A la Carte Catering is a food and event design service provider located in the city of Warrenton, Virginia. Gastronomically delightful foods are served along with their flawless decor, flowers, entertainment, sound, and lighting that they orchestrate. The creative and professional staff of the company aim to appeal to fun-loving people who want to enjoy their parties.
Foodies looking for tasty bites and creative cocktails in a fun-loving atmosphere in Arlington, Virginia can go to A-Town Bar & Grill located just a few steps away from the Ballston Metro Station. Whether alone, with a date, or with family and a large group of friends, customers can enjoy this establishment's American-style menu available for brunch, lunch, dinner or late night. The company also has menus for catering and private parties.
Amphora is a full-service catering, event design, and specialty desserts provider serving Herndon, Virginia and its nearby communities. Various events and occasions are handled by this company, such as weddings, special events, corporate events and seasonal events such as St. Patrick's Day, Halloween, and more. Clients can expect the finest foods and decor from Amphora, especially as it has been chosen by Virginia Living in the category of Northern Virginia's Best Caterer in 2016.
Bittersweet Catering, Cafe & Bakery is a professional caterer and in-house bakery located in the city of Alexnadria, Virginia. With over 30 years of experience, the company has established itself as a popular corporate caterer in the Fairfax metropolitan area. The company consistently provides fantastic food and service to their clients, making them a trusted choice for memorable and elegant events in its location and service areas.
Cafesano Italian & Mediterranean Bistro is a restaurant that also offers take-out and catering services located in the city of Reston, Virginia. Upon 24 hours of notice, the establishment provides catering services where clients can choose from a wide variety of fresh and flavorful foods from their menu. Corporate events and other parties become fun and affordable with the high-quality foods and services delivered by their friendly and professional staff.
Catering by LT is a full-service special event catering company serving Arlington, Virginia and the communities nearby. Among their catering services are pick up and local deliveries, deliveries, staffing, rentals and equipment, bar and beverage, and venue selection. Their team of event planners, chefs, and servers share a common mission of providing efficient and enjoyable service.
The staff at Delicious Earl's Sandwiches, a sandwich joint located in Arlington, Virginia considers themselves sandwich nerds. Other than serving sandwiches with freshly-roasted fillings and hot, homemade soups, this establishment also offers catering services where they bring fresh and high-quality foods to their clients' tables at affordable prices. With over 12 years of passion and experience for creating superbly yummy sandwiches, customers love their mouth-watering options and their friendly staff.
Dolce Vita Cucina Italiana is a restaurant and wine bar based in the heart of the city of Fairfax, Virginia. They offer a wide range of menu options along with weekly specials, a robust selection of wines and happy hour options, as well as catering services where their executive chef prepares fine and fresh foods for any occasion. With over 20 years of experience in serving Italian cuisine, guests are assured of high-quality ingredients and a friendly and accommodating staff.
Hemibry Catering in Woodbridge, Virginia is a food and events planning company that specializes in preparing cakes and entrees for various occasions, such as weddings, corporate events, and other special gatherings. The company's main goal is to make their clients happy and relaxed.
Jaipur Royal Indian Cuisine has overwhelmingly positive reviews from the people of Fairfax, Virginia. The restaurant offers catering services where they specialize in combining exciting and flavorful foods along with decor, flowers, lighting and sound and entertainment to make a truly momentous event. With over 15 years of experience, the restaurant and caterer has aimed to create fun and delicious parties and events.
Picante! Restaurant & Catering is a traditional Mexican restaurant located in the city of Chantilly, Virginia. For over 10 years, they have been specializing in serving new world recipes that appeal to people of all ages. The restaurant also offers catering and special event services.
Pomodoro Pasta, Pizza & More is a family-owned authentic Italian restaurant located in Fairfax, Virginia. Other than offering a wide range of sumptuous meals and lunch specials, they also provide catering services where clients can choose from various food items of appetizers, salads, pasta, and chicken to prepare for their events. The owners of the business are passionate food lovers who take pride in their dedication to delivering excellent customer service.
Primetime Sports Bar & Grille is a family-owned restaurant and bar located in Fairfax, Virginia. They serve American cuisine for brunch, lunch, dinner, and happy hour and they also can accommodate private parties, poker nights, and provides efficient catering services. Their space can serve up to 400 people.
Saint Germain Catering prides is a 100% woman-owned catering company located in the city of Vienna, Virginia. Their various event services pertain to baby showers, holiday party catering, corporate catering, weddings, bridal showers, graduations and picnics and BBQ's, among others. Clients can choose from a wide selection of event needs, including vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free menus.
Fun and elegant gatherings are designed by Shirley's Catering, a full-service and premier catering company located in Burke, Virginia. Their event planning services include food preparation and setting, coordination with other vendors, venue selection, and staging arrangements for the decor, the music, the entertainment, lighting, and sound. Shirley's Catering has been a favorite catering and events planning company in their location because they put their clients' best interests at heart.
Spilled Milk Catering is a food and events planning company serving the Gaithersburg, Virginia area and its surrounding communities. They cater to gatherings such as private events, cocktail parties and receptions, bar and bat mitzvahs, fundraisers and galas, holiday parties, corporate events, cooking classes, and film and gallery openings. The company aims to turn their clients' visions into a reality.
The Trattoria Villagio serves Italian cuisine in the city of Clifton, Virginia. Open for lunch and dinner, the restaurant can accommodate customers if they want to enjoy a quick snack, a lingering meal for small and big groups, a family get-together or even a large social gathering, including services for food catering for any special occasion.
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.
