My husband and I got married March 31, 2018 at Ovation in Chicago, and Real Kitchen catered our…read morewedding. The food was unreal and the service was perfect. From the very beginning of meeting and working with Executive Chef Nick Schmuck, we knew the execution of the menu and logistics would go off without a hitch. Nick is friendly, organized, super talented, and is an expert at implementing large scale events. He had great advice for us in the beginning of our planning process regarding our timeline for the day, and other great odds and ends. It was really helpful and appreciated! During our tasting, we were blown away by the caliber of all of the dishes! Our friends who strongly recommended working with Nick were 100% right. We loved how simple, yet flavorful and beautiful all the dishes were. The ingredients were top notch and we really liked how the majority of the dishes were vegetable-forward. Our guests very much enjoyed that too! We loved our entire menu, but if we had to pick our favorite dishes were the Mojo Roast Pork "Cuban" with Smoke Ham, Gruyere, & Cornichon (aka mini Cuban sandwich) / Prosciutto Tart with Romesco, Dates, & Almonds / Moroccan Pork with Apricot, Prunes, Couscous, & Pistachios / Green Beans with Shallot & Garlic Confit & Roasted Tomatoes, and Roasted Beets with Orange & Fennel. Our friends and family members were also blown away by our menu, and are still talking about how amazing and memorable our wedding food was! Additionally, Nick handled all rentals and hiring staff for the evening, which was a huge help! Everything he recommended was perfect and we wouldn't have changed anything. Bottom line: please consider Real Kitchen to cater your wedding. You won't regret it, and everyone will absolutely love the food!

From the very start Nick showed his professionalism, attention to detail and culinary genius in…read moreplanning the catering for our wedding celebration. The food is unparalleled, and our guests couldn't stop raving about it - the food was the #1 compliment we received from our wedding in May 2019! The Real Kitchen team was instrumental in making our big day a success. In addition to planning & executing the delicious menu, Nick also organized all the necessary rentals (linens, flatware, glassware, highboys, cake stand, etc) and made sure to choose value options to help us keep costs conservative. We appreciated how detailed his proposal was compared to other vendors in breaking down all these costs for us. He was transparent throughout the process and also thoughtful - after our tasting we went home with all the leftovers packed up in eco-friendly containers :) Nick also provided invaluable help planning our bar (we purchased alcohol outright & are so glad we listened to his advice on which store to use and what to buy). His & Real Kitchen's efforts really made the reception go extremely smoothly and allowed us to kick back and enjoy the evening. What more could you ask for? The service was top notch and the food was even better! When we asked to do something a little different for coffee service they were flexible and accommodating. Even in the initial menu proposal they included ingredients from my region of origin which was a really nice personal touch. The room setup was also done perfectly and exactly as we had envisioned it. All of our requests were met with ease and professionalism, and the event went impeccably smoothly. Highly recommend Real Kitchen for their incredible food, professionalism, flexibility, and attention to detail! Great caterer! (pictures are of the tasting, the wedding itself was even better!)

If I could give Tri-Star Catering more than 5 stars, I absolutely would…read more They provided catering for our two-day conference in Chicago, and from start to finish, the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Philip, my main point of contact, set the tone early with an incredibly thoughtful and detailed intake process. It felt less like a transaction and more like a true partnership. He took the time to understand exactly what I wanted, and then elevated it beyond my expectations. The range of menu options was honestly mind-blowing. We had a pretty diverse group with a lot of dietary needs, and somehow everyone was happy--which is not easy. No one felt like an afterthought. The attention to detail was impeccable. From beautifully designed menu cards to a perfectly executed cocktail station at dinner, every element was curated with care. Nothing was overlooked. And I have to highlight Gabe--because WOW. Having him onsite was a game changer. He stayed on top of everything: refilling food and drinks, maintaining the space, and making sure guests were taken care of without ever being intrusive. Now let's talk about the food. I love food--and I can be a tough critic--and they gave me absolutely nothing to complain about. Every dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. The team was punctual, professional, and engaging. Setup and breakdown were seamless, and their communication throughout the entire process was consistent and clear. My only "complaint"? I wish they were based closer to me so I could hire them for everything. If you're looking for a caterer in Chicago, stop searching. This is your company. Philip and his team take real pride in their work--and it shows in every detail.

