215-969-0656 [email protected]

Whether you need to map out the catering menu for your wedding day or you’re planning a business seminar for a small group in the office, choosing an experienced catering company is key to your event’s success. If you’re like most people, you want your event to be absolutely perfect, and working with a knowledgeable and experienced catering company can help you relax on the big day.

At DiAntonio’s Catering in Philadelphia, we understand how challenging it can be to find a reliable and affordable catering company. We’ve been immersed in the Philadelphia catering and hospitality scene for more than 25 years, and we make all of our delicious salads, entrees, and desserts from scratch. From intimate luncheons to corporate dinner parties, we can help you plan and execute the perfect meal for your guests. Whether you’re in need of breakfast catering, luncheon catering, or dinner catering, we’re here to help. We also specialize in special event catering and wedding catering.

In this blog, we’re going to discuss some of the top things to keep in mind when you start looking for a catering company, so you can choose the best fit for your menu, needs, and budget. As always, if you’re looking for a high-quality catering company in Philadelphia, reach out to DiAntonio’s Catering today.

What To Look For In A Catering Company

If you’re wondering what to look for in a local catering company, you’re not alone. Planning the menu for an upcoming wedding, work event, or birthday party is very important to the satisfaction of your guests. Some important things to keep in mind include:

Responsiveness

As you slowly start to map out the details of your event, you’ll want to find a catering company that is responsive to your needs and personal interests right off of the bat.

According to Cheryl Lynn Foster-Gerton, an event designer in Denver, “Many caterers will claim to have the best-tasting food made with the freshest ingredients at the most competitive price, but it is a rare quality for one to be both quick to return calls and emails and open to criticism and new ideas. While these may seem like somewhat insignificant factors when compared with overall taste and cost, they actually mean that the caterer is truly concerned with meeting the customers’ needs and ensuring that they are pleased with both the product and the service.”
As you discuss your individual needs and concerns with different catering companies, you should expect them to ask you questions about your event. If the catering specialists fails to answer any of your questions or seems unconfident in their abilities to work with your needs and budget, you may want to keep looking.

Flexibility with the Menu

No matter how many catering companies you decide to interview, most of them will have a standard menu that you can choose from. Some caterers offer built-in flexibility when it comes to the menu, which can be especially convenient if some of your guests have food allergies or intolerances.

At DiAntonio’s Catering in Philadelphia, we can customize your menu based on your guests’ needs and preferences. This includes gluten-free, low-fat, and vegan options. If you’re interested in learning more about our menu options or you have questions about our catering services, contact our team today.

References

Before you sign a catering contract for your upcoming event, make sure to ask any potential vendors to provide you with a list of references you can look into. If a catering company is unable to provide you with a list of recent customers, consider looking online at sites like Yelp and Angie’s List for reviews.

If you’re interested in seeing what some of our catering customers have to say about our services, be sure to check out our reviews online.

Things To Consider Before You Hire A Caterer

Your Personal Needs and the Size of the Event

Before you hire the first catering service you come across in Philadelphia, make sure that the catering company you choose can handle the number of people you plan on inviting. From large 500-person weddings to small and personal business gatherings, the catering specialist you choose should be able to handle the size of your party without any kind of hesitation.

Your Catering Budget

Another major component to consider when choosing a catering service is your catering budget. This can be especially tricky when it comes to grandiose events like weddings, as it can be challenging to stay within the constraints of a wedding budget. If you’re looking to save a little money on your event catering, you may want to consider some of the tips below.

  • Consider having a self-serve buffet for your guests. We’ve seen this catering style work for weddings, anniversary parties, birthday parties, and corporate events. This will eliminate the cost of having to hire a staff on-site. Once you find a catering company you’d like to use, talk to them about some of the finger foods they offer and try to avoid messy foods like spaghetti. While an unstaffed bouquet tends to be a little more work for the organizer, it can help to reduce your catering costs significantly.
  • Offer your guests smaller plates at the event. By keeping your serving plates small, you can prevent guests from taking more food than they can eat. This can be especially helpful if you plan on serving higher-value foods such as steak and lobster.
  • Some catering companies will allow you to supply your own wine, which can result in significant savings in your catering costs. Even if you are required to pay a corkage fee (this is a small fee some catering companies and venues have to open pre-bought bottles of wine), it may still be in your best interest to bring your own booze.

DiAntonio’s Catering: Your Philadelphia Catering Company

We hope that this blog has been helpful as you start shopping around for an event caterer. If you live in the Philadelphia area and you need an experienced catering company to help you devise the perfect menu, contact the professionals at DiAntonio’s Catering today.