we used joshua charles catering for a small high school prom event, and though their response and overall service was good, the food served at the tasting was NOTHING like the food served at the event. though i understand the limitations of serving large quantities of food to teenagers, i expect some caliber of authenticity to the quality food that they served us at the tasting! additionally, their location is deceiving, and if you want to taste test the menu, you have to drive all the way out to Berkeley! read more

I used them for a work event and the team was very easy to work with and made quick last minute changes.

First of all, they are located in the East Bay, not in Redwood City, so their location is deceiving. When we wanted to taste test the menu, it would require an hour drive to get to Berkeley, where they are located. Two out of the 5 servers didn't show up for our daughters wedding. They did credit us the money we paid for these servers, but I am wondering if it was the hour long drive from where they are really located that deterred them from coming. Appetizers were excellent, food was good, although it came out slow (cold) and the bar tender didn't show up. The staff that did show up was excellent and friendly and tried their best. read more

1. Josh was hard to contact and communicate with. Very difficult to reach and talk to. However I still went with his catering services. Bad Choice. 2. Day of the event: A different caterer arrived the day of. Not exactly her fault but she arrived half an hour late and this added some stress for me (since the event would start 30 minutes after). In addition, a couple of the dishes that were put in the stove to be reheated were burnt and caused the fire alarm in our home to go off. When I saw the trays pulled out of the stove (I didn't look too closely) I noticed that half of each tray was charred/burned. I didn't talk about it with them that night due to wanting to just try to enjoy the evening as best as possible but this made me worried that there wasn't enough food to eat. Honestly, I ended up just not eating much and telling my husband to do the same. 3. The items that the caterers brought had to be carried in and out by my husband and our friends. 4. The caterer and the server met for the first time the day of our event. 5. I've since sent in my concerns to Josh but have not heard back. I've followed up 5 times. No response. No idea how this is a 5 star reviewed service. read more

I did not end up working with Joshua Catering on my most recent event, but I reached out to them (via yelp) and got a response right away. Blown away by the response time. They are definitely on my list for my next event. read more

From start to finish, the entire team at Joshua Charles Catering was more than I could have asked for. I hosted a work event for 350 very high-end clients and everything exceeded expectations. I received many complements on the food, the presentation, and the staff during the event. The consultation process was painless, and it was immediately evident that this team runs like a well oiled machine. They asked all the right questions and made sure every detail the handled with perfection. I will definitely be using Joshua Charles Catering for all future needs, big and small. 100%, would recommend. read more

Joshua Charles Catering - pork belly wanton tacos. Huge hit. 1-bite only perfect option for cocktail event. - Caterers Near Me - Berkeley, California

Our 50th reunion committee did an extensive search in the Bay Area for a good caterer. One member has an event-related business and gave us several names she recommended. Among these was Joshua Charles Catering. As committee chairman, I worked directly with Joshua, who was very responsive to our needs, and proactive in staying in contact as we negotiated.  The food he offered looked exquisite and varied, and his services generous. I was pretty much sold. Our committee did find one other caterer who, surprisingly, was able to beat Joshua Charles' very low price points.  No one else came close, all but the one being almost double their price. Although we did decide on another, I would highly recommend others give Joshua Charles Catering a very close look.  I would certainly do so again. read more

We used Joshua Charles Catering for a non-profit event that one of our executives hosted. The catering service, food, and people were AMAZING. The food was delicious, especially those mushroom gnocchi spoons and the ahi tuna crisps. The service was fantastic, always something coming out of the kitchen, never a lull in service, and the people were fantastic. They were all so memorable, granted, I never got their names, but they had such fun personalities, and knew exactly what we liked so they came back to us multiple times knowing exactly what our alcohol full stomachs needed ;) We would use them again in a heart beat as I highly recommend them for any type of event. It seems they'd be great for a wedding as well, and you know how crazy the expectations of a wedding can get! read more

Joshua, I hope you can pass on my compliments to the people who catered a party on Tennison Ave. in Palo Alto last weekend. What an amazing job they did. How they set up for the celebration and carried it off step by step was very professional and problem free. And the meal they prepared was extraordinary even down to the artful presentation. There were 30 people and each and everyone of them was impressed and very, very happy with the experience. Your people did a remarkable job. Many thanks to each of them for the tip-top event they created. Olaf Egeberg read more

