It was genuinely such a pleasure to work with the Flavor Chef Catering team for our wedding earlier…read morethis year. Throughout the process, we communicated primarily with Madison, who was always kind, thoughtful, and professional during our interactions. Based on our research of catering teams in the northern San Diego County area, we were already leaning towards Flavor Chef based on their reasonable prices and menu. The team was able to fit us in at the last minute for a tasting, which is what truly sealed the deal. Everything we tasted was delectable, but more importantly, the team treated us with kindness and respect. Chef Derek explained every detail of the dishes and was incredibly accommodating if we wanted to tweak anything. For example, we had a few vegetarians and vegans attending the wedding, and the team was able to make about 10-15% of the appetizers (pork belly bao buns, bacon-wrapped dates, and poke crisps) suitable for these attendees. We also wanted the citrus flavor of the salmon to be stronger, so the team made a note to add more squeezed Valencia orange and to add more citrus-infused oil on top of the salmon. Our guests also raved about our food on the wedding day. Among the standouts were the bacon-wrapped dates, citrus risotto, and beef short-ribs. Several people went back for seconds. One of our guests wrote in our wedding album, "the food was actually good!" He later told us that he had been to plenty of weddings where the food fell short. He said what stood out about our buffet menu was that the ingredients were simple and locally sourced but expertly crafted and incredibly flavorful. We also had a goal of mango sticky rice as one of our desserts, which a family friend was helping us with. Even though the Flavor Chef team was not directly involved in this dessert, they were willing to cut all the mangoes fresh on site for no extra charge to make sure the mangoes didn't oxidize before dessert time, which we were incredibly grateful for. We also rented dishes and utensils from Flavor Chef at a more competitive rate than was being offered by the venue's recommended rental company. Flavor Chef also included vendor meals for a fraction of the price of the buffet meal, which really helped us with our budget. At every step of our interactions with Flavor Chef, we felt the team went above and beyond to make our day as special and memorable as possible. We would highly recommend Flavor Chef to anybody considering them for their special event. The quality of the food and the kindness of the staff speak for themselves!

Amazing experience with Chef Diego, who came early to set up and cater our small dinner party…read more Planning the menu was very easy and Flavor Chef folks were super responsive. We had not anticipated such an amazing experience given it was for a small dinner party (10 ppl) versus a big event like a wedding or retirement party. The appetizers were amazing and dinner was perfect. We will definitely be coming back for any future needs. Everyone in our dinner party loved the food and the experience. Basically, we are all super fans!

Bite & Bites and ilona were absolutely wonderful to work with for our wedding cocktail hour. The…read morecharcuterie was delicious, and our guests were gushing about it all day. I was especially impressed with their professionalism and attention to detail, even going as far as adjusting the table throughout the day as the sun moved to make sure everything looked its best. They clearly care about what they do, and it showed in every detail. I would absolutely recommend them to anyone looking for catering that is both beautiful and delicious!

Bits and Bites catered our baby shower and I'm so glad they did! Ilona was wonderful to work with…read morefrom beginning to end. She helped me customize the perfect menu for our smaller party, and I appreciated her flexibility in adding last minute add-ons. Best of all, Ilona created the most beautiful catering table for the event and she truly took our "cutie" citrus theme to heart. All of our guests loved the food (especially the chicken and waffles!) and wanted to know who catered the party. I rarely do Yelp reviews anymore and this wasn't even requested, but Bits and Bites deserves the praise and more than 5 stars!

Absolutely excellent experience -- couldn't recommend more! Gigi and her team were extremely…read moreresponsive from the get-go when I was planning my dad's 80th birthday in my parents' yard. Their team on site was also extremely professional and kind (offering multiple times to help out with other things we were carrying around etc). We'll definitely use them again!

Gigi and the De La Vina team are INCREDIBLE! They were able to create the most memorable high-end…read morebrunch (with limited noticed) and took care of every detail to make for a flawless event. I was thrilled with the outcome and received so many compliments from guests.I'm

