Great events often center around amazing food. Whether you’re hosting a corporate function for teams and clients or planning a wedding reception, delicious dishes can quickly elevate the experience to new heights. More often than not, however, you might not have the resources, time, or skills to create a phenomenal feast yourself. That’s where the ideal catering company comes in.
At Marbled LA, we define exceptional catering as a balance of customizable menus, operational reliability, and guest-focused service. Perfect for complex events like productions, tours, and corporate gatherings.
An exceptional catering service ensures you can delegate the art of creating incredible menus, serving dishes, and more to a team of experienced professionals. This gives you more time to focus on interacting with guests and enjoying the big day.
The question is, with so many potential caterers to choose from, how do you make the right choice? The first step is knowing which questions to ask.
Today, we’re covering some of the most important questions you should ask your catering company, to ensure they can offer you and your guests the perfect experience.
Menu Options and Flexibility
Probably the most important thing you’ll focus on when choosing a caterer is the type of meals they can offer. Some caterers specialize in specific styles of food, such as Mexican or Italian cuisine, while others can give you a huge variety of meals to choose from.
If you’re going to be hosting a multi-day gathering, or need support for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, variety is essential.. For instance, when Marbled LA worked with the SZA group , we ensured they had a diverse range of meals to choose from, to suit every taste.
Ask your caterer:
- What type of menu options can you offer? For instance, do they offer a selection of solutions for formal dining and sit-down meals, as well as interactive buffets? What cuisine styles and themes can they adapt to?
- How customizable are the menus? Can you comprehensively change or alter your menu to adhere to different dietary restrictions and preferences? Can your caterer accommodate requests for vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free meals, or avoid certain allergens in their food?
- Can you accommodate last-minute changes? Will you be able to adapt your catering menu at the last minute, if you discover you have more guests than you originally expected, or if someone provides information about an allergy you weren’t aware of?
- How are menu prices determined? Are there different pricing tiers to consider for different types of menus? Can your potential caterer explain how different upgrades to certain meals and menu options will affect your bill?
- Can you provide a sample menu? Can your caterer give you a sample menu with various options to choose from, making it easier to select the right choices for your event? Can they discuss theme options and requirements with you?
- Can we do a tasting in advance? Sampling food helps you evaluate flavor, presentation, and portion size. A tasting also gives you a chance to fine-tune the menu, ensuring everything matches your event theme and your guests’ preferences.
Logistics and Planning
While the quality of meals matters, logistics are just as crucial. There are different challenges to consider whether you’re looking for production catering services , corporate event catering, or tour catering .
The right caterer should be able to work with you to ensure you can quickly get meals and food to guests and even offer support and service throughout the event.
Ask about logistics:
- When will you arrive? When can you expect your caterer to arrive at your event? How much time do they need to set up, and how committed are they to delivering prompt service? How will they ensure everything goes smoothly?
- What equipment and facilities are required? Does your catering company require an on-site kitchen, or can they work without one? For instance, Marbled LA delivered delicious meals to the Enhypen production team, in a venue without a kitchen. (Check out our other case studies!)
- What’s included in the catering package? Does it cover setup assistance, cleanup, or staff for buffets? Are bartenders or drink staff available to create cocktails and distribute drinks?
- How do you handle hygiene and food safety? How does your caterer adhere to food safety and hygiene standards? Do they have strategies in place to ensure your guests are protected from contaminants and other issues?
- Can you support sustainable catering? Can your caterer adapt to your requirements for sustainability? Can they take a no-waste approach to their catering services, and give you reusable cutlery and plates to avoid waste when necessary?
- Will you set the tables for us? Some packages include full setup with linens, cutlery, chairs, and glassware, while others focus only on meal service. Confirm this upfront. If you want a stress-free experience, confirm whether your caterer can assist with setup so your event space looks polished and ready before guests arrive.