My company has used Tri-Star Catering for years for our catered meetings and office events. They…read moreare a preferred vendor on our list and offered a first time discount so I decided to give them a try for my board's recent conference. They have a good number of options and I selected a meat & cheese tray which came with crackers and bread, and I added drinks. Delivery was scheduled for noon and by 12:20 they hadn't arrived, with no call or text that day confirming the delivery at all, much less advising that they were running late. I called and got a callback stating that the driver was running late and would arrive in 10 more minutes. This was cutting it very close to the 1:00 start time of our event and people were starting to arrive, so I was not happy. The driver was apologetic and went up to the room with me and set everything up quickly. The presentation was nice and the food was good so I was forgiving, I just hope any future events go better!

Decent in my opinion. Definitely expected more out of the…read morealmost $20 'executive' box lunch. Got a tuna sandwich... not much tuna at all. The side of carrot chips were good but in this tube shaped baggie that made it all but impossible to take out and dip in the accompanying ranch sauce, I ended up just pouring them out into the box and picking through the actual chips and bits. Potato salad side was a okay, not the best I've had but good nonetheless. The dessert I licked was their cheesecake... small serving size which would have been just right had it not been nearly frozen solid. Taste was spot on though after about 15 minutes of thawing in the midday sun. Box lunch also came with potato chips, a pickle and a can of pop. Idk, maybe it would've been a better experience if the sandwich had more tuna than lettuce or the had cheesecake been cold instead of frozen. I'd give it one more go if I'm back in the area... maybe it was an off day for them?

I asked to be wowed. The service was fast. The turkey sandwich was mediocre (being kind). The…read morebread was fresh. 1 slice of lettuce and no tomato. Only 2 slices of turkey. The mustard lacked soul and flavor. What a difference 4 years makes. I remember during Covid responders raved about this place. Owner seemed more agitated that he was bothered to answer a question. Hmm... I guess they only care about corporate sales. Buyers beware.

Big Star was the site of one of our first dates, so when it came time to hire a caterer for our…read morewedding, the choice was clear. The food was superb, as anticipated, from passed apps to delicious tacos. Guests raved. Big Star also allowed us to supply our own alcohol but served it for us beautifully; ditto the flip to dessert (from Firecakes). I loved the smiles on all of the staff. Greg Pearson, our event lead, was fabulous. There was a bit of staff turn over right before the event, but once Greg stepped in it was smooth sailing.

Andre is very professional and a phenomenal cook. I recently had a tasting with People's Catering…read morein prep for my wedding menu. He worked so hard and slayed in the kitchen. My friends and family really enjoyed the vibe we got from him. He was very open to feedback and appreciated all the tips we gave him. He works really hard and I'm happy to have him on my wedding planning team. He cooks with your best interest in mind.

This is my favorite catering company in town...food is delicious--delivery of presentation was…read moreimpeccable and chef Andre knows how to make every meal taste incredible!--I highly recommend using this company for your next venue--you will not be disappointed!--I will definitely be using this company again

I ordered a lot of food for an afterparty and everything was simply spectacular. The sujuk…read moresandwiches, the kibbeh pies and the fatoush salad were hot favorites. The stuffed grape leaves were simply extraordinary, and I have not eaten anything like that before. The chicken shawarma was saucy but very light and overall simply delicious!! The hummus and Mtabal dips were outstanding as well. I highly recommend Honeydoe. Sufficient and high quality cutlery was provided with the order, and it arrived bang on time. The only one suggestion I would have is that I had to increase my food order to $400 to get them to accept the order, and I wish the limit was a little less. But I do not regret a single penny that I spent. It is food at its freshest and tastiet! Kudos to Rana who was lovely to talk to and accommodating with my order!

I hosted a party and used Honeydoe. The service is exceptional! The entire process was a breeze,…read morefrom the moment I got in touch with the owner until the food was delivered. The presentation was beautiful and my guests really enjoyed the food and everyone was raving about how delicious everything was. I cannot wait to cater again for future events! Thank you Honeydoe for the authentic food, honest and genuine service and passion for what you do. I ordered spinach pies, chicken sandwiches, tabboule, rishtayeh,grave leaves, kibbeh, mortadella. All superb!