I hate to do this, as I understand what a bad review can do for a small business.. but after seeing…read morethe other reviewer who stated that JP backed out of their wedding (who, I'm not affiliated with in any way), I think my experienced needs to be shared, as I hope this will help other couples. I gave JP (owner) an incredible amount of grace throughout the process and yet, he still managed to screw us. It was not a single issue, but a failure on multiple levels. THE SHORT VERSION: 1) he was very unprofessional overall in his communication. 2) he backed out of bar service a few days before our wedding and ghosted us after the wedding without a refund, 3) without exaggeration, some of the food at the wedding was inedible THE LONGER VERSION: The tasting went amazing. Ashley (who no longer works there) was extremely communicative. They asked for 50% as a deposit (which is pretty high) but the food was really good so we accepted. However, the tasting was the only good thing about our experience... 1. He was unreachable for months leading up to our wedding. The company phone number was either not taking calls, or went straight to voicemail. No response to emails. He finally got back to me about one month before our wedding (we thought we got scammed at that point). I gave him the benefit of the doubt despite all of this 2. He backed out of providing bar services a week before the wedding. I knew something was off when he wouldn't provide us with an shopping lists for our cocktails, despite following up. A few days before our wedding, our coordinator told us that his bartenders did not have proper certification and without one, could not serve alcohol (note: this was merely an RBS certification... EVERY OTHER bar service that we spoke with met this requirement). I specifically asked at contract signing if they were certified. Also, JP did not inform us that he was dropping out. I had to text him myself for confirmation, as I was unsure if he was going to hire other bartenders, if they would obtain the certificate, or if he was dropping out. Only then did he tell me he would not provide bar service. Again, this was 7 days before the wedding. He also took 3 more days to clarify exactly what service he would no longer be providing, when we obviously needed to know asap as we were scrambling to secure another bar service Even though this certification is the minimum requirement for many venues, he tried to pass the blame onto the venue, stating that he never encountered this requirement before (how is this possible? As a wedding caterer, he should have been familiar with these requirement, whether or not he met them). Huge red flag. Despite this, I didn't make this an issue 3. He promised to refund us for the bar service but ghosted us after the wedding. I disputed the charge and he finally responded, threatening to sue. 4. He was unreachable on the morning of the wedding. Again, poor communication.. 5. The food failed to meet even our lowest standards. The 50% deposit really had our hands tied and we couldn't back out despite the red flags. As long as he showed up and served food that was remotely close to our tasting, we'd be happy. However, he totally skimped out on the quality and quantity. For example, our passed appetizers were smoked salmon bagels. I'm not sure if he used old bagels or what, but the bagels were stale and rock hard. My friend tried to bite down on one and immediately spit it out. My aunt had to warn guests not to eat them. He swapped out some of the items that we paid for with inferior options (ie: we paid for a fig and honey roll... he just added a basic dinner roll). Guests told us they were confused that our menu did not match the food. Some guests got half a dinner roll (meaning they didn't have enough) The main entrées did not match the quality or size of the original dish we were promised at the tasting. I understand that preparing a meal for 2 people is not the same as 100 people, and there is inherently a drop in quality on the wedding day. However, this was completely different. Many guests attested that the salmon entree was inedible as it was incredibly dry and overcooked. Look at the photo of the tri-tip I uploaded and the difference between what we were promised and what we received We asked for leftovers to be packed but never received them. All in all, I was super understanding and even allocated 15% as tip for his team despite his poor communication. Despite this, the fact that he never gave us a refund for the bar service is appalling.

We chose Culinary Kitchen for our recent wedding in Julian, CA this past June and my husband and I…read moreare incredibly thankful that we got to work with Ashley and JP for our big day! Food and catering service were some of our highest priorities to get right during our wedding and Culinary Kitchen was phenomenal every step of the way. Our communication with Ashley and and JP before, during, and after the wedding was exceptional. From the very beginning, Ashley was very responsive and regularly checked in with us, which helped me feel less overwhelmed by all the catering decisions we needed to make. I tend to err on being extremely detail oriented and I asked tons of questions early on. Ashley was so patient and thorough with each email I had sent over even before booking. Before choosing our caterer, we did 3 different wedding caterer tastings and Culinary Kitchen easily was the best of all three (we're still thinking about the gochujang meatballs and the cavatappi pasta with fennel sausage!!). On our wedding day, the food service ran seamlessly and our guests often commented on how good the food was (guests were actually trying to sneak chicken tenders off the kids plates because even the kids meals were so good). Their team also helped us serve our desserts, did our bartending, and rented/placed all of our table settings, all at very reasonable prices as part of the entire catering package. The team also went above and beyond to accommodate all of our guests' special dietary needs while still helping us stay within budget and recommending a cohesive menu. One last thing - we did A LOT of research on different San Diego caterers before our wedding (I think we sent out inquiries to at least 10 other caterers) and Culinary Kitchen's catering packages felt the most "upscale" and comprehensive without leaving us feeling nickel and dimed for every line item. I truly felt like their team was on our side the whole way. THANK YOU Culinary Kitchen for catering our wedding day!! We wish you guys the best of success!

Recently had catering from this business for my husband's 40th birthday, and everything went great…read more Cassie is very effective and quick to communicate and emails. The staff were great, very friendly and super professional. Food was very good, the cheese platter was delicious and greatly designed. The fact that they brought real plates&forks and not disposable ones, was very impressive. I try to avoid using plastic/paper plates and utensils, and this was great. They cleaned up and packed all the left overs away. Highly recommend this business.

Wow. I read all the other reviews and I cannot believe this was the same place we had cater our…read moreparty. It's wild! From the get go we never spoke to anyone on the phone. We did everything by email with Cassie in the beginning. We had a hard time choosing the food because the options were vast - like overwhelming almost. I finally chose "stir fry" because it was vegetarian and we also got a chicken option and some appetizers like salmon and charcuterie. The apps were delicious. The "stir fry" however was not. It was underwhelming to say the least. And it was so much food I felt like it was really thrown together. Soggy veggies. Limp ramen. I asked for pictures ahead of time so I could see what I was getting but nope they don't have pictures of their own food. Weird. The best part was Blanca who dropped off and picked up everything. She was really nice and helpful. Cassie the owner never reached out to confirm the party ahead of time and worse - didn't call to see how everything was afterward. This was over $1000 I spent on food for 24 people!!! I wish I had just gotten chipotle honestly. Pic is of the charcuterie that Blanca put together. People liked it and the mushroom purses too.

