Find a caterer near you
A caterer plans, cooks and serves food for events, from office lunches to weddings. People hire one when they need food for more guests than a home kitchen can handle, or when they want staff to serve and clean up. A good caterer holds the right food permits, handles allergies with care, and puts every detail in a written contract.
Find caterers by city
- New York, NY
- Los Angeles, CA
- Chicago, IL
- Houston, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Philadelphia, PA
- San Antonio, TX
- San Diego, CA
- Dallas, TX
- San Jose, CA
- Austin, TX
- Jacksonville, FL
- Fort Worth, TX
- Columbus, OH
- Charlotte, NC
- Indianapolis, IN
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- Denver, CO
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Nashville, TN
- El Paso, TX
- Washington, DC
- Boston, MA
- Las Vegas, NV
- Portland, OR
- Detroit, MI
- Memphis, TN
- Louisville, KY
- Baltimore, MD
- Milwaukee, WI
- Albuquerque, NM
- Fresno, CA
- Tucson, AZ
- Sacramento, CA
- Kansas City, MO
- Mesa, AZ
- Atlanta, GA
- Omaha, NE
- Colorado Springs, CO
- Raleigh, NC
- Long Beach, CA
- Virginia Beach, VA
- Miami, FL
- Oakland, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- Tulsa, OK
- Bakersfield, CA
- Wichita, KS
- Arlington, TX
What do caterers do?
- Wedding catering
- Corporate lunches and meetings
- Private parties and birthdays
- Buffet and family-style service
- Plated dinners
- Drop-off catering
- Food stations and grazing tables
- Bar service and bartenders
- Dietary and allergy-friendly menus
- Rentals, setup and cleanup
How do you choose a good caterer?
- Ask for a tasting before you book a large event.
- Check that the caterer has a health permit and works from a licensed commercial kitchen.
- Ask for proof of liability insurance. Many venues require it.
- Get a written contract with the menu, guest count, staff, timing and what is included.
- Ask how they handle food allergies and keep allergens separate.
- Ask whether service staff, rentals, cake cutting and cleanup are included or extra.
- Ask the venue if it has a list of approved caterers.
Caterers generally need a local health department permit and must prepare food in an approved kitchen; bar service may need a separate alcohol license.
Questions to ask before you hire
- Do you have a health permit and liability insurance?
- Can we do a tasting?
- What is included: staff, rentals, setup, cleanup?
- When do you need a final guest count?
- How do you handle allergies and special diets?
- What is your deposit and cancellation policy?
- Have you worked at our venue before?
Red flags to watch for
- No health permit or cooking in a home kitchen.
- No written contract.
- Vague answers about allergens.
- Big extra charges that appear only on the final bill.
- Not returning calls during planning.
What changes the price?
- Number of guests
- Menu and ingredients
- Service style: drop-off, buffet or plated
- Number of servers and bartenders
- Rentals like tables, linens and dishes
- Date, travel and venue rules
Questions people ask
How far ahead should I book a caterer?
For weddings and large events, many people book several months ahead. Office lunches and drop-off orders often need only a few days.
What is the difference between buffet and plated service?
At a buffet, guests serve themselves from a line. Plated service brings each guest a meal at the table and needs more staff.
Do I need to give a final guest count?
Yes. Most caterers ask for a final count a set time before the event and charge for that number even if fewer guests come.