I was having a last minute dinner party for 17 at my house and called Joshua. They quickly offered me a menus and quoted me. They delivered and set up on time as requested. The food was outstanding! My guests, many who are discerning foodies raves about the salmon, and the eggplant lasagna. The radicchio with the fried egg was also incredible. Brandon, who delivered the food and set it up was friendly and professional. He also came on time later that night to remove everything. This caterer is not the cheapest. Not for those who are on a budget. But if you want very high quality ingredients, fantastic food that impresses and great service I would highly recommend Joshua Charles. read more

THE SERVICE We got married on 9/8/17 at Kohl Mansion. Joshua Charles not only makes AMAZING food, but he also saved our wedding! Our wedding planner totally screwed things up, and we were left without a caterer and a bunch of other issues a month before. After firing our wedding planner and scrambling, Joshua Charles and his wonderful assistant, Marian, stepped up and helped us finish all the details and coordinate the day-of. We couldn't have done it without them. Seriously! THE FOOD We were serving a vegetarian menu to many guests who had never eaten vegetarian before, so we had to make a good first impression. Joshua listened to the kinds of food we liked and presented us with great options at the tasting menu. The food at the wedding was artfully presented, filling, and delicious. We couldn't have been happier with it. Many of my guests still talk about it. If Joshua had a restaurant, my husband and I would be frequent visitors. :) read more

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Great food AND responded to my email inquiry within two minutes. I donated a kidney last year and a very good friend arranged for Joshua Charles to deliver (veggie) dinner for my family and I. It was delicious and my "antivegetarian" meat and potatoes father devoured his plate and was amazed at the flavor. I am looking to cater a party soon and thought first to inquire with Joshua Charles. read more

Update: did another amazing event with Josh and team. Summer BBQ with delicious fixings for the whole family. Kids and grownups loved everything and virtually everyone asked for their contact information. Thanks again Josh! Amazing experience with this team. Josh was easy to communicate with and presented interesting menu options. Marina was professional and thoughtful in her event consultation. Our onsight chef, Mark and his team, were amazing! They took care of every detail, were personable but professional with our guests and --most importantly --delivered delicious, beautifully presented food that everyone raved about. Thanks for making our event such a such success! read more

I had no prior experience hiring a catering company and was somewhat overwhelmed with the options and decisions to make at the time. To my delight I found Joshua after a short conversation I had found the perfect place to cater my mothers memorial service. My mother was a wonderful cook and I knew she would be pleased that Joshua was familiar with her favorite cookbook. The choices were wonderful, the prices were reasonable, the presentation was excellent. I was very happy with my choice. read more

I can't say enough good things about Josh and his team. From start to finish, it was an incredibly process. I reached out to Josh a week before a company holiday dinner I planned to host at my house. I was scrambling to find the right chef and company to help with an intimate gathering of my team and their partners for a 14 person private dinner. The process to land on the menu and price was easy. The contractually was simple and the best part of all was the coordination with Josh's team to setup the dinner, discuss the plating, talk about utensil, and land on the ambiance we were hoping to create. I thought it couldn't get better but the food and service att the event was top notch. Great chef and team. Overall, I was so happy and if I could I would give them 6 stars. Thank you so much! read more

I called Joshua Charles on a Tuesday for a last minute small outdoor dinner party on Saturday. I wasn't optimistic. Though it was never mentioned, we think we were the beneficiaries of a cancellation (or just Covid). Our experience blew any expectations through the roof! The preplanning was effortless, professional and smooth. Our chef Carina was beyond what words can describe. She delivered a multi course meal extravaganza that none of us will soon forget. Douglas the server was stellar and read the crowd brilliantly. This review can't do justice to our experience. It was an important and nostalgic evening for us. And thanks to Joshua Charles Catering, it was unforgettable! read more

