This was our second year experiencing the mother days brunch special event they host here at the…read moregrand oak villas during Mother's Day weekend. The first time I came here I was pleasantly surprised and enjoyed the food yet this second time around, I found the novelty of it to have worn off. First off, upon making reservations, I'd advise trying to book a full table or you will be seated with strangers which may not always be the most comfortable experience. The first year we had extended family members join us but this second time around we were places to join another set of people which during the pandemic (despite the late stage of it) felt a little uncomfortable but understandable. I found the food selection to be nothing new and depending upon which time you arrive, may not always be plentiful so you might have to wait around a bit for the staff to come replace the dish/replenish. Among the large selections available, I found myself going back for the blueberry scones, the sautéed mushrooms and little omelet frittatas. Those were my personal favorite though I don't think I could distinguish any particular dish as exceptionally phenomenal. Everything was decent enough but nothing to really come home and brag about. I did enjoy their bottomless mimosas Bellinis (although they are alcoholic, I'd say they were not heavily concentrated to be inebriated no matter how much you'd like to keep them on coming). At the table you are also served a selection of wine if you wish to enjoy some. The venue does feel largely grand for a small-ish party if you are looking to host a celebration/event there. The foyer/front entrance is really beautiful and the bathrooms kept very clean. Favorite spot is probably the cute veranda/outdoor patio with little bridge that is great for photo-ops on the right side of the entrance to the parking (it is a climb up to get there so wear comfy shoes to get up at the spot and then switch them once up at the destination. Overall I'd say the place is great, the food is decent but nothing that is too WOW or extravagant if you wish to have a more private atmosphere

We hosted a large event with over 400 guests at the Grand Oak Villa. From start to finish the…read moreplanning process was seamless. Ang and her staff were great to work with and knowledgeable. The staff was more than accommodating, the room was beautifully set and the food was delicious (not to mention, the buffet line was never empty). I would recommend the Grand Oak Villa to all!

They did great. The food, the set-up, everyone was very happy. There was great communication, the…read moreseafood was cooked well, the ribs are to die-for and they cleaned up everything.

Clambakes of CT did an excellent job with our anniversary event. All the dishes were perfect and…read morethe 2 employees were flawless. We rescheduled from last year and they were happy to accommodate. We heartily recommend them!

Attended a wedding for our friends Edwin and Stephanie here last Friday. The ceremony took place…read moreoutdoors and was promptly followed up with the reception and happy hour which was within short walking distance at the same location. There is a bar area next to the reception area. The staff was extremely friendly and accommodating. The balcony was a perfect spot for pictures, overlooking the grounds. The location was spacious enough for accommodating the dance floor and guests comfortably (guest list was approximately 50-60). Dinner service was prompt and overall, everyone had a fantastic night celebrating the newlyweds.

*Full disclosure-I visited (twice) for a potential wedding venue only*…read more We met PJ at the Hartford Bridal Expo and he was awesome! He gave us so much info and wasn't rushing us away to talk to the other hundreds of people that were there. We told him we were looking for the Thursday before Good Friday, so most guests would already have a long weekend AND we could take advantage of the great Thursday off-peak pricing we've been seeing. PJ was so excited to hear this and started explaining all of the details of the fabulous Thursday packages they were offering at Birchwoods! This package included a cake, a photo booth, a DJ, AND A PHOTOGRAPHER, all for a reasonable price per person!!! After hearing this, we looked at pictures and immediately made an appointment to go visit the venue the following weekend. I was so impressed with the venue! The decorations are gorgeous, from the second you open the front door to the hallway to the bridal suite to the room you'd have your reception in, which happened to be set up for a wedding that was happening that evening. We also met Trish during our first visit, and she was also friendly and explaining any and everything we had questions or comments about. She was pointing out all of the decorations that are theirs, which are available for you to use for your big day to save money! PJ had told us at the expo that you can use whatever they have, from centerpieces, to table numbers to card boxes to the Mr. and Mrs. signs for the sweetheart table, all things available to you that you have to provide at many venues. Now, while we ultimately didn't choose this venue because we found another place where we could have our ceremony outside, rain or shine, Birchwoods ABSOLUTELY had my favorite bridal suite! This was the only one I saw with big gorgeous windows, which would've been great for pics while getting ready, as well as for natural light to come in while getting hair and makeup done! There was also a grooms suite in the basement, which most places don't have! So, they definitely had some great features that not many places had, and it's a place you should check out if you're looking for a venue with a lot of great features, and a reasonable price! Omg, I forgot to mention something else I loved! The ladies room! Bizarre, right? But this is the only place I saw that didn't have those tiny little stalls where you practically have to straddle the toilet for the door to swing in so you can close and lock it. I swear, between the ladies room and bridal suite I was a huge fan! Those were two things they had that beat the others, hands down!

I used Shaken and Stirred for my daughter's bridal shower last weekend. I was so impressed with…read morethem! Brittney was wonderful to deal with and made planning the event so easy. The team showed up on time and got right to work! The food was wonderful and my guests raved about how delicious the food was. The wait staff was professional and made sure that all the guests were served. The presentation was gorgeous! I highly recommend Shaken and Stirred!

