Our Preferred Caterers

How to Choose a Caterer

When deciding upon event catering, you want to consider your personal needs and the size of the event you’re planning to host. It’s also important to consider what you’ll need from your caterer as you might want to offer appetizers and entrées, or just one versus the other, and you’ll need to verify that your caterer offers these options. You’ll also want to make sure they can handle the size of your party without hesitation, so it’s important to provide them with all the crucial details of your event from the onset.

When deciding on event catering, you’ll need to keep in mind your event location. You will first need to confirm if the caterer often services events in your area, as your event venue may be outside of their range. It’s always best to try and find a caterer who knows your venue or at the very least has experience with a similar venue. If the caterer isn’t willing to go the extra mile to ensure that everything meets or even exceeds your expectations, then they may not be the best fit for your event. Rest assured that 413 on Wacouta works with St. Paul’s best catering companies, offering a wide variety of food and beverage options to your Twin Cities event.

Food is the key to your guests’ hearts, so be sure to get a tasting of the caterer’s options before your event. No matter how perfect a description might be, and no matter how beautiful their pictures are, make sure they provide a tasting or sampling, especially if you haven’t worked with a caterer before. A picture is worth a thousand words, but when it comes to the quality of your event’s food, taste is what matters most to your guests. When you book your event at 413 on Wacouta, you will receive a complimentary tasting from one of our preferred catering vendors!

What to Look For in a Caterer

You’ll also want to take a look at the potential caterer’s customer reviews before selecting them so that you can get a feel for their quality level. You want to make sure that you can trust that they’re able to follow through and deliver on their promises. If you heard about your caterer through a referral, it helps to double-check their credentials and ask around if your friends or colleagues have worked with them in the past. The same applies if they were recommended to you by a friend. It always helps to check online sources for reviews as well. This is a process you should follow for any of your potential vendors, but it’s especially important when it comes to event catering. The details are what matter, starting with the aesthetics and quality of the food to the clauses written out explicitly in the caterer’s contract. Make sure you and your caterer have discussed everything openly in the contract; that way, there aren’t any surprises in the end, and any snags have been ironed out before your event.

Pricing Expectations

Lastly, and probably most importantly, you should review the event caterer’s pricing. This may seem like an obvious one, but cost is important—especially since planning an event can add up quickly. Be sure to consider your options, and be on the lookout for hidden event fees. There’s always some give and take, but you don’t want to go too low or too high with your budget. Weigh in all your expectations—the size of the event, type of food, and then consider what you expect in return.

Host Your Event With Us!

From the exposed wood ceiling beams, coupled with the iconic limestone and brick walls, our event space at 413 on Wacouta is packed with character and charm. Luckily, 413 on Wacouta partners with four of the best caterers in town: Green Mill Catering, Sterling Catering, Deco Catering, and Kafe 421. They each have their own unique individual style but all are high quality and provide top notch service. You won’t be disappointed with one of our preferred caterers! If you’re looking for a warm, inviting location with knowledgeable event planners that can help plan your private event, contact us to schedule a tour and see what all we have to offer.

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