Free Reprint Articles

Posts Tagged ‘catering’

How to find affordable catering, with good service, food and pricing

While most of us can handle putting together a small dinner party, if you’re having a big crowd, it may be worth your while to engage a caterer. You don’t need a four star chef, what you’re probably looking for is an affordable catering service. You can probably find a caterer right in your home town. Naturally, you also want well prepared and tasty dishes that arrive hot or cold as appropriate. Good, reliable service and fair pricing are also priorities. Here’s a game plan to find affordable catering.

If you have a friend who has used a catering service in the past, this can be a good lead. Ask that person for a candid review of the caterer’s service. Were they pleased with the experience? How was the food? Did the party come off without a hitch? Was there anything they weren’t exactly pleased with, such as cold foot that should have been hot, or forgotten items that caused them to have to scramble at the last minute? You’ll also want to know if they felt this was an affordable catering service that delivered value for price. If you feel your friend was well satisfied, give that caterer a call. It never hurts to ask for references to round out your recommendations.

The next place to check is your phone book. Look in the yellow pages under ‘caterers’. Doubtless you’ll find many in your area. Some will have the larger ads, which include the types and sizes of events in which they specialize. Matching your event to their specialties often saves you money. For example, if you’re hosting a family reunion, the caterer who advertises large BBQ events and family reunions can likely be the affordable caterer for your party. If you want the caterer to cater a bar in addition to the party food, look for caterers who advertise a liquor license. If the party you’re hosting is a business banquet, there are caterers who specialize in this venue. When you’re searching out affordable catering, it makes sense that the caterer who is set up to service your type of party can provide the service at a better price than one who does not.

In any case, you should always ask for references and check with those references. Ask the same questions you would ask of your neighbor or friend, as mentioned above. The caterer should be willing to provide you with at least three references.

When you contact a caterer, find out if they provide a free consultation. It’s a good sign if they do. Offering a free consultation means that they are confident in their ability to land your gig. Find out how long they’ve been in business. What types of services are included in the price? Do they provide plates, glasses, serving pieces and silverware, or is that an add-on?

Once you’ve settled on the menu and services, ask for the bottom line on the price. If your budget is tight, you don’t need any hidden costs that surprise you and your wallet.

There are many great caterers, perfect in every way, that offer affordable catering. It’s easy enough to find them, once you know where to look and what to ask.