We used Shaken & Stirred for our wedding weekend, including cheese & charcuterie, in-house bar…read moreservice, and dinner. They must be in the top 1% of caterers. The food is excellent - not just "catering good" but truly restaurant-level good. The bar and cocktail service was top notch - we were able to pick a couple custom cocktails to add some personality to the experience. And the staff was equally excellent, including Brittney's communication and support throughout the process. Everything was so easy! Couldn't have imagined a better experience and would highly recommend them.

We hired Catering by Christine for our wedding on 7/19/25 at Penfield Pavilion. From the very…read morebeginning, Pete was amazing. He invited me, my husband, and my wedding coordinator to a tasting. After the first couple of dishes came out, we were in! From the presentation of the food to the tasting, just spectacular. We chose to have stations at our wedding rather than a "sit-down" plated dinner because we had both adults and children. Everyone RAVED about the food, and the passed hors d'oeuvres were a big hit. The presentation was fun, and all of the food was spectacular. We also opted to have an ice cream bar rather than a formal wedding cake, and everyone LOVED that, especially the little ones. Pete actually assigned one of his staff members to tend directly to the bridal party, and she was phenomenal. She was so friendly and attentive to us, and we were so appreciative. We also had Catering by Christine do our full bar, and that too was just over the top. We even had him do a signature cocktail that we always enjoy in the summer -- he had never heard of it, and he did an amazing job with that as well. You know you had the best wedding when you had the best food and bar (Catering by Christine), band (The Zoo), venue (Penfield Pavilion), and wedding coordinator (Colleen Horstman - Coll-It-Entertaining). We chose well and had one of the best days of our lives! Thank you Pete! We definitely recommend this catering company if you are looking for the BEST! Judy and David Rose

Catering By Christine went ABOVE and BEYOND for our wedding. We requested a custom menu to…read morecelebrate our Peruvian & Italian heritage. We provided family recipes to the team both for the hors d'oeuvres and the entrées. Catering by Christine KNOCKED IT OUT OF THE PARK. 5 years later (this review is extremely overdue) and people STILL talk about how incredible the food was at our wedding. We are so grateful for how special and memorable they made our wedding meal and hope that many, many others are able to enjoy their outstanding services.

Chefs catered our at-home wedding in June 2024. It was nothing short of the best day ever! We…read moreworked side by side with Cathy - the owner and a seasoned veteran in the catering industry with nearly 40+ years of catering experience within the NY metropolitan area. She, Connery, and the whole team worked tireless to make the event incredibly personalized, memorable, and fun. Chefs A L'Orange Caterers leaves an elegant and classic mark. Our guests could not stop raving about the food and how wonderful the day was. Thank you Chefs Team!!

I've worked with many caterers in the past and Chefs A l'Orange is one of the best I've ever…read moreexperienced. Their food and service is outstanding, they strive to provide excellent fare and were very flexible. My group is a not-for-profit and Cathy is always able to come up with outstanding, creative menus that fit our budget. I highly recommend this caterer.

I hired Carriage House to cater my wedding. I was blown away by not only the food but the…read moreprofessionalism and helpfulness of the staff. Part way through the night we had run out of bar glasses, I didn't even need to ask the two wait staff to help clean some, they did it without me asking!! The food was phenomenal and the portions were very generous. I will most certainly be using them again for any future events.

We hired Carriage House for a double Grad party for our sons. Ordering our menu was easy!…read more Carriage House offers a wide option of foods for the perfect buffet. We hired one of the wait staff to assist us with our guests and to help with the clean up. Once she arrived (on time) she was professional and required little to no direction. She knew exactly what to do!! We will use Carriage House for our future catering needs!!

I was the photographer at an event who used Fork and fingers as their catering…read more Hands down the best tasting food I've eaten at an event. Everything that came out their tiny kitchen tasted like heaven. Here are the things I had the opportunity to eat and their ratings: * Sweet potato with special sauce 5/5 * Mini Fish tacos 5/5 * Mini chicken sandwich with cauliflower bites 5/5 * Mini slider 4/5 Everything was fresh, delicious, and hot. I think hot is important to note because if you've had catering at an outside event before, sometimes it's just cold finger foods and it's not always tasty. Not Forks and Fingers! All of it was hot and fresh! Totally recommend! Did I mention the service? Absolutely wonderful. Each server was dressed well and took great care to ensure that even the furthest corners of the event were served. 100% recommend based on food and service.

I have used various catering companies over they years for various types of events. Forks & Fingers…read morefood and service has surpassed all of them. I used them for my sister Bridal Shower and Wedding Welcome BBQ. Both events were two different styles - semi-formal cocktail party and BBQ style. F&F nailed it on both events. Food was excellent. We have an Indian/ Caribbean background so spices and flavor is important to us. Flavor was spot on - food was tasty. I might even say their curry might be better than mines. The attention to detail on the tables decoration was spot on for both events. They captured the essence of each event. Ali was honest and helped tremendously with coordinating rental, scheduling, setup, etc. Each menu was personalized for each event as well. I highly recommend them for any events. I will definitely be using them again.