- How long does a typical service take? Timing can make or break an event. Whether you’re hosting a sit-down dinner or a buffet, ask your caterer how long service typically takes. For example, how quickly can they serve meals to a large guest count, and how do they keep food fresh throughout the event? A reliable caterer should be able to walk you through the service timeline so you can plan speeches, entertainment, or other activities seamlessly around it.
- Where does your food come from? Transparency about sourcing is increasingly important to many hosts. Ask your caterer whether they source ingredients locally, work with trusted vendors, or prioritize organic and seasonal produce. Not only does this give you insight into the freshness and quality of the food, but it also helps align your event with sustainability goals if supporting local farms and reducing food miles matters to you.
Costs and Payment
When it comes to the most important questions to ask your caterer, queries about costs are often at the top of the list for most customers. It’s important to ensure you know exactly what you’re going to be paying for, and that there are no “hidden fees” that might surprise you later on.
Your catering company should answer questions like:
- What is included in the quote? What’s included in the price you’ve been given? Is it just the price of the food, or are there charges for staff and rentals too? Do you need to think about delivery fees for drop-off catering services ?
- Are there any additional fees? Could changes to menu timing, alcohol service, or upgrades affect pricing? Is there a cake cutting fee to be aware of?
- What’s the payment schedule? When are you expected to pay for your service? Is there an initial deposit to consider? Do you have the option to pay in chunks, rather than all at once, and when is the final payment due?
- What’s your policy on cancellations and changes? What happens if you need to cancel your catering service at the last minute? Are there still fees to pay? Will you need to pay extra if you want to hire more catering staff at the last minute?
Previous Experience
Whether you’re booking for a tour, a game day, or private party, you’ll want to ensure you’re working with a skilled team to achieve exceptional quality. Background, testimonials, and case studies can make your decision easier.
Questions to ask about experience:
- How long have you been in business? Though newer companies can still deliver exceptional services, caterers with a long track record are often more trustworthy. Most caterers won’t last long if they don’t offer an exceptional experience.
- What types of events do you specialize in? Do they have expertise in tour catering, corporate breakfasts, or large-scale productions?
- Can you provide testimonials? Most reputable catering companies should be able to provide reviews from previous happy clients. Some companies, like Marbled LA, even publish case studies and success studies you can review online.
- Have you catered for similar events? Even if your caterer specializes in a different type of event to yours, they may be able to show experience working on similar events in the past.
- What sets you apart? What makes this caterer better, or different from the other solution providers in the market? Do they provide bespoke care, more vendor meal variety, or exceptional customer service?
Service and Staff
Some providers only deliver food, while others offer full-service support. If you’re investing in staff, clarify expectations upfront.
Questions to ask about staff:
- How many staff members will be provided for a buffet event? If you’re investing in buffet-style catering, how many people will be available to help with buffet setup and service? Can you request additional team members?
- How can you support formal events? Can your vendor offer catering staff to assist with formal events? What will the ratio of waiting staff to guest count be, and how will your team ensure an excellent level of service ?
- Can you provide a dedicated point of contact? Who will be responsible for ensuring everything runs smoothly at your event? Who should be your go-to individual if you have an important question about food and setup?
- How will you handle last-minute changes or requests? How will the staff handle last-minute changes to guest count or food requirements during the event? Can they adapt to special requests at the last minute?
- Can specialist staff be provided? For example, bartenders, bar staff for alcohol service, or professionals dedicated to meal service.
Asking Your Caterer The Right Questions
Knowing what to ask a caterer is essential to securing the right partner for your occasion. Asking questions about everything from the menu options available to the staff provided and even the logistical aspects of the service can help you make the right choice.
The more insights you can gain from your caterer, the more likely you are to end up with an incredible dining experience. Here at Marbled LA, we’re committed to ensuring our customers always get the bespoke experience they’re looking for.
We prioritize combining delicious food with reliable planning and affordability. We’ve supported countless companies and production teams, always with the goal of exceeding expectations..
Contact Marbled LA today to ask us all of your event catering questions, and book the ideal catering experience for your next event.
