| I need work with a budget |
| | This is what I tell all my clients when it comes to figuring out cost for their catered event.
Here are the fastest ways to add or cut costs for your event:
A) Adding to or cutting your guest list down
B) Adding or cutting down rentals, i.e. china, glass stemware, dance floor…
C) Adding or cutting services, i.e. plated dinner service, staff bar, relocation of ceremony chairs…
D) Last but not least, Food costs |
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| Do you offer Food Tastings? |
| | Private tasting's by appointment only.
We offer private tasting's at our new Tasting Room at my home in Atascadero.
The Tasting will be that of your complete personalized menu for 2 guests, other guests may accompany you at the tasting at no extra change. A Private Tasting will take me and or one of my Chefs 4 to 6 hrs to prepare and then up to another 2 hrs for your Personal Tasting. When scheduling your tasting please allow a minimum time of 1hr with some menus taking up to 2hrs.
Cost for a private tasting for the average menu is $200.00 for 2
Sample Menu tasting's by appointment only.
We offer a simple Sample Menu tasting of any 3 item from your menu Monday thru Thursday at our Grover Beach Main Kitchen facility at no cost. |
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| Do you provide vegetarian's meals and if so what do charge? |
| | Yes, $15.00 per person for added Entrée's (Vegetarian, Vegan, Special diet needs….) |
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| What type of meal do you offer Vegetarians? |
| | Do they have a favorite Entrée?
Here are a few ideas:
Cheese Tortellini pasta w/ pesto sauce
Seafood Primavera w/ Angel Hair Pasta
Linguine w/ White Clam sauce
Stuffed Pasta Shells w/ tomato & garlic pesto
Lasagna w/ mushrooms & Béchamel sauce Fettuccini Alfredo
Fettuccini & Smoked Salmon w/ Vodka sauce |
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| How much food is enough for 100 guests? |
| | 3 to 4 types of appetizers 3 servings per person
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2 choice of two entrees w/ portions being an average of 8 to 10 oz
1 vegetable dish 4 to 6 oz
1 starch dish 4 to 6 oz
1 green salad
1 type of bread |
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| Will the hors d'oeuvres be hand served or on a buffet?Will the hors d'oeuvres be hand served or on a buffet? |
| | That is up to the client and the type of appetizer they select ~ I prefer passed for cost and over all guest service appeal |
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| Is the cost of cake cutting included in your all of your wedding quotes? |
| | Yes and includes the disposable service ware if needed. |
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| Is Coffee service come w/ the Cake cutting service? |
| | Yes ~ w/ disposable coffee cups and all the required condiments |
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| Is the cost of the champagne toast included in all your wedding packages? |
| | Yes ~ the Champagne table service w/ disposable champagne glass (placing an open bottle on the guests table)
The Best Man toast this service costs extra ~ Why? The toast is a pour and this service requires extra staff |
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| Do you offer a cheaper option for our photographers, DJ and other wedding venders or how does that work? |
| | No. We do provide meals for the entire Event Site's staff as we are their guests also. |
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| Do we have to have our guests choose on entree on their RSVP, how do you handle that/what do you require? |
| | Only if you have a Plated dinner service. You will also need to make some kind of arrangements for identifying what each of your guests entrees will be at each table ie. Entrée cards w/a Seating charter.
