Restaurant Catering Vs. Catering Service: Which Is The Best Catering Option For Your Corporate Event?
When hosting a corporate event at a restaurant, you can opt to use the restaurant's catering service or hire an outside caterer. Catering is one of the most important elements of hosting a successful event, and the last thing you need is underwhelming food and poor-quality service. Therefore, you should carefully consider your choice. Read on for a few factors to consider when choosing between restaurant catering and a catering service for your event.
Event Menu
The type of food you pick for your event should depend on the event schedule. Will you be hosting a morning, afternoon, or evening event? Will the event run for one day or for multiple days? For a single-day event starting in the morning, you only need to serve breakfast and lunch. However, if the event lasts two or more days and runs the whole day, you must provide dinner as well.
Plan the menu for the event and establish whether the restaurant's catering service can make the food. If your menu includes foreign or international dishes, you may need to hire a catering firm that can deliver authentic dishes. For example, if you want Italian food and the restaurant doesn't offer it, don't gamble with the service. Instead, hire a caterer who can make authentic Italian dishes.
The Scope of the Catering Service
Catering services aren't just limited to preparing food. In addition, your caterer should provide the following:
- Tables and chairs
- Linens and centerpieces
- Waitstaff and bussers
- Plates, cutlery, cups, flatware, and napkins
- Chafing and serving dishes
Some restaurants don't offer these items as part of their catering packages. Therefore, you must pay for them, which is an added cost. Conversely, a catering service offers an all-inclusive package with the above items at a reasonable price. A catering company will also set up the food stations. Therefore, once you hire the service, you don't need to worry about the logistics of food preparation, delivery, and service.
Clean-Up and Waste Disposal
After an event, you need to clean up the venue and dispose of the food waste. If you opt for restaurant catering, inquire whether they offer free cleaning and waste disposal services. Some restaurants only do this at an additional cost. If you brought your own linen and food ware, you may need to hire a cleaning crew. Conversely, catering companies handle cleanup and waste disposal as part of their service. Therefore, you won't pay extra for dumpsters and a cleaning crew.
Choosing your own catering service is the best way to ensure a memorable, hands-off, and stress-free catering experience. Therefore, find a restaurant venue that allows you to bring your own catering service for the event.
Contact a local catering venue to learn more.