Amazing!!! Our company ordered this for our Thanksgiving meal and it was SO incredibly delicious! I loved all the sides, which were so uniquely different and a great twist on your traditional sides. The yukon gold mashed potatoes were heavenly, along with pesto rainbow carrots, mushroom/sage bread pudding, and my favorite: raw green beans, which I believe were tossed in a cream fraiche/dijon mustard sauce. SO GOOD! The turkey was also moist and cooked to perfection. HIGHLY recommend! read more

A+++++++++++!!!!! Incredible! I'll never use any other catering company but Joshua Charles again! I called them on a Monday for a last minute party of 21 people and 5 children on Friday. They took care of everything - no stress, everything was organized, the food was delicious, the team was on time, they were professional, nice and confident - they had everything under control so we could focus on our guests. Thank you to Josh, Marian, Efram, Moa and Kelly!!!! You were all incredible!!! Hands down the best experience with a catering company I've ever had. read more

Joshua Catering is as top tier as it gets. We host corporate events for 100+ attendees monthly, on top of our larger events such as holiday parties, ect. We started working with Joshua Catering for ALL needs last year and couldn't be more impressed. Presentation: Excellent Detail: Always noted by Joshua and team, even things I forget! Food: DELISH - I get a farm to table feel when I eat the foods they make - clean, good, filling food Drinks: Unique and tasty Staff: Very professional, fun, willing to go the extra step. Use Joshua Catering for your next event. He and team bend over backward to make events meaningful and food selection special. read more

We booked Joshua Charles Catering Company for our wedding and we are so happy with everything. The tasting was amazing and the food so good. We had a hard time narrowing down what we wanted for our appetizer and dinner because everything was so delicious. Alyzx was awesome and it was easy to work with her. She recommended Marian as our day of coordinator and we are so glad that we hired her. Marian and Alyzx made our wedding run soothly. The food was amazing and our guests loved the fried chicken and salmon. read more

Delicious food, tastes fresh and service is outstanding! when they left I felt like wow where is the after mess party?? Joshua's crew took care of everything from beginning to end! read more

I reached out- he replied- I gave him a call at the time we discussed, he didn't answer, so I left a voicemail, and then sent another message with my phone number and email address. He claimed he called my back at 8am the next morning and that he would try reaching out to me later. We never connected. Never was able to get a quote. Went with a different caterer ‍ read more

From front to back, I had the absolute best experience with Joshua Charles catering. Almost immediately after sending an inquiry through their website, I heard back from Josh who, without reservation, told us he could take care of us for a small birthday party we were having 6 days later. Josh was extremely professional, kind and quickly helped us put together a perfect menu for our party. Later in the week, Marian, a JC employee, contacted me to confirm all of the logistics and make sure they were set up to give us exactly what we needed. That included her offering to bring glasses, plates and utensils at no additional cost. When the day came, a chef and a server, Guney and Bellinda, showed up right on time and everything from that point on- the food and the service- blew our expectations out of the water. The food was incredible, could go toe to toe with any restaurant serving comparable dishes anywhere and win. Even so, the service managed to outshine the food. I mentioned how much I loved the aioli that came on the Mahi-Mahi sliders, Guney whipped up extra, gave some to me in a bowl for dipping and put some in my fridge for me to have for later. A friend of mine forgot to bring candles for the cake as requested and asked the caterers if they had any (which is clearly a long shot but didn't even seem like it at that point given how prepared they had proven themselves to be), they said no but they would figure something out. Unbeknownst to us, Guney drove to a nearby 7-11 and purchased candles for the cake. When someone finished their food, Bellinda was right there ready to take their plate or spoon or trash before they even had to think about it. Never hovering, just always attentive. This made the post-party clean up SO much easier. Without question, I will use Joshua Charles for any future catering needs and will specifically request Guney & Bellinda to work our parties! read more