If your service is a buffet style service there isn't a need to ask your guests which entrée they wish to have. We estimate 45% of your guest will chose chicken and 55% will chose steak and or a combinations of the two. If you feel this ratio incorrect please advise and we will adjust. |
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| Do you have a different meal charge for children when using disposable dinnerware? |
| | Our charges for meals are based on adult guests. Events that have disposable dinnerware; Children 5years old or younger need not be counted because they usually eat off their parents plates. Children 6 years old to 12 years old could be counted as 2 for 1. This is just a rule of thumb and we encourage all our clients to use their own judgment on counting their young guests |
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| Do you have a different meal charge for children when using rental dinnerware? |
| | Our charges for meals are based on adult guests; we do offer a discounted price for young adults 6 thru 12, children 5years old or younger need not be counted unless they require place at the dinning tables and a dinnerware place setting. |
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| Are you a licensed caterer? |
| | Yes Business licensed for the City of Grover Beach where our main kitchen facility is located. |
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| Do you have a County Heath inspected kitchen? |
| | Yes, a County and State inspected facility. As the owner of Phil's Catering service and my own facility I am a State licensed plant inspector also. |
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| Do you have Workmen's Comp Insurance? |
| | Yes coving ALL employees who work for Phil's Catering service |
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| How does your staff dress? |
| | Phil's catering service own over 100 Catering and Chefing uniforms, all are professional cleaned and monogrammed |
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| What is the estimated cost for a party of 100 per person for a Plated dinner? |
| | Your site, rentals and menu will have a lot to do with determining your final cost: $35.00 to $50.00 |
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| What is the estimated cost for a party of 100 per person for a Buffet w/ China & Glassware? |
| | Your site, rentals and menu will have a lot to do with determining your final cost: $28.00 to $35.00 |
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| What is the estimated cost for a party of 100 per person for a Buffet w/ Disposable dinnerware? |
| | Your site, rentals and menu will have a lot to do with determining your final cost: $25.00 to $30.00 |
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| What is the estimated cost for a party of 100 per person for a Appetizer reception? |
| | Your site, rentals and menu will have a lot to do with determining your final cost: $15.00 to $30.00 |
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| What is the average additional cost for using rental China & Glassware per guest? |
| | Depends on the dinner service and amount of stemware you select?
Rentals + Extra service staff = $6.00 to 8.00 per guest |
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| What is the staff-to-guest ratio for a plated dinner service? |
| | 1 Chef, 3 Food prep staff, 1 Banquet Manger and 4 serving staff |
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| What is the staff-to-guest ratio for a Buffet style dinner service w/ China & Glass stemware? |
| | 1 S/Chef, 1 Banquet Manager and 2 service staff |
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| What is the staff-to-guest ratio for a Buffet style dinner service w/ Disposable dinnerware? |
| | 1 S/Chef, 1 Banquet Manager and 1 service staff |
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| What is the cost of a Un staffed wine & beer bar for a party of 100 and what does it include? |
| | The estimated cost is $150.00 ~ We supply the table w/ table drape linens for the bar and disposable glassware. Our staff sets up the bar and maintains it keeping the white wine and beer chilled and opening wine bottled as needed. No staff will pour drinks. You will need to arrange w/ us or provide any needed condiments and Ice |
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| What is the cost of a Staffed wine & beer bar for a party of 100 and what does it include? |
| | The estimated cost is $300.00 ~ We supply the 1 Bar staff to pour drinks for your guests, the table w/ table drape linens for the bar and disposable glassware. You will need to arrange w/ us or provide any needed condiments and Ice |
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| What is the cost of a Staffed Full bar for a party of 100 and what does it include? |
| | The estimated cost is $400.00 ~ We supply the 1 Bar staff to make drinks for your guests, the table w/ table drape linens for the bar and disposable glassware. You will need to arrange w/ us or provide any needed condiments and Ice |
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| Do you have liquor liability coverage? |
| | No, the client or site must supply this coverage if required |
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| How many guests does the average bottle of champagne/wine serve? |
| | 8 guests |
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| Is there an opening fee per bottle of champagne? |
| | No |
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| Do you have a set menu? Can the menu be modified? |
| | We encourage our clients to create their own menu, we will make changes to your original submitted menu if we feel we can improve them but ultimately you have the final say on the food served at your event |
