Caterers Directory
Abigail Kirsch
71 W. 23rd St., nr. Sixth Ave., Ste. 1611; 212-696-4076; abigailkirsch.comAfter decades in the business, this streamlined operation has a near monopoly on the New York catering biz, and with good reason. Year after year, it delights couples and their guests with inventive dishes such as mini pastrami and salmon bagels and chocolate-and-bourbon parfaits. Kirsch has exclusive arrangements at several venues, including Tappan Hill and Chelsea Piers. Prices upon request.
Acquolina Catering
2291 Second Ave., nr. 117th St.; 212-426-9400; acquolinacatering.comAcquolina’s all-star team of chefs whips up hors d’oeuvre such as quail-egg-and-paprika canapés and Parmesan tulips with yellow-pepper foam. Entrées range from spinach-and-ricotta gnocchi to filet mignon. Cocktail-hour prices start at $35 per person, seated dinners at $110.
Amanda Smith Catering and Event Planning
203-202-7669; amandasmithcaterers.comMexico-born Amanda Pilar Smith’s company offers international specialties such as lavender-flecked tuna on Asian pear with wasabi cream. The chorizo-and-potato balls with salsa verde, and the mac ’n’ cheese bites are particularly popular. Smith deftly handles events for 10 to 300 guests in locations throughout New York City, Connecticut, the Hamptons, and upstate New York. Seated dinners from $85 per person.
Amerivents
250 W. 57th St., nr. Seventh Ave., Ste. 613; 212-245-1080; amerivents.comThe exclusive caterer for the Queens Museum, Amerivents creates crowd-pleasing wedding menus using locally sourced ingredients. Expect traditional fare such as crab cakes with chipotle rémoulade, served with more exotic bites such as miso-dipped black cod. Menus start at $95 per person.
Art of Eating
631-267-2411; hamptonsartofeating.comThere are no set menus at this catering company; the large team of in-house chefs helps couples design custom meals. The focus is on local, organic ingredients from farmers on the North and South Forks, but the Hamptons-based group has catered events around the tristate area and beyond.
Arthur Avenue Caterers
2344 Arthur Ave., nr. 186th St., the Bronx; 718-295-5033; arthuravenue.comBased in the heart of what they (and many others) call the “real Little Italy,” these longtime caterers create traditional feasts that will make Italian relatives swoon. They offer antipasto platters but also provide full-service catering (from Italian wedding soup to filet mignon). Prices upon request.
Barraud Caterers
405 Broome St., nr. Center St.; 212-925-1334; barraudcaterers.comWell regarded among epicureans, this catering company—anchored by the talents of chef Ro Howe—devises tasty creations such as foie gras mousse on cranberry brioche with Szechuan strawberry gelée, and braised lamb shanks with Gorgonzola bread pudding. Seated dinners from $65 per person. (good value)
Benchmarc Events by Mark Murphy
111 W. 17th St., nr. Sixth Ave.; 212-625-8270; benchmarc-events.comChef Marc Murphy brings his lovable restaurant fare to private spaces, with appetizers such as mini chicken pot pies and entrées such as roasted cod with wild-mushroom ragout. Benchmarc prides itself on the ability to customize weddings. Prices upon request. (good value)
Bite
31 Perry St., nr. Waverly Pl. ; 917-676-1320; imightbite.comScott Skey’s catering business specializes in contemporary cuisine with an emphasis on local, seasonal ingredients. A festive soirée might include fried-chicken-and-watermelon bites and a farmers’-market buffet table, featuring a local roast suckling pig served with blackberry-bacon compote and tomato chutney. Prices upon request.
Blue Hill On the Road
914-366-9606, ext. 226; bluehillfarm.comDevotees of Blue Hill’s restaurants in Greenwich Village and Tarrytown, New York, can wow their wedding guests with chef Dan Barber’s exquisite seasonal farm-to-table cuisine. Menus are customizable, and Blue Hill can help with every aspect of your event, whether it’s a huge tented affair in the countryside or a small family gathering in the backyard of a brownstone. Prices upon request.
