They provide their services for all types of events and groups of all sizes. They also offer complete beverage services with three types of bar service: cash bar, a la Carte, and bar packages. They have a 4.8-star rating on Facebook and many positive reviews.
K&J Catering is a St. Paul business that specializes in full-service catering. The family-owned business has been in operation for over three decades. They specialize in buffet style catering with a variety of menus to choose from. They also offer staffed catering, delivery only options, and beverage catering. They can provide their services at a venue of the customer’s choosing or at one of their two banquet venues located in the Twin Cities.
Lisa's Catering has provided professional catering services for the metro Minneapolis area since 1991. They offer their services for weddings, corporate needs, and other events. They are also a licensed daycare food provider. They provide meals for daycare centers and in-home child care providers. They have a variety of menus to choose from, including appetizers, plated dinners, buffet dinners, boxed lunches, breakfast, picnics, and more. They have won multiple awards, including the 2015 Best of Weddings Pick from The Knot.
Marna's Catering is a locally-owned Minneapolis company that offers full-service catering for all types of events. They operate in a large variety of local venues, including Bloom Lake Barn, Crow River Winery, FIVE Event Center, Dakota Lodge, and more. They offer a variety of menus to fit any event. They are winners of The Knot’s 2015, 2016, and 2017 Best of Weddings Award. They receive many compliments on their excellent food and service.
Orchid Restaurant offers dine-in and catering services for the metro Minneapolis area. They specialize in Vietnamese, French, Chinese, and Thai dishes. Their menu also includes vegetarian and gluten-free options. For catered events, they offer small, medium, and large trays that can be customized. The restaurant has a four-star rating on Yelp and a 4.6-star rating on Facebook. Customers praise the excellent food, service, and atmosphere.
Smokin O's offers southern style catering services serving the greater Minneapolis area. They specialize in Texas Pit BBQ and Tex-Mex cuisine. Their menu includes pulled pork, ribs, fajitas, and a variety of sides. The food is prepared fresh on-location and served buffet style. They will set up, assist guests, and clean up. Smokin O’s receives compliments on their delicious food and their professional service.
Sucre & Sel is a catering company serving the metro Minneapolis area. They specialize in catering corporate events using French food sourced from organic, local products. They deliver fully-prepared platters for breakfast and lunch. Their menu includes pastries, bread, appetizers, sandwiches, salads, and more. They receive compliments on their exceptional service, refreshing menu, and delicious food.
The Deco Catering is an authentic European-style catering company serving the metro Minneapolis area. The locally-owned business was established in 1982. They provide catering services for weddings, special occasions, and corporate events, with a special knowledge of Kosher catering. The company has won multiple awards, including the 2016 Couple’s Choice award from WeddingWire and the 2013 Bride’s Choice Award from WeddingWire. They have been featured in Martha Steward Living, the Food Network, and more.
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.