Regretfully, Joshua Charles Catering (JCC) was a complete disappointment. We hired Josh and his team to provide catering services at our wedding at the Bentley Reserve in downtown San Francisco in June 2014. There were multiple issues with the service and product, which we specify below. Overall however, the quality of the product and service were quite poor. Josh is a nice person, but the organization failed in delivering a quality event. · Food: Lack of consistency in preparation. Beef and fish were undercooked for several guests. Many plates had to be sent back including the bride and grooms parents'. Beef appeared to be of a lesser quality than was presented at the tasting. Neither beef, fish nor salad plates had the aesthetic appearance of what was presented at the tasting. · Service: The execution of the plated dinner service was poor. Several tables complained about receiving their entree 45 minutes to 1 hour after their salads. We hadn't planned an event like this before. Our advice: choose a cater that will support you in a meaningful way in planning your event. · Integrity: We hired Josh to cater our wedding and were surprised when we learned he was not attending, despite selling us on him being "hand's-on." He told us prior to executing the contract he would be present at our event. In the end, he sent another chef. His excuse: he could not find a sitter. · Conduct: Following the tasting, you are instructed to work with his coordinators. His day-of-event coordinator was rude to each vendor at the venue walk through. Several of our vendors reported difficulty in working with JCC's passive aggressive coordinator. These are just the most frustrating issues we encountered with JCC. The service and product fell far short of representations made verbally by the proprietor and in the contract. Our event was not given the care and attention we were assured. Josh himself recognized there were problems in the end - his team had reported these food and service issues to him after the event. For a personal event as important as your wedding - we do not recommend JCC. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. read more

I attend A LOT of catered parties, so I immediately can tell when a caterer stands out from the rest. Joshua Charles Catering is one such stand-out. From the moment that you walk in the door, the servers are there with trays in hand, doling out their creative goodies. Whether it be butternut squash gnocchi with truffle oil to a mini chocolate torte, their creations will make your mouth sing! I've been to 4 parties where they have been the caterer. If tech companies like Flickr know to hire such tasty pros when they have their pick, then you know that they're doing something good. *Sidenote: It's a pleasure to see the same waitstaff at each event. It gives a trusted and personalized touch. (Shout out to Justin ; ) read more

About a month ago, JCC catered our wedding, which was a bit different than a traditional dinner. We held the event at a park and served gourmet boxed dinners (panini, salad, sweet potato chips, and rice krispies treats with a twist). We also had JCC provide cocktail hour snacks (watermelon slices and furikake chex mix). They staffed a self-service bar, handled chair/table rentals, and set/cleaned up. Unfortunately, we had major issues with the food delivery time and service. In short, dinner was served late and we had a big misunderstanding about our service level expectations. The staff and coordinator onsite struggled with the "crisis" situation. Mistakes happen, and the true character of a company is tested in these circumstances. The morning after the event, we promptly received an apology from Joshua (the owner) and set up a meeting to discuss. We met in person and were able to come to a mutual resolution and have a constructive conversation, which we appreciated. We were so disappointed by the level of service we received, but we believe they will learn from our event to provide a better experience for those in the future. Should you work with JCC, here are the pros: -The food was delicious and unique. Chef Mark had great ideas and was able to provide food that we were excited to serve our guests. Despite issues with time management, he was able to execute the food well. -The team gave us a lot of flexibility with the menu, presentation, and additional items. -They don't provide alcoholic beverages, but can serve them. Providing our own beer/wine saved us a couple thousand dollars (vs. using a beverage caterer or per person alcohol package). -No markup on rentals or additional items. ...and here's our advice: -If you are holding a unique event, mandate an in-person planning meeting with Joshua, your coordinator, and your chef so you are on the same page about what is expected. Walk through the details of your menu and quote, day of timeline, and backup plans. -Ask detailed questions, and make sure they get back to you with concrete answers. -Diligently review your contract and quotes, including any rental quotes for mistakes. Be sure you know what additional items will add to your total cost. As mentioned earlier, they won't upcharge you, but there was a lack of communication and timeliness about these items. read more

So grateful to have found Joshua Charles Catering!! Their service is great and working with Josh is easy! But, what's even better is their FOOD!! Just had him cater our first corporate event and will definitely refer him to anyone as well as use him again for future events! read more

My husband asked me to find a catering company that could bring clam chowder and crab legs to a work event he was having with only a few days notice. I went with Joshua Charles catering and was hoping for the best because I knew it would be on me if it didn't go well... but it was FANTASTIC! He said the guests raved about the food and the server was a really cool guy who made the event even more fun. He wants to use JC again for any future events he has. 5 stars!!! Thanks for making me look good! :) P.S. My husband is from the east coast and said this was the best clam chowder he had ever had! Thanks again. read more

