Feeding guests is one of the most important elements of any party or business event.
Hiring the perfect caterer for the occasion will reduce party planning stress and make the event as memorable and enjoyable as possible for everyone.
When most people begin looking for a caterer, they tend to unconsciously limit their options to companies that specialize in traditional, full-service catering.
What they often don’t realize is that many of their favorite restaurants offer catering too.
Full-service caterers are a great option for larger or more upscale events like weddings, but there can be a lot of advantages to using a restaurant that caters over a full-service catering company, especially if your gathering is going to be small, last minute, or casual.
When you hire a full-service caterer, you will likely need a pretty large minimum order for the caterer to even consider your event, so only larger parties need apply.
Quick casual restaurants like Cafesano don’t have minimum order sizes, so any group size can be accommodated.
Party organizers can get a clear idea of what kind of prices to expect from a restaurant that caters by dining with them and scoping out the menu, whereas many catering companies will not provide prices until you meet with them in person or are ready to make some kind of commitment.
Overall per-person prices tend to be lower with restaurants because food costs and overhead are distributed across the restaurant business AND catering business.
Consistent high-volume food orders also make it easier for restaurants to get better prices on food from their suppliers: a savings which can then be passed on to the customer.
Restaurant catering menus tend to be somewhat simpler and less “fussy”, with the major emphasis on flavor and quality rather than fancy flourishes for presentation, which keeps costs in check.
Full-service catering companies do not normally have storefronts where prospective clients can come and eat, so you will need to set up a meeting to discuss your event and a tasting if you decide to book them.
Many catering companies don’t even provide tastings unless a client is serious about using them, which makes it difficult to make decisions about the food items you may want for your event.
Restaurants that cater, on the other hand, typically have traditional business hours during meal times, so you can stop by and try their food at any time before deciding to use them as your caterer. If the food isn’t what you’re looking for, you can quickly move on to other options.
While restaurants certainly do care about plating and presentation, they are less likely to spend time and money fussing over garnishes and tablescapes when there are guests to feed.
If there is ever a slip in quality, restaurants hear about it quickly and fix it quickly or risk losing business. Cooks in the kitchen get daily practice making their entire menu so their skills stay sharp. You can rest assured that food catered from a successful restaurant is going to be of a high quality.
Popular restaurants have the advantage of being widely known and loved in their communities compared to full-service caterers. If you are planning a business event or casual outdoor party, it’s always a hit when guests see their favorite restaurant is providing the food.
Full-service catering companies usually provide a list of approved venues they will work with, and if your venue isn’t on the list you are out of luck.
You’d better plan ahead too, since most events book their full-service caterers months in advance; it will be tricky to get catering for tomorrow’s business luncheon.
Alternatively, restaurants that cater are typically very flexible about where and when they will deliver food. Most restaurants can accommodate a last-minute sales meeting, reunion, tailgate, or holiday party with as little as a day or two’s notice.
And if you’re in a real hurry, you may just want to place your order and pick it up yourself.
If you are in need of a venue, many restaurants offer group dining areas where they can provide catering for your party in a private or semi-private section of their dining room.
As far as menu flexibility goes, restaurants that cater can typically make anything from their regular menu into a catering order. So if there’s something you especially like at your favorite local restaurant and you don’t see it offered on the catering menu, chances are good the restaurant will be accommodating and include it with your catering order.
The recent rise of restaurant review websites and apps means that every customer’s opinion matters more than ever and can impact a restaurant’s reputation and business.
Restaurant owners and cooks are used to receiving feedback from everyone they serve, where full-service caterers might only receive feedback from the person placing the catering order and paying the bill.
Because restaurants are interested in the experience of each individual, they tend to be more aware of common customer concerns and can quickly fine-tune their recipes and processes to address customer feedback.
Menu items are reviewed daily, so consistent quality is assured and any recipe glitches are corrected quickly.
Whether you are planning a corporate department meeting, a family reunion, or a backyard barbecue, it’s important to do your research and consider your catering options carefully.
Talk to a few caterers before you make your decision, and definitely taste their food before you commit to anything.
The right caterer for your event should ease the stress of party planning and feel like a match made in foodie heaven, so don’t settle for anything less than stellar food and perfectly professional service.
Cafesano restaurant offers fresh Mediterranean-style fare and convenient catering in Northern VA. We can put together a satisfying business luncheon or a unique tailgating spread that will impress carnivores, herbivores, chowhound, and foodies alike.
And best of all, you can plan and place a catering order online, from the comfort of your couch, with no phone calls, meetings, or negotiations. It’s catering that’s fresh, local, professional, and just as easy as ordering takeout.
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I'll have to look into this more. I am planning on getting a catering service for a New Years Eve part I'm hosting. I'll have to check the reviews for some of the places I have in mind.
Thanks for the message Sam. Keep us posted on how your catering spread turned out.
You wrote that hiring a restaurant to cater is a great idea because they get constant reviews, and you can know exactly what the food will be like. My sister is getting married and wants Italian food to be served at her wedding dinner. I'll have to look around for a good Italian restaurant that caters, as I would love to be able o read some very recent reviews of their food and service.
I like how you mentioned that restaurants are really flexible in fitting to your schedule and location to deliver the food and take care of your guests. Having some fine cuisine catered at an event would probably add a depth of professionalism and class that you couldn't get in another way. Being able to eat your fill would be pretty important too because nobody likes to have an appetizer and then be done.
I do like how you mentioned that when it comes to parties getting a trial run on the location or if on a restaurant do a taste test. That should help me find a potentially great place to have our family event. I've been assigned to seek the location for it as our area have plenty to offer. That is why I would do my best to find the best family party center I could for them. Thanks!
Hi Jeremy! We're so glad you found our post to be helpful. Best of luck with your party planning!
I like what you say about lower price and a focus on the quality of the food. My wife and I like to throw parties occasionally and preparing the food before a party has always been very stressful for the two of us so we've been really considering getting a restaurant to cater our future parties. This way we won't have to worry so much about the food and how well we cook it and making sure everything tastes good. We'll be able to count on the restaurant to provide us with a good and tasty meal and we can just enjoy the party!
My brother is getting married next year, but he still hasn't chosen a catering company. I like your point about how restaraunt catering is flexible and offers a wide variety of food. I'll be sure to suggest this to him so he can choose a company soon.
I like that you explain how choosing a restaurant to cater an event can give you the chance to visit them beforehand so you can get a taste of their meals to help you decide if you want to book them. You could even see if one you already like allows you to order food for events so that you can choose food you love and are familiar with. Checking out the websites of local restaurants could give you the chance to determine if they offer catering as well as let you check out their menu to figure out what food is best for your guests.
I liked what you said about how a restaurant will cater and allow you to come and try their food. My husband and I are helping to plan a family reunion next year and we want to make sure the catered food is good and will handle all the special dietary needs of our relatives. Thank you for the information about how we can stop by a restaurant to just try their food to make sure it's what we want.
I am helping my sister plan her wedding for next year. I think that it will be so much fun, but for right now its all planning. You advised that we should plan ahead because most events book their full-service caterers months in advance. I could see how this would be hard if you don't plan ahead as you mentioned. I'll be sure to tell her so we could find an event venue soon.
I liked that you said that fancy restaurants will be able to serve you custom food for your event. I would imagine that this would give you the opportunity to host a custom meal that will fit your budget and venue. I would consider having a custom order of food delivered to my wedding reception so that my guests could enjoy a beautiful and delicious meal that they wouldn't forget.