I cannot speak more highly of Encore catering - 5 stars is just not enough! Encore catering did our rescheduled wedding in a backyard August 2021 and from the initial email, Sandy was fantastic to work with! She was warm, responsive, provided great recommendations, and was very patient as we made a number of changes! She even came out for a site visit which really made us feel comfortable! The staff came onsite like a well oiled machine and took over the kitchen with German like precision and the food was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! We did a cocktail style reception and people are still talking about how creative, fun and delicious the food was! The staff was professional, attentive, and we did not want for anything! Thank you for everything and we will definitely be calling Encore for any future catering needs! read more

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Encore Catering did a fantastic job for a family event we held a few weeks ago. I think every single one of our 100+ guests commented on how amazing the food was. They were incredibly easy to work with and not a detail was left out. My go-to caterer without question! read more

Encore catered a celebration of life that I attended, and the food was fantastic. Anne and Roger were the on-site staff, and from start to finish they were superb. Organized, professional, friendly, and efficient. They floated in the background, making sure the needs of every guest were met. They even wrapped up food for the band members and out-of-town guests to take away for dinner! Can't recommend them highly enough for making this very difficult day a success. read more

I recently helped organize a fundraising event at the Reeves-Reed Arboretum. At the Arboretum they have a list of 4 pre-approved caters- after looking at options and pricing we decided to go with Encore. Selecting Encore was one of the best decisions for the event- everything they was exceptional- the food- the staff- the presentation- everything. Our event had passed appetizers, passed desserts, one stationary food table, a wine bar and a coffee/tee station. The Encore staff was able to work with us and provide us options within our budget. The staff was incredibly friendly and super attentive to each and everyone one of our guests at the event. The staff was even conscious to make sure that all event workers received food. Encore took less than 2 hours to set and prep everything before the event started- and were even willing to help me carry some of my boxes into the venue. They were also great with clean up- everything was cleaned, swept, and put into trash bags by the curb in less than 45 minutes. read more

I had some VIPs coming to my office last minute. I wasn't able to call in the order until Saturday before Labor Day (for that very next Tuesday!). My usual two places were closed - either for weekend or the holiday - and everyone was kind of tired of their menus anyway but I panicked! I checked on Yelp for catering in near my office and Encore appeared with good reviews. The wonderful Susan answered the phone (even though they were closed for the day) and took my order no problem! She was super nice and helped me plan out a great Executive Lunch (The Hot and Cold Sampler Menu) so it had a little bit of everything. Choice of some sandwiches, with 2 hot dishes, salads, cookies and fruit. Order was delivered on time and everything was set up for me. The guests and my employees really enjoyed it. I will definitely call them again when the need arises. read more

We used the Encore team, Roger, Nancy, Pam and chef Jeff this past weekend for my daughter's bridal shower at our home. To say this crew was anything short of amazing would be an understatement. From the moment they arrived at our home, they jumped right in to help with all the finishing touches as well as the food/bar set up. Roger was a life savior in taking beautiful pictures of all the little details/decorations prior to guests arriving (which I greatly appreciated because I wouldn't have those pictures if it wasn't for him!) The food was delicious and we received so many compliments from our guests on it. The team felt like family to us interacting with all our guests and their attention to detail made my job as the host that much easier. Pam and Nancy took extra special care of my daughter and I with making plates of food for us knowing that the hostess is always running around. And Roger made sure our glasses were always full! We want to thank the crew once again for making my daughter's special day absolutely perfect and flawless. My daughter's future in-laws were so impressed with them and asked for their contact information for future events. We will absolutely be using them again for our next event! read more

Encore Catering catered my garden wedding on August 29, 2020. Most of my interactions were with Sandy Shakespeare, both on the phone and over email. While Sandy was always positive and willing to work with me, she missed important things in emails that would require a follow up, lost my credit card information for my initial deposit, and often left me feeling a little nervous about whether everything was covered. I also paid extra for a wooden bar that Encore had instead of a basic white bar based on a photo that looked nothing like the bar that showed up on the day of the wedding (see photo). Additionally, we had made it very clear to Sandy that the bar was really important to us and we needed an experienced bartender for the day of the wedding. The bartender was changed 3 times leading up to the day, and the final change came the day before the wedding when we had no time to speak with the bartender about our expectations and hopes. Even though we left detailed instructions and recipes for the bartender, one of the signature drinks was made incorrectly and some guests were told there was no scotch at the bar when we had a 1.75L bottle available (that was never opened). It left us feeling underwhelmed about one of the most important parts of the day. All that said, the hors d'oeuvres and entrees were delicious so for that we would recommend them to a friend. Overall I'd say the experience was good but it was a bit of a let down. read more

