Must-ask Menu-related Questions for Prospective Caterers

By Catering Staff | September 21, 2016

The menu is the centerpiece of a catering company’s products and services, thus, your main concerns should center on this matter. Here are the must-have questions that you should ask potential caterers and, in the process, narrow down your choices to the cream of the crop – within your budget, of course.

What Are the Food and Drinks On Your Menu

Every catering company has a specialty menu, such as Mexican, Asian, or American, with several food and drinks for their clients to choose from. You must obviously choose a caterer based on your preferred menu for the event, for example, classic American dishes for a wedding reception with sit-down dinner or modern Mexican fare for a business meeting for employees and managers. You can then discuss the dishes, desserts and drinks that will be included in your catered event’s menu with the prospective caterer.

You may also want to look into specific dietary restrictions for your guests’ welfare. You can ask about the prospective caterer’s ability to whip up dairy-free, vegetarian, vegan, or gluten-free dishes for your guests. Just be sure to set realistic expectations as most catering companies may only be able to add a few special dishes to their standard fare.   

What Is the Possibility for a Theme Menu?

Your plans for the event may call for a themed menu, such as a Greek feast, a dessert bar, or a make-your-own-tacos bar, among other ideas. You can ask each prospective caterer about the possibility for tweaking its standard menu to address your need for a themed menu. For example, your themed menu centers on the heavenly cheesecakes of Cheesecake Factory with the dishes and drinks complementing the desserts.  

What Are Your Specials?

You may be the type of person who throws a catered party on a regular basis with the same caterers providing their services. You must then ask about the prospective caterer’s specials, which can be offered on a weekly, monthly, or quarterly basis, which can be useful in planning your events calendar. You may, for example, hire a barbecue-centric restaurant for the Fourth of July party because of its special dishes on that date.

What Are Your Presentation Options?

Sometimes, you want a casual presentation with disposable dining utensils for an employee-only business meeting. Sometimes, you want a more elegant buffet table presentation for a corporate event where prospective clients are invited. Either way, you should ask each prospective caterer about your options in food and drinks presentation before making your hiring decision.

And don’t forget to ask the shortlisted caterers for a menu tasting! Just be clear about the costs for the activity as you may be required to pay for the tasting in case the caterer’s services were not chosen for the event.