An Absolute Catering GEM!**…read more
As someone who regularly coordinates corporate catering in NYC, I can confidently say Summer Salt Tacos has set a new standard! And believe me, after 11 years working in hospitality, I'm not easily impressed. I'm probably one of the biggest complainers I know, so when a restaurant gets it right, they deserve their flowers!
I submitted a catering inquiry on Tuesday for delivery Wednesday. Shortly afterward, I received a proposal directly from Danny, the OWNER! What an absolute delight he was. I made several changes and requests, and he was incredibly patient, accommodating, responsive, and helpful with recommendations. Customer service at its finest!
**Now, the delivery and packaging. WOW!**
Our order arrived AHEAD OF SCHEDULE, and the delivery person kindly brought everything upstairs. Everything was neatly labeled, organized, and carefully secured.
I cannot emphasize enough how often restaurants cut corners on packaging. I won't name names, but some could learn a thing or two from Summer Salt! They DOUBLED the aluminum pans for heavier items like beans, carefully plastic-wrapped anything containing liquid, and individually secured approximately FIVE different sauces.
**NOT. ONE. THING. SPILLED!**
They even included plenty of serving utensils, tongs, and GLOVES for unpacking. Who thinks of everything like that?! Apparently, Summer Salt does!
**Now, THE FOOD!**
My only complaint? THE PORTIONS ARE MASSIVE!
For those adorable little California-style tacos, they certainly don't skimp. My colleagues went back for seconds, thirds, and possibly fourths!
And generous portions did NOT mean sacrificing quality. The meats were beautifully marinated, the fish arrived STILL CRISPY (not soggy!), the lettuce was fresh, and the limes actually had JUICE when squeezed! I've received enough dried-out limes from other restaurants to appreciate that detail.
One colleague who has visited California beach towns said the food reminded him of eating tacos from a beachside food truck. He ranked Summer Salt among the best taco spots we've catered from!
Personally, I'm usually too busy during lunch to enjoy what I order for everyone else, but I made an exception. Initially, I thought the tacos looked tiny compared with my Taco Bell expectations. Well, three tacos later, I understood! Freshness, flavor, and crunch in every bite. Absolutely delicious!
**A HUGE plus for dietary accommodations!**
We had several vegetarians, myself included, and Danny allowed me to add individual items without forcing me to purchase an entire additional catering tray or place a separate order. Fellow EAs and office managers know how valuable that flexibility is when feeding a large team! **THE CHIPS AND CHURROS!**
They provide a TON of tortilla chips, perfectly fresh, crunchy, and salted just right. I LOVE chips, so this made me particularly happy.
But PLEASE, whatever you do, ORDER THE CREAM-FILLED CHURROS!
We have a fairly health-conscious office, so initially people were politely cutting them into quarters. That restraint lasted approximately five minutes! People started returning for WHOLE churros. Order extra. Trust me.
**To my fellow Executive Assistants, Office Managers, and corporate event planners:**
THIS is the restaurant you want in your catering rotation! Responsive, accommodating, punctual, generous, organized, and most importantly, genuinely delicious.
My only regret? No margaritas! Unfortunately, it was midday, but tacos and margaritas for an after-hours team gathering sounds like an excellent future plan!
Finally, a heartfelt THANK YOU to Danny and the entire Summer Salt kitchen team. It's easy to complain when things go wrong, but exceptional service deserves recognition too. Their attention to detail, from preparation to packaging, genuinely impressed me.
Our team LOVED everything, and seeing colleagues return for more was the best confirmation.
If you're feeding a corporate team, hosting a party, or simply craving fantastic tacos, give Summer Salt a try. You won't regret it.