Drop-off catering vs full-service catering: what each costs and includes

Drop off catering vs full service differs in staff, lead time and the extra charges that come with staff. On a drop-off or pick-up order from Upper Crust there is no service charge and we ask for 3 days' notice. A staffed event adds servers at $35 an hour each with a 4-hour minimum, a $50 event production fee and a 20% service charge on food and rentals, and needs 14 days' notice.

What you get with Upper Crust

• Drop-off and pick-up: trays and platters with no minimum, buffets from 20 guests, boxed lunches from 20 boxes, 3 days' notice, and no service charge. Delivery is quoted when you order.
• Staffed events: servers at $35 an hour each with a 4-hour minimum, a $50 event production fee, and a 20% service charge on food and rentals, shared by the service staff and the kitchen.
• The same kitchen either way. Everything is cooked from scratch in one licensed, inspected commercial kitchen in Yorkville.
• One planner from quote to event, and a written quote that prices food, staff, rentals, delivery and tax on one sheet.
• Equipment for self-serve: a Chafing Dish Set, $17 each, yours to keep, or a $20 stainless steel rental returned after the event.

What to check with the other style, whichever you pick

If you lean toward drop-off, ask these:

• Who sets the food out, and how long can it stay out safely?
• What will you provide: serving spoons, plates, a hot-holding setup, trash bags?
• Who refills or clears during the event?

If you lean toward full service, ask these:

• How many servers does the caterer recommend, and for how many hours?
• Is the service charge on food only or on rentals, and who receives it?
• What is the production or setup fee, and what does it cover?
• What is the notice period, and what happens if the count changes?

Where drop-off is the better choice, and where full service is

Drop-off is often the better choice for casual events: office lunches, graduation open houses, family parties at home, funeral luncheons where family wants to serve themselves. It costs less, needs less notice and keeps the food in your hands. Full service wins when you want to be a guest at your own event: weddings, galas, sit-down dinners or any party where hot food must be kept going and tables cleared. A staffed event is also the right call for crowds large enough that nobody wants to carry trays.

A real example: 40 guests

For drop-off, take 2 trays each of three dishes:

• Yankee Pot Roast, $125 a tray, serves 20, 2 trays: $250
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes, $52 a tray, 2 trays: $104
• Buttered Fresh Green Beans, $49 a tray, 2 trays: $98

That is $250 + $104 + $98 = $452, plus 9.25% sales tax of $41.81, so $493.81, with no service charge.

For a staffed buffet, Buffet Menu 1 is $18.99 a person. For 40 guests that is 40 x $18.99 = $759.60 in food. Add the 20% service charge on food and rentals, $151.92 on the food alone, a $50 event production fee, and two servers at 2 x $35 x 4 hours = $280. The total is $759.60 + $151.92 + $50 + $280 = $1,241.52 before tax and any rentals.

These are not the same meal, since the buffet is a different menu. The staff, fee and service charge are what separate the two styles. Start a written price through a quote and ask for both.

Related reading: buffet, trays or boxed lunches and what is in an Upper Crust quote.

Questions

Is there a service charge on drop-off orders?

No. The 20% service charge applies only to staffed events.

How much notice does a staffed event need?

14 days. Drop-off and pick-up orders need 3 days.

How many servers do I need?

That depends on your guest count and how long the event runs. Your planner works it out with you, and the servers are listed on the written quote.

Can I add servers to a drop-off order?

A staffed event is quoted as its own order with 14 days' notice. Call (630) 553-9533 and tell the planner what you have in mind.