Find a catering service in Sacramento, CA

Find catering services in Sacramento, CA

Q: How much is catering?

Catering costs $10 to $35 per person for basic party food or a drop-off service. On average, caterers charge $500 to $7,500 total for 50 guests, $1,000 to $15,000 for 100 guests, and $1,500 to $23,000 for 150 guests. Alcohol or bartending options often cost extra. Formal catering or wedding catering costs $30 to $200 per person for plated meals, a buffet, or food stations. A food truck rental costs $10 to $40 per person , depending on the type of event and whether you hire the truck on a weekend or holiday. Popular food truck menu options include tacos, pizza, BBQ, and ice cream.

Q: How long do caterers stay at an event?

Caterers typically serve food for 1 to 4 hours , depending on the time of year and number of guests. Setup usually takes 1 to 2 hours . Ask your caterer whether they will include any of the setup or cleanup time in their estimate.

Q: Do you tip caterers?

Some caterers include a gratuity charge of 15% to 20% on your bill that is split between the servers. Before adding a cash tip, ask your caterer or review the contract to make sure a gratuity charge is not already included. If you decide to give cash tips directly, pay each person between $15 to $50 .

Share a few details and we'll show you the best catering services in your area.

Zip code

Find catering services in Sacramento, CA

Share a few details and we'll show you the best catering services in your area.

Zip code

Top 10 catering services in Sacramento, CA

Clients agree: these Sacramento catering services are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Your Wedding and Event Catering questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Fash.

How much is catering?

Catering costs $10 to $35 per person for basic party food or a drop-off service. On average, caterers charge $500 to $7,500 total for 50 guests, $1,000 to $15,000 for 100 guests, and $1,500 to $23,000 for 150 guests. Alcohol or bartending options often cost extra.

Formal catering or wedding catering costs $30 to $200 per person for plated meals, a buffet, or food stations. A food truck rental costs $10 to $40 per person, depending on the type of event and whether you hire the truck on a weekend or holiday. Popular food truck menu options include tacos, pizza, BBQ, and ice cream.

What is catering?

Catering means supplying food and drink at a party, wedding, or other gathering. Some catering companies provide waitstaff, while others offer self-serve buffet stations or simply drop off prepared food to an event. Different catering companies provide different types of foods and cuisines, including:

Italian
Mexican
Barbeque
Japanese
Pizza
Sandwiches
Ice cream
Breakfast or brunch

How far in advance do I need to order catering?

Most caterers recommend ordering at least a few weeks to 6 months in advance, depending on the type of event and number of guests. However, catering a small party may not require as much advance time as a wedding, holiday party, or large corporate event.

Large chain restaurants often provide limited, drop-off catering services and require less notice than professional catering companies. Some chain restaurants and grocery stores offer catering services with only one day's notice.

What do caterers provide?

Caterers supply all the food for your event, either cooking it on-site or preparing it in their own kitchen beforehand. Many catering services include serving dishes, plates, glasses, and silverware in their price. Some caterers also offer tables, chairs, linens, or custom place settings for an added fee.

How long do caterers stay at an event?

Caterers typically serve food for 1 to 4 hours, depending on the time of year and number of guests. Setup usually takes 1 to 2 hours. Ask your caterer whether they will include any of the setup or cleanup time in their estimate.

Do you tip caterers?

Some caterers include a gratuity charge of 15% to 20% on your bill that is split between the servers. Before adding a cash tip, ask your caterer or review the contract to make sure a gratuity charge is not already included. If you decide to give cash tips directly, pay each person between $15 to $50.

How do I choose a catering company?

Search our list of caterers, then:

Get three or more free estimates to compare.
Read their reviews and menus on Fash and Google.
Choose a licensed, insured, and experienced company.
Try menu tasting before your event if possible.
Make sure they're a good fit for your budget and schedule.
Get a written estimate or contract.
Avoid making a large payment before your event begins.

After reading reviews and asking questions, hire the best company in your area.

What questions should I ask caterers?

When looking for local catering companies, consider asking the following questions:

How long have you been catering?
Are you licensed and insured?
How far in advance do I need to book?
What is your cancellation policy?
Do you allow menu changes?
Will you bring prepared food, or will you prepare it onsite?
How long will you be able to serve food?
How long do you need to set up?
Do you charge extra for travel fees?
Will you give me a written estimate and contract?

Reviews for Sacramento catering services

Recent success stories from people in the Sacramento area.

Michael B.

Working with Leandro to plan the dinner for my wife's 50th was both easy and fun. Leandro provided me a menu to select from. As we've been fortunate to have spent some time in Italy, Leandro was most accommodating with my recommended changes to the menu for the event. On the day of the dinner, Leandro arrived to our AirBnB on time having packed all he would need for the dinner. It also helped that he had visited that AirBnB prior to this event and he had a good knowledge of the kitchen when he arrived. The dinner was absolutely delicious. Leandro took care of all of our needs, the food exceeded my expectations! Moreover, he set the table, cleared the table, did the dishes, and made sure no one's wine glass went dry. I would highly recommend Leandro to anyone looking to entertain. Moreover, I wouldn't hesitate to hose our next event should we be in Sonoma/Napa. Cheers

Leandro s Cucina Italiana

LKG

Kincy Catering is a professional catering service who provided excellent and prompt services at both of my events. The food is amazing and he tailored our menus to our exact liking! He provides good food for large or intimate (small) events, and it all tastes great. I will definitely hire Kincy Catering for future events!

Kincy catering Plus

Tory M.

Chef Zachary was extremely professional and knowledgeable from the start, and created some of the best dishes I’ve ever had the pleasure of enjoying. He is not only incredibly talented and comfortable in the kitchen, but was also so approachable and flexible with our party. He provided exactly the experience I was hoping for and I only plan on using him in the future. Thank you Chef Zachary!!

Farm to Table Provisions

Topo B.

I have been using Code 3 Catering for over 20 years to do many of the events that I am involved with, family gatherings, business meetings, Presentation Church Fundraiser (annually 10 years), Crime Alert Crab Feed (Annually 6 years). They have always proven to serve a great quality meal with steadfast professionalism, which always reflects on the organization they’re working for. That is why they are always my first choice when I am responsible for the events that I put on, I can always trust that they will leave our guests was the impression have a great evening and a spectacular meal.

Code 3 Catering

Consuelo O.

Papa Charles is such a genuine person. His food is Delicious and brings the feel of "Home" to your Bbq or Catering event. He also offers a line of Bbq sauces and Spice/Rub Packs that are a great addition to any kitchen Cupboard. Hands down the Best sould food around.