Jordan EllisRecently, one of my foodie friends called us with the good news… she’s getting married. She was already in the middle of planning her wedding and assumed catering would be a piece of cake.
At first, she wanted to book her favorite restaurant. But unfortunately, they didn’t handle large events. The menu felt limited, and the food didn’t seem like it would translate well to a big crowd.
Desperate, she tried DIY coordinating with multiple vendors, but that only stressed her out more. That’s when she asked us for help. After lots of research, we realized that catering is a whole different game from just dining out.
Thankfully, we were able to find reliable catering services in Columbus based on their menus, service style, and testimonials. So if you want a smooth event with amazing food too, here are our top picks.
How much do catering services cost in Columbus?
Catering services in Columbus typically cost between $30 and $150+ per guest. This depends on the event date, service level, menu complexity, ingredient costs, and extras.
1. Metro Cuisine
Address: 6185 Huntley Rd # C, Worthington Commerce Center
Contact Details:
- +1 614 436 6369
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 8:30 am to 4:00 pm
- Sat-Sun: Closed
Metro Cuisine is an award-winning Columbus caterer with over 25 years of operation since 1999. They hold a spot in The Knot Hall of Fame for consistent quality, having won the “Best of Weddings” award at least 8 times.
The team emphasizes full-service catering and event rentals. And unlike those who sub-rent equipment, we’re in awe that they own their entire inventory of chairs, tables, and more. You can even explore their specialized vintage rentals line.
In addition, it’s handy that they provide little details like reminders for wedding toasts. We think this is something that some competitors often overlook.
Not only that, but they’re also flexible with food. The staff can serve American, Italian, Mexican, and many other cuisines. You can request gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, and other dietary restrictions too.
And while they don’t use flat rates because they customize every menu, a few clients we spoke with generally describe their prices as reasonable. Just expect around 10% or $250 security deposit (whichever is greater) per event.
But compared to others that offer open house tastings, this company requires a formal proposal and narrowing of choices before scheduling a tasting. Extra fees also apply for specific food items.
The food was delicious, and their service team is amazing
“We had Metro Cuisine cater our wedding at the Park of Roses in May. The food was delicious, we got so many compliments from our guests. Their service team is amazing! And they worked woth our budget and timeline. Highly recommend 10/10”
-Anisha Prakash, Google Review
Super responsive and got us everything we wanted
“We hired Metro Cuisine to cater our wedding reception and can’t say enough good things about them! We coordinated everything with Spencer and he was incredible to work with. He was super responsive and worked with us to make sure we got everything we wanted for our special day. The food was phenomenal and the service was equally as fantastic. I cannot recommend Metro enough!”
-Brittany Multer, Google Review
2. Catering By Scott
Address: 2980 E Broad St, Bexley Centre
Contact Details:
- +1 380 285 6767
- +1 614 237 1949
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
- Sat-Sun: Closed
Operating since 1989, Catering By Scott delivers full-service catering. For over 35 years, they’ve built a strong reputation through both their catering arm and local restaurant, Scotty’s Cafe.
The crew specializes in weddings, corporate events, and showers in Central Ohio. More specifically, they do custom menus and give detailed offerings, like custom cookie packaging. For us, this is what makes the events more special.
Someone we interviewed also loved that Scott, the owner, is very hands-on in the planning process. He’s very family-oriented, working with his daughter as a professional pastry chef for the cupcakes and custom desserts.
And as they’re highly skilled in providing diverse menus, it’s no wonder that the company has earned national awards from The Knot and WeddingWire.
Their pricing is known to be affordable too, with wedding packages around $27 to $50 per person (including fees). We appreciate the complimentary consultations and tastings for couples as well.
The only drawback for us is their occasional tardiness. A client mentioned the staff arriving late to set up a large-scale event. We believe this is something the company has to continuously improve on.
The food looked and tasted delicious
“My wife and I hired Scott to cater our ~150 person wedding. Scott was very kind and willing to go above and beyond expectations as caterer, his food looked annd tasted delicious, and his staff provided fantastic service. We had lots of phone calls leading up to the wedding to ask questions and clarify things, and no matter what time he was happy to take our call and walk us through things. I think that if we had used a different caterer, our wedding would have been significantly more stressful but Scott really took ownership of making sure everything went well. We would definitely recommend him for events – he is a pro.”
-Mark Dravillas, Google Review
The most professional, hardworking servers I’ve ever worked with
“I hired Catering By Scott and his team to cater at our hospitality house during the Memorial PGA Event held in Dublin, Ohio. The servers that Scott sent were the most professional hard working men I ever worked with. The food was fabulous and the set up was beautiful. I would highly recommend Scott for any catering needs. Class A Team!”
-Mary Warren, Google Review
3. Steven’s Catering
Address: 1221 Chesapeake Ave
Contact Details:
- +1 614 486 1221
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sat-Sun: Closed
Steven’s Catering has provided upscale, personalized full-service events in Columbus since 2002. They handle everything from food to tents for groups of 10 to 300, so you can rely on them for big and small gatherings like weddings and corporate events.
