Ordering from a local caterer vs a catering marketplace app
An app lists many caterers in one place. Ordering direct gives you one kitchen and one phone number. A 40-guest pulled pork spread here is $312 before tax.
By the Upper Crust Catering kitchen
A catering app vs a local caterer is a question of who stands behind the order. An app is a place to browse and compare many kitchens at once, which is handy when you do not know who is nearby. Ordering from a local caterer puts you in direct contact with the people cooking. Upper Crust works the second way: you talk to one planner at (630) 553-9533, and the quote lists food, rentals, delivery and tax on one sheet.
What you get with Upper Crust
- One planner from quote to pick-up. The person who writes your quote is on the phone the morning of the event.
- Food cooked from scratch in one licensed, inspected commercial kitchen in Yorkville.
- A written price before you commit, with every line you will pay in one place.
- Trays and platters with no minimum, buffets from 20 guests, and boxed lunches from 20 boxes.
- Clear lead times: 3 days for standard orders, 14 days for staffed events.
- A driver who texts when five minutes out, and a route planned the night before.
What to check with a catering app
- Who actually cooks the order, and is it a kitchen near you or one that travels far?
- Is the menu price the same as ordering direct from that caterer? Ask the caterer, too.
- What are the service fee, delivery fee, tax and suggested tip, and when do you see each?
- If the count or the date changes, do you call the app or the caterer?
- If something is missing or late on the day, who answers the phone?
- Are reviews tied to the kitchen that will cook your order?
- How are allergies recorded, and does the kitchen see your note?
Where an app is the better choice
An app can be the better start in a few cases. If you are new to an area, it shows you several options in one view, with photos and ratings. If your company already uses one for expenses and approvals, it keeps the paperwork in a single account. It can also help when you need a quick price from several kitchens at once. And for one-off lunches where you do not need to discuss the menu, ordering in a few taps is hard to beat. If you land on a caterer you like, ask whether ordering direct changes the price.
A real example: 40 guests, pulled pork
For a 40-person team lunch, with no staff, here is a written order from us:
- BBQ Pulled Pork, $95 a tray, serves 20, 2 trays: $190
- Slider Sandwich Buns, $12 a tray, 24 count, 2 trays: $24
- Potato Salad, $49 a tray, serves 20, 2 trays: $98
That is $190 + $24 + $98 = $312, plus 9.25% sales tax of $28.86, so $340.86. Pick-up carries no service charge. Delivery is quoted when you order. When you check the same order on an app, add its service fee, delivery fee, tax and tip to the menu price and compare the final line.
Read the trays menu or start a written quote. For other comparisons, see local caterer vs restaurant chain catering and what is in a quote.
Questions
Is it cheaper to order direct?
We cannot say for any app, since fees and menu prices vary. Ask both for the final total with tax, fees and tip on the same food.
Can I change my order after I place it?
Yes for us, with limits. Guest count can go up any time before the balance is paid. After the deposit it may drop by no more than 10%.
Who do I call on the day?
You call the planner who wrote your quote. Phone (630) 553-9533.
Do you take card payments?
Yes. We take card, check or ACH.
Corporate lunch catering that shows up on time, every time