Although I haven't visited their main location yet, I've been able to experience their food at the…read moreGlenwood Farmer's Market and the food is amazing. I will hopefully order food weekly. Also, shoutout to the great team at the market, very hospitable and when not busy, easy to talk to. The prices are great and the food just melts in your mouth. Last week I had the brisket with mac and cheese and southwest rice as a combo. I couldn't stop eating it. The brisket was smoky, the barbecue sauce is great, and both carbs were so good! This week I bought the sausage breakfast burrito and for the combo bought the jerk chicken, rice, and mac and cheese. I've never experienced chicken that falls off the bone like that. It was so good, I wanted more. Bless up to this awesome, family owned business! Definitely look into supporting them!

Urban Tables catered our home Christmas party. They were terrific! They responded to our inquiry…read moreright away, communicated well, arrived when they said they would and the food was wonderful! We ordered for 50+ guests and people loved the food! It was, of course, delicious but also attractive and easy to heat and serve! The collard greens were the best I ever had. We had very little left over and that was the worst part! I love finding a local business that is so good at what they do. I wholeheartedly recommend this caterer for your next event!!

I attended the Italian Dinner Party with a couple friends as a Friday night outing. I'll preface…read moremy review by saying that I had certain expectations given that I'd been to a couple cooking classes at the Chopping Block. The class/party was three hours long (6:30 - 9:30). The first portion of the event is time to just drink and socialize (Bespoke is BYOB) while indulging in the fruit and cheese that's provided. The actual cooking started around 7:15. We were split into four groups with one group working on salad, one on appetizers, one on entree and one on dessert. Because of my experience with other cooking classes, I was definitely under the impression that we'd be given the opportunity to learn and cook all items on the menu so being the wanna-be chef that I am, I was a little off put when I realized that I'd only get to cook one course. I think the verbiage on the website is a bit misleading because it is presented as though each group is preparing a multi-course meal, not that each group is preparing a portion of a multi-course meal. Also, i thought the groups were a bit large. There were seven people in our group which I felt made it even harder to truly get the experience cooking the one course we were assigned since responsibilities had to be spread out amongst more people. Now for the good stuff.....I thought the menu was awesome. I actually was more impressed with the Bespoke menu than many of the menus at The Chopping Block. Our menu consisted of arancini stuffed with panchetta, white bean and rosemary bruschetta with cured egg yolk, chicken saltimbocca with creamy polenta and sicilian broccoli, and almond cake with chocolate sauce. The arancini and almond cake were out of this world good. Also, the owners/chefs were super friendly and helpful, but I do feel that the Chopping Block chefs are more knowledgeable....at least from my experience. I'd say if you're looking for a fun night out with friends and you're looking to just let loose and be social while doing a whee bit of cooking this is your spot. It truly is a dinner party (emphasis on party). If you're like me and you're looking to actually up your culinary skills I'd recommend going to a true cooking class, which is not what I'd consider Bespoke to be.

I burned my arm hair off making the stone ground mustard grilled baby lamb chops, but I'm still…read moregiving this experience four stars. Besides keeping hands far away from the incredibly hot grill, following are a few things I learned from the cooking class/meal at Bespoke. You want to get there early if you have your heart set on making a specific dish. If not, you might end up making something less interesting, like the salad. Though each part of the meal is made by a different group, you will get to try all the dishes during the meal and every recipe is later emailed to you. It's BYOB. If you take wine, they will uncork it for you and put a label on the bottle so you don't forget which one is yours. The instructors are knowledgeable, informative, and entertaining. A lot of your experience can depend on the random strangers in your group for the food preparation or sitting next to you during the meal. We were at a table of couples and had some very lively conversation. Though this could be fun to do with a group of friends, part of the experience is getting to know new people. The recipes for our meal were excellent. Even the salad had interesting elements like picked green beans. If you are looking for a cooking class that emphasizes technique, this is not the right one for you. The Bespoke experience is more about a fun time, a good meal, and recipes that you can try later.