You probably look online for reviews when it comes to choosing a restaurant. Food is important; it can save you from a poor atmosphere and, let’s be honest, everybody loves food. It’s very important to choose a good caterer, especially if we’re talking about a big event. But if not well-planned, all the great aspects of your event will be thrown out of the window. Catering in Wirral might be the best choice for you.
I’ve written this article to give you some tips on how to choose a good caterer for your event, especially with our big day coming up soon.
Food is usually the most expensive thing you’ll have to think about for your event. Depending on how much you spend on food and drinks, you’ll see how much you have left for all the others. Before you evaluate the food and the prices, see if your caterer is prompt when it comes to responding to e-mails or phone calls. If they’re not returning your e-mails or calls before you hire them, imagine the services they offer.
Be specific in terms of what you need
Caterers come with many menus and prices, and it can be hard to compare them. Make sure you tell them exactly what kind of event you’re talking about, what kind of food you want to be served and what are your expectations regarding the service. A great caterer will take his or her time to get to know you and to learn your business, so expect questions and opinions on the menu, as well.
Experience is an important factor
A caterer that provides food for black-tie kind of events may not be the best one for your outdoor barbecue. Make sure you know what kind of experience the caterer has, so you’d avoid all the mistakes you could make, such as hiring the wrong caterer for the event. Make sure you talk to them about your needs, and it might not hurt to ask the opinion of some caterers that have shown they have experience in the kind of event you’re planning. A great caterer will tell you if they’re not able to deliver the menus you are seeking.
How flexible are they?
It’s true; caterers have standard menus from which you can choose. However, you need to look for those menus that show some trends in food and drinks. You can also discuss other menu options that may be available with your caterer. Flexibility is very important, and you need to find that one caterer that will offer you the services you need.
Forget about food for a bit
When you want to hire a caterer, you hire them for food, drinks, and service. It’s about the service you get as a client and as a guest. It’s true, you have no control over the restaurant staff, but you do have control over what kind of staff serves the food at the event you plan. Ask questions and find out how many servers will there be, how much experience do they have if they served at other events like yours and what are their supervisory roles.
Three proposals
As a general rule, you should remember that you need to request three proposals. One may be too low, the other one too high, and the third one might be just perfect.
Ask for references
Before hiring a caterer, you might want to know more about them. Did they deliver as they promised? Was the food good? You can get all of these answers from other past clients. Ask the caterer to give you a list of references. This way, you’ll know what other people have to say about this. If they say that the service was excellent, then you can continue to work with them if the responses are negative, it’s time you find someone else to cater to your event.
Taste the food
It really depends on a budget of the catering and, of course, the type of event that’s being planned, but some caterers offer a tasting menu so you can know what kind of food they offer you to serve at your event. If you already have someone in mind, ask for some samples from the menu. It’s better to know this aspect before it’s too late.
How detailed is the contract?
You need to get the contract in writing. The contract should say what kind of food and drinks and the services they provide, and also details regarding the date, time and location. It has to be written everything about the selected menus, drinks, the bar service, accessories, how many servers, all the prices, and details about any other kind of additional services.
Also, don’t forget that the contract should protect you and your caterer. However, make sure that the contract protects you from non-performance. Also, it might not be a bad idea to have a lawyer review the contract.