I contracted with Josh for our company holiday party of around 30 people at Ridge Vineyards in Cupertino. After calling around, I had three different people mention Josh so it was an easy decision. They took care of everything - it was completely turn key. I only had to make some selections from their menu, which was the hardest part because there were so many good options. Food was great, service was great, and everything went off flawlessly. Can't wait to work with these guys again. read more

Wonderful staff with great communication, flexibility and food! They were willing to accommodate all of our specific needs and modify on the dime as needed. Perfect for holidays and family events - large or small. We will definitely use them again!! read more

Joshua Charles Catering (JCC) catered my daughter's wedding reception and after party, and executed a flawless and perfect event. It exceeded my daughter's and my expectations and was simply beautiful. Make sure to ask for Marian by name if you're planning JCC services. Marian is an exceptional event planner and skillfully orchestrated the many moving parts to this successful reception. She conducted the facility walk-through and kept in close touch with my daughter on expectations and details. The owner, Josh, is excellent at communications and responsiveness in overall planning. His rates are unbeatable for the quality of service and beauty of presentation. You will be very delighted in choosing JCC to cater your event! read more

As an intern, I was assigned the task of planning the firm's annual dinner party. I must say that Joshua Charles catering made the whole planning process easier. I was pleased that Josh allowed me to be flexible with my menu choices. If I had a specific dish in mind, he was able to put it on the menu. The day of the event, I had the lovely pleasure of meeting his staff. They were all friendly. Our bartender/server provided the best service. He was so friendly and never missed a chance to help someone or offer them a drink. Our guests seemed to really enjoy themselves and the food. My collegue joked that she could smell the delicious truffle oil coming from the mac n cheese. What seemed to impress guests the most was the open grill the caterers used to BBQ the chicken and steak. The guests munched on appetizers while the smell of BBQ excited everyone for the main course. What impressed me the most was that Josh did not hesistate to make last minute changes. I called him the day before the event, and he made a change to the guest list right away. I would recommend his services to anyone. They are happy to work with your budget. read more

I'm a food snob, I admit it. I'm hard to impress and discerning as hell because I've been fortunate enough to have experienced fine dining on both coasts and in other countries for the past few decades. That being said, I can't imagine a catering company doing it better than Joshua Charles -- everything, from the menu planning process, to the waitstaff, to the food itself (absolutely the star of the evening for my event) was conducted with a level of professionalism and class that was unparalleled -- all at a price that won't break the bank AND is infinitely more memorable than a typical night out at a nice restaurant. Joshua is also very easy to work with and responsive by phone and email. To give you some background -- I was working with my husband's brother-in-law to plan a very special 40th birthday celebration for his wife (my sister-in-law) and 17 of her closest friends/family. He considered renting a private table in some of the Bay Area's finest dining establishments, including La Folie in SF and Manresa in Los Gatos. But given the audience (all upper middle-class professionals who are also experienced diners), we wanted something truly special and unforgettable. So instead, we brought in JCC, who was recommended to me by my father (JCC had catered his company's holiday party -- a bunch of food scientists, who are probably even more discerning than me!) to La Honda Winery (also 5 stars!) to cater a private dinner that included passed hors d'oeuvres, a 4-course meal, dessert, coffee/tea service, and truffles. The food was beautifully presented and well-portioned -- enough to satisfy even the most voracious diner, but not so much that I left feeling stuffed. Most importantly, everything was delectable, from apps of lobster risotto w/ caviar and agnolotti of kobe beef short ribs -- talk about party in your mouth with every bite (I'm getting hungry again just thinking about it). For dinner, roasted beet carpaccio w/ beef tenderloin was full of color and gorgeously-plated; the black cod had a perfect sear (crunchy on the outside, melt-in-your mouth buttery on the inside); and the steak a perfect medium rare. The dessert, a sort of deconstructed s'more with molten lava cake, marshmallow cream and homemade graham crackers, was a huge hit. Finally, the waitstaff was extremely pleasant, responsive to every request, and unobtrusive. It's obvious that JCC takes great pride in its work, and after last Saturday's event, I'm already looking for another excuse to hire them. I would recommend them in a heartbeat, whether for a small private dinner like mine, or for a larger event, like a wedding (wish I knew about them for my wedding!). read more