Encore Catering - Clearly not a reclaimed wood bar that I was promised. - Caterers Near Me - East Hanover, New Jersey

I cannot thank Encore enough for making my niece's bridal shower beyond perfect! I have never been to a home party, let alone hosted one, that has been so spot on amazing! The entire staff was impeccable. From the start, Sandy was wonderful with menu suggestions and organization. Pam, the head server, was fabulous. She took care of everything, especially the bride and me, perfectly and seamlessly. Gina was a perfect bartender and Robert and Chia prepared the most delicious food. Everyone is still raving about it, especially those amazing appetizers. Thank you so much for creating the most perfect bridal shower for my niece, in these trying times. She was overwhelmed and will cherish her memories forever. read more

encore catered my wedding at liberty hall museum. we used then because they have a partnership with the museum for events. our sales rep, Cait, was extremely difficult to work with throughout the process. emails and texts would take days to get an actual response. the day of our wedding, encore made the day difficult from the moment they started setting up. we requested ivory linens for the round tables, they brought sage green. when my mom brought the mistake to their attention, no one cared. our maitre d' was nowhere to be found all day until it was time to settle the bill, which was a shitshow. Cait convinced us to not pay the bill in full prior to the wedding because we would be charged a fee for credit card payments over a certain amount. instead, she told us to pay three quarters of our total in advance and write a check for the remainder to pay the day of. when my mom went to settle this, we realized Cait told us a different amount than what the maitre d' had written down in her books. cait was called, and she told the maitre d' to just leave it be and we would address the situation the following business day. however, as soon as she hung up, the maitre d' ignored the conversation and insisted on payment. at this point, she saw me and my husband about to get in our limo to leave, and told my mom she would stop us because she needs to get paid first. my mom DIDNT GET TO SEND US OFF because she had to just write a check. this company is extremely unprofessional. do not use them. read more

Encore is the best of the best! Susan was patient and helpful every step of the way when planning our wedding. She listened to what we wanted and was able to give us an incredible menu for a reasonable price. The attention to detail from EVERYONE at Encore should not go unnoticed. Our tasting was personalized and intimate. The quality of food is outstanding. We never once had to worry about the catering. Day of the wedding, my venue DROPPED THE BALL. To say that Encore saved the day would be an understatement. They went above and beyond (i.e. cleaning tables and dealing with the venue). There was never a lack of food. People were raving about it. The waitstaff was friendly and so incredibly hard working. I can not say enough fabulous things about Encore. Start to finish amazing. I will forever use them for every party and I could not recommend them enough. read more

We used Encore for our wedding and I am beyond happy we made that decision! From start to finish, they were responsive and easy to work with. Most importantly, the food was amazing! We received compliments on the food left and right, didn't even have to ask anyone if they enjoyed it. The service staff was also amazing. Elaine and Andrea made sure the bridal party got to eat and drink while we were taking pictures, so they didn't completely miss out on the cocktail hour, and they also checked on my husband and I numerous times throughout the night to see if we wanted anything. They would even take cold plates away and bring hot ones if we ended up being on the dance floor too long (which happened more than a few times!). We never even expected that, and we are so appreciative and impressed. We also had two vegan guests and they made great plates for them. They seriously could not have done more. My planner was Lilly, and she was wonderful to work with. Never tried to push me to spend more money than I was comfortable with and always had great suggestions. We felt comfortable with her right away at the tasting and she definitely lived up to the first impression. I will definitely be contacting her for any future catering needs I might have. Throughout the planning process, I felt like I really never had to worry too much about anything because Encore/Lilly knew what they were doing. SUCH a relief. Some of the dishes are upcharges but they are absolutely worth it. I will forever dream of Encore's sea bass, and so will all my guests. From cocktail hour to dessert, everything was wonderful. read more

We did our daughter and son-in-law's wedding in our backyard last night with Encore Catering. They were amazing. Their crew was professional And did not miss a trick! The food was fabulous and everyone was raving. They're just was not anything they didn't do perfect. I would use them again. We worked with Susan Silberman at Encore who helped us through this journey read more

I used Encore for both my rehearsal dinner and wedding and they were fantastic. True customer service from the moment I signed the contract to the moment the last bit of food was packed up and put away. My guests raved about the food and my family raved about the attentiveness of all the Encore team from the maitre d to to the bar tender to the staff who were cleaning up tables. Everything was beautiful, delicious, and way beyond any expectations I ever had. If you care about food and presentation than Encore is your caterer! read more

