Local kitchen vs an out-of-town caterer: delivery, timing and who answers the phone
A caterer near your venue has a shorter drive and a local number. A 40-guest pulled pork order here is $318 before tax, with delivery quoted at order.
By the Upper Crust Catering kitchen
A local caterer vs an out of town caterer differs most in drive time, the delivery quote and who picks up the phone on the day. A kitchen near your venue has a shorter route, which helps hot food and timing. A caterer from farther away may have a menu or style you cannot find nearby, but you should ask what the distance adds. Upper Crust cooks in Yorkville and delivers to Kendall County and the towns around it.
What you get with Upper Crust
- One licensed, inspected kitchen at 109 E Hydraulic Ave in Yorkville, inspected through the Kendall County Health Department, with everything cooked from scratch.
- Open Monday to Friday 10 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 2, so you can reach a person in business hours.
- Delivery to Yorkville, Oswego, Plano, Montgomery, Sugar Grove, Plainfield, Aurora, Sandwich, North Aurora, Batavia, Geneva, Naperville, St. Charles, Bolingbrook, Joliet and Ottawa, plus Elgin, Downers Grove, Wheaton, Oak Brook, Lombard, Elmhurst, DeKalb and more. Delivery is quoted when you order.
- A route planned the night before, and a driver who texts when five minutes out.
- One planner from quote to event, on the phone the morning of it.
- Tastings by appointment at the kitchen for weddings and big events.
What to check with an out-of-town caterer
- How is delivery priced: by mile, by zone or a flat fee, and is it on the first quote?
- How long is the drive, and how does the food travel? Hot dishes need a plan.
- What time will the food arrive, and how much buffer is built in for traffic?
- If the food is late or wrong, who answers the phone, and are they near enough to fix it?
- Can you visit the kitchen or taste before you pay a deposit?
- Which health department inspects the kitchen, and can you see the license and insurance certificate?
- What happens in bad weather?
Where an out-of-town caterer is the better choice
Sometimes the farther kitchen is the right one. If you want a style or a cuisine our menu does not cover, a specialist is worth the drive. If your venue is outside the towns we list, ask us, and also ask the other caterer who is closer. If you have used a caterer before and trust them, that history is worth something. And if your venue requires an approved list, you may not have a choice. Treat the extra distance as a real cost and ask for it in writing.
A real example: 40 guests in Oswego
Say 40 guests at a holiday party in Oswego, about 6 miles from our kitchen.
- BBQ Pulled Pork, $95 a tray, serves 20, 2 trays: $190
- Slider Sandwich Buns, $12 a tray, 24 count, 2 trays: $24
- Creamy Cole Slaw, $55 a tray, 1 tray: $55
- BBQ Baked Beans, $49 a tray, 1 tray: $49
That is $190 + $24 + $55 + $49 = $318, plus 9.25% sales tax of $29.42, about $347. Delivery is quoted when you order, so ask for the total with delivery on the same sheet as the food. When you price an out-of-town caterer, ask for the delivery charge and any travel time for the same address.
See the towns we serve, browse holiday parties or ask for a written quote. Related: ordering from a local caterer vs a catering marketplace app and a kitchen caterer vs a banquet hall.
Questions
Do you deliver to my town?
We deliver to the towns listed above. If yours is not there, call (630) 553-9533 and ask.
How is delivery priced?
Delivery is quoted when you order, by address, and it goes on your written quote.
Can I pick up instead?
Yes. Pick-up is at the kitchen in Yorkville, with no service charge on pick-up or drop-off orders.
Who do I call on the day?
The planner who wrote your quote. They are on the phone the morning of your event.
Holiday party catering for the office and the family, plus dinner to go