Just worked with Joshua Charles Catering again and everyone raved! I had multiple people on set walk up to me and tell me how great the food was and that it was the best they'd ever had! Catering isn't always easy in the production world, but Joshua has really impressed us. Looking forward to working with Joshua and his team again! read more

Superb. Joshua Charles recently catered our wedding and ran everything from food to rentals to service and timing. This sounds understated, but really, the best thing you can say is that every raved about the food and didn't notice anything else. Several people told me it was by far the best food they'd ever had at any catered event (wedding or otherwise), and there were no glitches at all in service or anything else. Joshua was fantastic to work with leading up to the wedding and created an amazing menu (we're Paleo and don't eat or serve grains, processed sugars, etc.). Not sure what else to say, other than I'd very highly recommend them, and if they have it available, the lamb is amazing. read more

We picked Joshua Charles Catering to cater a 50 person Memorial Service at a private residence, I chose them because of their quick reply time and professionalism. They knew exactly how to assist with this emotional type of event. Marian, the event planner was amazing and took care of all of the details, including the furniture rentals. They were on time and the food was very good, the guests enjoyed it and wanted to know more about them, that says they did an amazing job. This catering company is attentive and conscientious and goes the extra mile to make sure that everything goes smoothly. Thank you JC Catering for the fantastic job, we will definitely use you for future events and I recommend them for your catering needs. read more

Joshua Charles catered our wedding rehearsal dinner at a friend's home in September. We wanted something casual and outdoors in their beautiful yard, so we were looking for a caterer who could do an upscale BBQ. We totally scored with Joshua Charles. They worked with me to come up with a menu I felt reflected us (we like a little Mexican action) and was in our budget. The servers were solicitous, but not in the way, and everything went off without a hitch. And everything was left spotless at our friend's house, which was important to us. They really did make it look easy and the food was absolutely delicious. All our guests were VERY complementary. We were both so pleased that we were almost afraid to get the bill because, frankly, we felt like we got a steal! Keep in mind this was not a sit-down affair- there was literally a huge BBQ they hauled in and it was very low key, but everything they put out was DELICIOUS and fresh and not just your regular dish- for example, we wanted salsa, and they put out FRESH corn salsa, guac, and reg salsa with homemade chips. We would definitely hire again. read more

Josh, Marian and Chef Mark are the best. We hired them to cater our wedding last weekend and are so happy we did. The food was amazing! We had some pretty specific requests (chicken & waffle appetizers, family style pizza as a main course...we love junk food ha!) and not only were they able to accommodate our idea of perfect wedding food...they knocked it out of the park. I had SO many people comment on how great the food was, and nobody went to the dance floor hungry! Marian was a joy to work with on the details & rentals and so incredibly helpful on the day of - she made magic happen with some pretty complicted logistics and I can't thank her enough. We loved working with these guys and can not recommend them highly enough. read more

Well, last weekend was my 1 year wedding anniversary. All my husband and I wanted was to eat the same delicious meal that we enjoyed on our wedding day! We contacted Josh and he went above and beyond to deliver! We are so so so so glad that we used Joshua Charles Catering for our wedding one year ago and are even happier to have gotten to eat this delicious food again! :) Joshua Charles Catering is not only the BEST food we could find, they also have the BEST customer service! We were so lucky to find this company! read more

Apologies for the delayed update: our organization used JCC for the 2nd year in a row to cater our mondo annual event of 200+. Like Lauren L. said, this isn't just an outdoors shindig, it's outdoors tucked away off winding dirt roads, without power, and without running water. Yet despite those challenges, the food is stellar. Really, we're talking magical here. JCC pulled it off again (was there ever any doubt?) beautifully, professionally, tastefully... I have received nothing but compliments on the food and yes, the service of his entire staff is top of the line: ultra friendly, super helpful, genuine and sincere... simply above and beyond. Clearly, Josh knows his shit, demands the best, and that's what he and his entire staff delivers... consistently. read more