The epitome of perfection in a caterer. Great food. Impeccable service. Beyond professional. I have now used Encore for a house party of 50, a Bar Mitzvah of 200 and now a wedding of over 300 people and cannot imagine ever doing an event without them. Thank you to Karen, Sandy, Michele, the chefs, servers, bartenders, etc. who made us feel like our event was the most important one they ever did. read more

After choosing The Conservatory at Sussex County Fairgrounds as my venue, I started looking for catering companies I knew I was going to use Encore for my wedding. Their reviews are AMAZING and they did not disappoint. From the start Sandy was amazing! She answered all my questions and helped me create a vision for my wedding day and then she exceeded all expectations. The linens and chairs were gorgeous, and the food was to die for! We had three cocktail stations and passed hors d'oeuvres, the themed dinner stations were so good that I can't pick a favorite! I received compliments on the food all night and for days following the wedding. Guests also spoke so highly of the staff and how friendly they were. Elaine was my maitre'd and she made sure everything was perfect at all times. Pam was mine and my husbands personal server and she NEVER missed a beat making sure we had everything we could possibly need. I can't rave about them enough. The owners Karen and Lisa are amazing!!! read more

Professional, punctual, delicious, and easy to use website layout. I used them for an office lunch meeting. I got a lot of compliments. Everything was fresh and well wrapped for delivery. I'll be using them again, they exceeded my expectations. read more

We use them for catering for out Conakry the best, fresh, tasting sandwiches and wraps.

Look no further for an event caterer. Encore Catering did our daughter's outdoor wedding. Wow!!! All of our wedding guests, both family and friends, absolutely raved about the food, decor, and attentiveness. The bars, cocktail hour, and the food stations for the appetizers, dinners, and desserts were absolutely unreal. Everything was perfect - from the day we met with Lily H. and her team, sampling the menus, through the clean-up after the event. Can't say enough about Encore. They helped make our daughter's wedding 'the wedding of the century.' Would give more than five stars if possible. A million thanks again to Lily H. and her team of professionals. read more

We have used Encore twice and they are by far the best caterer in New Jersey. Their dishes are amazing, delicious, and beautifully presented. They offer many different styles. We went with multiple "stations" are our parties and the variety catered to every pallet. Your next party will be great if you use Encore! read more

We hired Encore to cater our wedding at Kean University in June. They were by far the best caterers!! SO attentive to not just my husband and I but our families and guests. The staff really went out of their way to ensure all guests were happy. Roger and Bill were amazing behind the bar, serving up delicious cocktails and checking on us to make sure we were always good with everything. Lilly was our event manager from Encore and she just rocked! She was SO helpful with ALL planning and made sure everything on the day of was amazing. We are still receiving compliments on the food from our guests which makes us happy because the last thing you want is for guests to walk away hungry because the food wasn't good. We had the taco bar during our cocktail hour and Encore had some fun decorations for the station....the bar received RAVE reviews!! Thanks so much to the whole Encore team!!! read more

On Saturday, Nov. 29 I threw a baby shower for my daughter. I used Encore Catering for the luncheon. I ordered their sandwich package. I got to choose 3 salads, 4 different sandwiches and opted for a fruit platter instead of the cookies. The black bean and edamame salad was a big hit, along with my favorite, their kale ceasar salad.The fabulous sandwiches received rave reviews. We had the beef and bleu cheese on a pretzel roll, turkey and swiss sloppy joes, fresh mozzarella, procutto, roasted red peppers and tomatoes and a roast chicken with avacado. My guests were so impressed by the food thanks to Encore. read more

I contacted Encore based on all the five star reviews. My experience with Encore is nothing like all of these reviews. Not sure where the disconnect is? So here goes my recent experience, as I can not endorse the business practices, culture and professional ethics of the management and the company as a whole. As explained by Cait (Encore Sales Rep), the wedding catering event proposal prepared, was issued to me after her management's approval. Everything seemed fine and I was super excited to work with Encore based on all the amazing reviews. After a few calls and communications back and forth, I requested Cait, specifically in an email, to directly coordinate with my fiancee to continue the process of select foods. I attached my fiancee's contact information to that email, although it was already with their files. Cait never contacted my fiancee. She probably dropped the ball on this? I found this out, because out of nowhere, a scathing email comes from Cait alluding that I now have to drop everything I am doing to answer her meal requests and to figure a way to wire payment or make payment directly next day in the office on the deposit. I considered to immediately coordinate and comply. The proposal expressed a 75 guest minimum. The owners (Robert and Carolyn) called and said that was a mistake in the proposal and we needed to be paying for a higher set minimum of 100 guests (even if only 65 attend). When talking with Cait at our initial meeting, I asked what happens with the excess food, can they be left over so our guests can continue eating after the meal service? Cait said no food can be left over, all goes back to the company (which may be very customary practice of the catering industry?). In general, just feel that there was limitations of the pro-activeness from the sales rep, Cait. Additionally the Encore owners direct communications were pretty unprofessional in tone, which shocked me the most. I know they have a lot of events and such, but why do they advertise "last minute catering" assistance, if they really don't truly want to professionally honor that process? Most importantly, the ugly 'bait and switch of' guest minimums from the original proposal really is just a sour business practice. With all respect to the business, based on my recent experience, am not sure what the company mission is to the customers? read more