The owner, Steven P. Sims, is a chef with more than 3 decades of combined food service experience. We like that he’s known for personally collaborating with clients to design menus that balance classic interpretations with innovative new dishes.
With his team, they highlight hot, on-site cooked dishes and complete event support. They offer full bartending services too. We reckon this can provide a fun, comforting vibe for guests.
Even better, they’re an approved caterer for major city landmarks. This includes the Ohio Statehouse, The Ohio State University, and all Columbus Parks and Recreation facilities.
As for the rates, this caterer is within the pricier range. Still, an individual we had a chat with appreciates getting more budget flexibility here than other big corporate catering services.
Just remember that while they accommodate food restrictions, some specialized items (like certain gluten-free flatbreads) are only available for staffed events where an oven is available on-site.
Easy to work with, accommodating, and professional staff
“We’ve had Steven’s cater several parties for us and they are wonderful! Easy to work with, accommodating, professional staff and the food is always a crowd pleaser. Thank you, Steven’s!”
-Sara Oliphant, Google Review
It was all so yummy, and they made our event go smoothly
“We last minute decided to cater for a group of 30 people and Steven’s catering did not hesitate to help us out. They made a delicious 2 protein taco stand with chips and salsa. It was all so yummy and made our event go smoothly. I will definitely hire them again!”
-Margo Bess Praskovich, Google Review
4. Simply Plated Catering
Address: 737 Parkwood Ave
Contact Details:
- +1 614 736 3771
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sat-Sun: Closed
Simply Plated Catering offers fresh, convenient drop-off and full-service options. They operate a 3,680 sq. ft. industrial-style event space that accommodates up to 100 seated guests or 175 for cocktail receptions.
The company was founded in 2018 by Ashley Otler, who combines her corporate healthcare background with a lifelong passion for cooking. For us, this explains why she’s focused on providing nutrient-dense meals in her menu.
With her team, they provide 3 distinct service tier levels: Standard Drop-off (food is delivered in aluminum pans), Deluxe Drop-off (with stainless steel chafers, linens, and setup for up to 75 guests), and Full-Service (with tidying up).
Their boxed lunches start at around $11.99 to $13. Meanwhile, their service minimums cost $250 for Drop-off, $700 for Deluxe, and $3,000 for Full-Service. We think these rates are highly competitive for corporate and mid-sized social events.
Of course, keep in mind that they have strict minimums for higher service tiers.
But while they’re a bargain for 75 guests and below, you’ll hit a high price jump beyond that. For over 76 people, you’ll have to pay for on-site servers and staff too, which can easily add hundreds of dollars in labor fees.
They were fantastic
“We used Simply Plated to cater our son’s grad party and they were fantastic. Everyone raved about the food and we even heard ‘this was the best grad party food I have ever had’! Would absolutely use them again.”
-Andrea Mulholland, Google Review
The food was phenomenal
“I highly recommend Simply Plated. Ashley is amazing! This is my 2nd time using Simply Plated and yet again the food was phenomenal. Ashley responds back quickly and very professional. She will cater to your needs no matter how many you’re trying to serve. Everything was delivered on time and ready to go when guest arrived. The food was the highlight of our event.”
-Crystal Murrell, Google Review
5. Sweet Carrot Catering
Address: 550 S High St, High Line Car House
Contact Details:
- +1 614 313 8092
- +1 614 736 3771
- [email protected]
Business Hours:
- Mon-Fri: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Sat-Sun: Closed
Sweet Carrot Catering brings house-smoked comfort foods from their food truck roots to full events at High Line Car House in Columbus.
Angela Petro started this service in 2012, as a casual extension of her original catering company, Two Caterers (now Together & Company).
The company has also been featured on the American TV show “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” Amazingly, for us, their brisket corn cake was even featured by famous restaurateur Guy Fieri.
Speaking of food, they make theirs from scratch. They offer customizable meals with gluten-free and dairy-free options, setting them apart for casual upscale gatherings.
We like that the staff prioritizes sustainable disposables for their drop-off and full-service events too. This way, clients won’t feel guilty about the cleanup.
And because of their casual, BBQ-centric style, their rates are generally more affordable than those of several white-glove caterers. For one, their turnkey wedding packages start at under $10,000 for 75 people, which already includes the venue, food, and decor.
That said, their branding is very fun and funky. If you want a strictly formal black-tie atmosphere, we think their aesthetic may feel too casual.
Exceptional from start to finish
“Our experience with Sweet Carrot Catering was exceptional from start to finish. We hired them to cater our wedding, and the planning process was seamless. The staff accommodated every request we made, ensuring everything was perfect. We cannot speak highly enough of the team that provided service on our wedding day. They truly went above and beyond to make sure everything ran as smoothly as possible. The food was exceptional as well.”
-Justin Rutschilling, Google Review
Professional, communicative, and the food was delicious
“Such a wonderful caterer to work with! We fell in love with their food when they had their brick and mortar restaurant, so we had to have them cater our wedding when we got married. They were professional, communicative, and the food was delicious as always! Thank you Sweet Carrot for being a part of our wedding day!”
-Erika Baldwin, Google Review