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| What is your policy for left over food? |
| | It remains ours
A. We bring extra food to feed staff and we don't want to run out
B. SAFTY FIRST, SCEOND……
If the conditions are right leftover food may remain for the client
A. In door event ~ safe environment
B. Site as refrigeration or client provides a cooler w/ ice
C. Client provides LARGE food containers (Tupperware ~ Aluminum pan)
D. If there is a lot of left over food
E. What food that is to be left to the client will be determined by the S/Chef |
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| Will your company do a site check if requested? |
| | Yes, most site checks are free but some may cost the client a small fee cost $25.00 |
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| How much advance time is needed to confirm a reservation? |
| | Even though we are capable of catering 3events a day in most cases our popular wedding dated are booked 6 months in advance. If your date is available your deposit and a signed contract is all that is required to book your event. |
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| What is your cancellation policy? |
| | Loss of full deposit |
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| When is the guarantee requirement for number of guests due? (Final guest) |
| | 7 days prior to your date of event |
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| When is the final payment due? |
| | 7 days prior to your date of event |
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| Can I arrange to view the catering of another wedding reception to check food display, service style, flow, organization? |
| | NO, that would not be in good taste! We do attend wedding fairs and Special events that are open to the public Please let us know that you are interested in attaining one of our upcoming events and we will send you this information |
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| Do you set the tables w/ the dinnerware? |
| | Yes if requested as a service or rental service |
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| Do you provide linens? |
| | Yes, we have nice low cost table linens and or can rent specialty linens for you |
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| Can I see available linens? |
| | Yes, physical at either my Grover Beach kitchen or my Home office in Atascadero or on my web site under Pictures |
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| Will you put floral arrangements out on the guests' tables? |
| | Yes we can set centerpieces out on your guest tables for you but other decorations i.e. party favors, place cards will be an added cost. |
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| Will you Banquet Manage work as our day of Coordinator and or M/C our event? |
| | Yes, estimated cost Free to $200.00 |
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| How much advance time will you need to set up? |
| | Depends on the over all size and scope of each event
Standard Buffet set up: 1 hr
Standard Buffet set up w/ Site set up (tables & chairs) 2hrs
Standard Buffet set up w/ Site set up w/ China & Glassware 2hrs
These services are to be complete by the start of the Reception not the Ceremony
Early site set is to be completed by the start of the Ceremony |
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| What additional charges might be incurred other than the food, beverages, rentals and requested services? |
| | Over time: The client will be approached about O/T as soon as you feel O/T is emanate
We start O/T only if the client runs 15min over their "End of service or End of event clean up" service time
We charge O/T in 30min increments
Charges for O/T per each staff member that has to remain for O/T:
S/Chef ~ B/M ~ Full Bartender $80.00 hr ~ $40.00 ½ hr ~ Staff $40.00 hr ~ $ 20.00 ½ hr
WE DO NOT WISH TO GO O/T IF AT ALL POSSIBLE ~ WE GO O/T BECAUSE THE CLIENT WISHS US TO STAY LATE. Guest overages, Overtime and Added service the day of your event will bill the day of and charge to your security via credit card on file with our company. |
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| What is the policy for payment, cash, checks or credit cards? |
| | Yes cash is always nice ~ Checks yes ~ Credit cards; we except most CC for deposit ONLY |
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| Some caterers include gratuities in the base or overall price; others do not what is your policy on tipping? |
| | Gratuity and Tipping are not one in the same.
Gratuity is paid to the business and is incorporated into the over all cost of your event
Tipping Senior staff or Floor staff is always encouraged for a job well done and very much appreciated by staff and management. |
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| Can you give me a ceiling on anticipated menu price increases due to rising food costs an increase? |
| | 0% increase for food and labor. Rentals and sales tax 10% max |
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| You charged us 8.25% tax for everything, but for our area we only should be charged 8. %. We are not technically part of the city of San Luis Obispo and do not pay city tax. |
| | We base sales tax from our business location in Grover Beach in San Luis County and that is the California Tax Law |
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| Also, we were wondering why you charged us tax on the tip. |
| | It's not a Tip: Tip's are a voluntary payment. Gratuity is a set charge and therefore taxable |
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