The office I work at had a falling out with one of their regular delis/caterers and every so often they try somewhere new. Today I was fortunate to get a small sample of Encore Catering. I don't know about their service so this review is based solely on what I tasted. The quinoa salad with lemon dressing is an amazing blend of tastes and textures, the only downside was I afraid to smile until I flossed because of all of the fresh herbs in it. It went wonderfully with the platter of grilled chicken breasts, which were cooked perfectly so they were still moist and flavorful. I went back for more and there wasn't any. I also tried the Crispy Eggplant Milanese sandwich and was stunned at how amazing it was, the pesto, the shaved parmesan -- PERFECTION! I'm very picky about eggplant, if I don't grow it, then I don't make it, if I don't make it, then I don't eat it. Several people around the office were disappointed to find out that they just can't walk in and order one of their gourmet sandwiches. If you're looking for a caterer to impress your guests/clients, then look no further because if the very small sampling I had is any indication of their quality, then this place is a foodies' paradise. Forgot to mention the breads for the sandwiches - nowadays the word artisan is thrown around a lot, these breads were of a quality that is rare to find, they enhance their ingredients instead of just holding them together. read more

Encore Catering catered my daughter's Sweet16 at Kean University. We had about 80 High School students and 20 close family members. I contacted Encore on 12/3/18 and almost every business day until 5/10/19 I was in constant contact with Caitlin. Cait worked well with the facility manager @Kean and was very patient with a mother who had constant demands from her teenage daughter. She provided me sample menus and we altered, added and amended down to the very day of the event. The display of food was like art work. The staff was professional from their attire to their smiles and helpful hands. I was very nervous when she wasn't scheduled to be at the event, but she sent me an angel, Head Server Tim. He has an eye for anticipating your needs before you make a request. I had two elderly grandmothers present and he pampered them like it was their birthday party. He was simply a delight to work with, which made the cost of the service "priceless." One last thing to add, I was soo busy hosting the party that I wasn't able to sit down and eat at dinner or cocktail hour; But at the end of the night Head Server Tim packed up the food with a special goody bag for me, which I enjoyed at home late that night. ENCORE IS THE BEST !! Thank you, Cait and Tim. read more

I have used Encore Catering several times for Baptisms, Communions and luncheons. I usually order the sandwiches and salads. All have been outstanding! Additionally they provide a variety of home-baked cookies (buttery and delicious), paper goods and even delivery. Each time I have used them, they have exceeded my expectations. read more

The best caterer in northern New Jersey! I used Encore about 20 years ago as they were starting out. From food to staff, everything is top notch. I used Encore again about 8 years ago and the quality was the same, really good. Several friends and family have used Encore for corporate and personal events and were always extremely satisfied. I suggested my friend use Encore for her sister's surprise birthday cocktail party. They usually use a different caterer, but I suggested Encore because they are that much better. We're a bunch of foodies who love good wine, and everyone was impressed by the food. From the presentation to taste everything was top notch and beyond. I hope Encore gets some business from the guests. I had a great time. The staff went far beyond, truly, brought food across the yard to the fire pit. Everyone was exceedingly happy. Especially our hostess and guest of honor. Encore made the event! read more

This wonderful people catered my daughter's wedding this past Sunday. The staff supervisor was amazing as were the bar staff and servers. The rabbi was delayed getting to the wedding ( missed comunication he's a lovely older gentleman). The wait staff supervisor(Elaine) got the appetizers passed around the bartenders got people drinks and within 10minutes of hearing the the rabbi was running late they had Happy people eating and drinking and waiting calmly for the rabbi to come. After the ceremony dinner was served. The food was wonderful and all gluten free. If you need a gluten free wedding these are the people to hire they knocked it out of the park. I have been a caterer myself and a personal chef. I don't give praise easily but these people got my attention.The wedding was shabby chic and 100 place settings,china,wine govlet and dessert plates were donated to a store that benefits Veterans. Lilly Herdman who is their wedding coordinator made arrangements for this all to be picked up by Red, Whie and Blue. Once again Kudos to all of them. read more