We hired Rasta Tacos, along with Rasta Ritas, for our son's rehearsal dinner party in Oceanside,…read moreand both were a huge hit! Most of our guests (including us) aren't from Southern California, so the idea of a taco stand was very much anticipated. The chefs who came to the event were so friendly and professional, and the tacos were delicious. One of our guests has a severe seafood allergy, and the chef was knowledgeable and able to reassure her that all of the food is prepared on a separate grill from the shrimp, and even back at the prep kitchen, they are kept completely separate. She was so appreciative, and mentioned that many cooks will just say, "oh, it's ok," without really having a knowledge of how the food is prepared, and how serious a mistake can be. We were very happy about that, in addition to all the other plusses! We also requested two vegetarian options, and both the veggie and the potato tacos were amazing! My vegetarian guests were so delighted to have something as good (or even better!) as an option. So many other services provide something not very appetizing if requested to provide vegetarian meals. I highly recommend this service for any one who wants to have a fun and easy party that will please everyone!

Had a family reunion and wanted to be able to mingle. The Rasta Taco truck was amazing! They set…read moreup, brought all of the plates, utensils and cups and cleaned up! The food was delicious and I received a lot of compliments on how tasty it was. We had 20 adults and 9 little kids. I can't wait to have them at another party!

By far the best party for my wife. Everyone loved the food, energy, and vibe. My friends didn't…read moreknow about the fire dancer after and it took the party to another level! Highly recommend and will definitely book you all again. Saeed the chef was so nice, fun, interactive, and we all enjoyed him! The only hibachi catering to book in SoCal!

My overall experience was great. The service was top tier and the food was delicious. I was…read moreimpressed with the set up and the server that kept our cups full. We will definitely be using their services again.

Did everything he said he was going to do and Jose was gracious and respectful not just to our…read moreguests but to our property as well. When he broke down his station it's was like he was never there. Also his tacos and quesadillas and toppings were freaking delicious. I want Jose on the weekly!! Haha

I would HIGHLY recommend Jose at Tacos El Chove and we will 100% hire him again!! He was very quick…read moreto respond, was easy to schedule with and well priced. We had a smallish party of 35ish, he showed up on time and was ready to serve right on time. All of our guests enjoyed talking with him and raved about how good the food was. Jose is also a really nice guy! Everyone enjoyed talking with him. At the end, he packaged up all our leftovers and cleaned up leaving the space perfectly clean. 100% a wonderful experience, THANK YOU!!!

Amazing food and catering. Very affordable. We ordered everything well ahead of our party and…read morepicked up the day of. It was amazingly delicious and our friends and family raved about it!

What makes a great reception and wedding day, food and the bar... Buckboard was a true highlight…read morefor my husband and I, and our guests! The food? Absolutely unforgettable. Every course, from the appetizers to the main courses, was incredible and beautifully presented. Many of our guests reached out about how it was simply such good food. One of our deciding factors was the fact that Buckboard is actually a restaurant here in San Diego, so their food was not just "wedding food" but actually restaurant quality. We fell in love instantly after our tasting. Knowing they are a local San Diego restaurant gave us so much confidence in food quality, and they absolutely delivered. Their service on the day of our wedding was seamless. It felt like everything was handled effortlessly, which allowed us to enjoy the day stress-free. My husband and I planned our wedding on our own and one of the biggest reliefs for us was that Buckboard took care of so many details - from linens, plates, and bar service to the propane for the heaters. Having one point of contact for everything was a great aspect. We truly didn't worry about their services at all day of. Buckboard's familiarity with our venue was another huge plus. They worked in perfect harmony with the venue staff. And as a same-sex couple, we were deeply touched by how welcomed and respected they made us feel throughout the entire process. We wholeheartedly recommend Buckboard Catering for their incredible food, great service, and outstanding communication. They made our wedding day not just special, but unforgettable. Thank you, Buckboard, for everything, you're truly the best!

I can't say enough great things about Harvest Kitchen Catering! We needed catering for a corporate…read morecelebration on a short deadline, and they came through for us in every way. Their team was quick, organized, helpful, and a true pleasure to work with. The food was absolutely phenomenal, and the presentation was stunning. The beautiful setup elevated our event and made everything feel extra special. If you're looking for a caterer that delivers exceptional food and outstanding service, Harvest Kitchen Catering is the perfect choice!

They catered a wedding I went to in Joshua Tree out of their food truck and brought their A game…read morefor sure! Chicken, roasted potatoes, succotash and arugula salad for around 100 people prepared perfectly and loaded with flavor. Even the service was spot on. Brunch the next day with avocado toast and breakfast burritos were delicious!