Blue Smoke Catering
116 E. 27th St., nr. Lexington Ave.; 255 Vesey St., nr. North End Ave..; 646-747-7584; bluesmoke.comJean-Paul Bourgeois’s lip-smacking urban barbecue appeals to couples who aren’t averse to rolling up their sleeves and getting a little messy. His Ole Hickory pits smoke everything from pulled pork, brisket, and vegetable kebabs to Arctic char and baby back ribs. From $39 per person. (good value)
Canard, Inc.
503 W. 43rd St., at Tenth Ave.; 212-947-2480; canardinc.comThese innovative caterers have dreamed up passed hors d’oeuvre such as pea-shoot gelée and deconstructed chicken wings. They’ve also assembled exotic grazing stations featuring crowd-pleasers like Peking duck. From $100 per person for cocktails or $250 for dinner.
Catering By Restaurant Associates
132 W. 31st St., nr. Sixth Ave., sixth fl.; 212-755-8300; cxra.comThis company is hyperfocused on minute details, and its customized menus include seasonal, local, and sustainable ingredients. The always professional catering staff is accustomed to serving discerning audiences: Exclusive venues include the American Museum of Natural History, the Guggenheim, and the Morgan Library. Prices upon request. (ecofriendly)
Catering By Tocqueville
1 E. 15th St., nr. Fifth Ave.; 212-647-1515; tocquevillerestaurant.comHusband-and-wife duo Marco Moreira and Jo-Ann Makovitsky favor seasonal ingredients for their modern fare. Highlights include the creamy Parmesan-grits appetizer and entrées such as seared foie gras with diver scallops, and braised artichokes with porcini mushrooms. Prices upon request. (good value)
The Cleaver Co.
75 Ninth Ave., at 16th St., in Chelsea Market; 212-741-9174; cleaverco.comAn East Coast Alice Waters, Mary Cleaver has earned a following among food connoisseurs for her emphasis on high-quality organic and local ingredients and her commitment to sustainable fishing and humane livestock practices. Reception menus can include braised Long Island duck with roasted grapes from the Finger Lakes, squash-and-potato gratin, and sautéed winter greens (from $275 per person, with alcohol and cake). (ecofriendly)
Cloud Catering & Events
42-81 Hunter St., Long Island City; 718-383-3313; cloudcateringny.comThe staff at this versatile company trawls local farms and greenmarkets to suss out the freshest fish, meat, and organic produce. Standout entrées include Luberon lamb loin with charred eggplant purée and a pomegranate lamb jus. Cocktails from $100 per person; seated three-course dinner from $265. (ecofriendly)
Cobblestone Catering
220 Atlantic Ave., nr. Court St., Cobble Hill; 718-222-1661; cobblestonecatering.comDrawing from New American cuisine, Cobblestone Catering’s menus offer a selection of seasonal, sustainable, and local ingredients. The caterer works with clients to customize any menu and offers private tastings. Prices upon request. (ecofriendly)
Cocktail Caterers
416 W. 23rd St., nr. Ninth Ave.; 646-331-9191; cocktailcaterersnyc.comThis LGBT-certified catering biz brings back retro food with chic flair. The team can handle anything from an extended cocktail party to family style, with stations or beautifully tabled buffets, featuring dishes such as buttermilk chicken with honey-jalapeño waffles and creamed gravy. From $85 per person. (good value)
CompartÍ
102 E. 7th St., nr. First Ave.; 201-679-92431; comparticatering.comFrom the team behind Latin American restaurants Comodo and Colonia Verde comes a new full-service catering company. Specialties include arepas and poblano carbonara pasta, but they’re just a jumping-off point for customizing your menu. Compartí also gives you options that bring a whimsical elegance to weddings, such as a roving vintage bar cart of Moscow mules or Manhattans.
Creative Concepts NYC
380 Lexington Ave., nr. 42nd St., 17th fl.; 212-741-0523; creativeconceptsnyc.comChef Miguel Urrego can whip up a variety of seasonal menus for small and large events. Choose from hors d’oeuvre such as rosemary focaccia bites and butter-poached Maine lobster tails and entrées such as herb-crusted, grass-fed lamb tenderloin. Prices upon request.
Creative Edge Parties
110 Barrow St., at Washington St.; 212-741-3000; creativeedgeparties.comFor 25 years, this company has tailored menus to fit each couple’s tastes. Offerings include roasted tomato tartare with capers, crème fraîche, toasted boule, and fried quail egg. Prices upon request.