My company has used Tri-Star Catering for years for our catered meetings and office events. They are a preferred vendor on our list and offered a first time discount so I decided to give them a try for my board's recent conference. They have a good number of options and I selected a meat & cheese tray which came with crackers and bread, and I added drinks. Delivery was scheduled for noon and by 12:20 they hadn't arrived, with no call or text that day confirming the delivery at all, much less advising that they were running late. I called and got a callback stating that the driver was running late and would arrive in 10 more minutes. This was cutting it very close to the 1:00 start time of our event and people were starting to arrive, so I was not happy. The driver was apologetic and went up to the room with me and set everything up quickly. The presentation was nice and the food was good so I was forgiving, I just hope any future events go better! read more

Tri-Star Catering - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

If I could give Tri-Star Catering more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. They provided catering for our two-day conference in Chicago, and from start to finish, the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Philip, my main point of contact, set the tone early with an incredibly thoughtful and detailed intake process. It felt less like a transaction and more like a true partnership. He took the time to understand exactly what I wanted, and then elevated it beyond my expectations. The range of menu options was honestly mind-blowing. We had a pretty diverse group with a lot of dietary needs, and somehow everyone was happy--which is not easy. No one felt like an afterthought. The attention to detail was impeccable. From beautifully designed menu cards to a perfectly executed cocktail station at dinner, every element was curated with care. Nothing was overlooked. And I have to highlight Gabe--because WOW. Having him onsite was a game changer. He stayed on top of everything: refilling food and drinks, maintaining the space, and making sure guests were taken care of without ever being intrusive. Now let's talk about the food. I love food--and I can be a tough critic--and they gave me absolutely nothing to complain about. Every dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. The team was punctual, professional, and engaging. Setup and breakdown were seamless, and their communication throughout the entire process was consistent and clear. My only "complaint"? I wish they were based closer to me so I could hire them for everything. If you're looking for a caterer in Chicago, stop searching. This is your company. Philip and his team take real pride in their work--and it shows in every detail. read more

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If I could give Tri-Star Catering more than 5 stars, I absolutely would. They provided catering for our two-day conference in Chicago, and from start to finish, the experience was nothing short of exceptional. Philip, my main point of contact, set the tone early with an incredibly thoughtful and detailed intake process. It felt less like a transaction and more like a true partnership. He took the time to understand exactly what I wanted, and then elevated it beyond my expectations. The range of menu options was honestly mind-blowing. We had a pretty diverse group with a lot of dietary needs, and somehow everyone was happy--which is not easy. No one felt like an afterthought. The attention to detail was impeccable. From beautifully designed menu cards to a perfectly executed cocktail station at dinner, every element was curated with care. Nothing was overlooked. And I have to highlight Gabe--because WOW. Having him onsite was a game changer. He stayed on top of everything: refilling food and drinks, maintaining the space, and making sure guests were taken care of without ever being intrusive. Now let's talk about the food. I love food--and I can be a tough critic--and they gave me absolutely nothing to complain about. Every dish was flavorful, fresh, and beautifully presented. The team was punctual, professional, and engaging. Setup and breakdown were seamless, and their communication throughout the entire process was consistent and clear. My only "complaint"? I wish they were based closer to me so I could hire them for everything. If you're looking for a caterer in Chicago, stop searching. This is your company. Philip and his team take real pride in their work--and it shows in every detail. read more

I cannot recommend Tri-Star Catering enough! I was slightly hesitant to book with them for my wedding due to the lack of reviews but I'm so happy we did. When I started getting quotes from the typical wedding catering companies I was literally shocked at how much money they wanted. And believe me - I love to spend money on nice food. Then I talked to Phillip at Tri-Star and he was so reasonable and willing to work with us. He accommodated the (many) changes that I had to the menu and was so easy to work with throughout the entire process. He also didn't try to upsell us or push us to add unnecessary things to the menu. The food itself was great. Everyone LOVED the lyonnaise potatoes and all of the mini desserts. The service was also impeccable. Another big plus is that they offer BYOB so you can go and buy your alcohol from Costco and then have his team serve it with their liquor license. read more

I worked with Rob from Tri-Star for my wedding and rehearsal dinner and it was such a great experience from the first phone convo to the last event. I have to start by mentioning Gerald! He was the catering captain at my wedding and bartender at the rehearsal at Rob's event space and people raved about Gerald! He was so friendly and genuinely cared that everyone was having a great time. I even took a selfie with Gerald at the end of the night at my wedding haha. The food was incredible! My fiance (now husband) is vegan and I am very definitely not, so Rob made a menu that was satisfying for both of us. The Spiral Zuchini was delish. I had guests wanting the recipe. I honestly didn't really get to eat much (Gerald made sure I had a plate and even when everything got cleaned up it was still there and I gotta tell you I ate it cold at home and it was still super yummy) but I know my father went back for seconds. I really wished I had thought to see if there were leftovers at the end of the night ha. The staff they had working the event was incredibly sweet. I just got the best energy from them. They were attentive and always looked so happy. Wedding planning is hard but Rob made it so much easier. This was easily the best night of my life and no best night can happen without great food and service! Thanks! Liz i read more

Tri-Star catered our wedding at the Willis/Sears Tower last summer and were extremely pleased with the entire process with Tri-Star. They were incredibly accommodating and catered (no pun intended) to our every need. They were by far the most affordable option without sacrificing quality or professionalism - only the frills that come with higher end options. Brad was amazing to work with and always remembered every detail of what we wanted. From the first meeting to the tasting to the actual event he was always involved and made the process easy and even fun. He was extremely flexible on pricing out different options and finding a way to meet our budget. He never tried to push us to more expensive options and we never heard him say no to any request. Just an absolute pleasure to work with. The food turned out delicious and the settings they provided were spectacular. Best of all everything was taken care of on the Wedding Day without any stress on us. The service staff were great, and the bartenders especially were very friendly and helped everyone have a good time. I highly, highly recommend Tri-Star for wedding catering if you are looking for affordable, high quality food without the fancy wine racks or other expensive frills other caterers try to force on you. read more

I'm a little late on the review of this business (I used them in May 2010), but I am posting because I think it's an important story. I was helping organize a conference in Chicago; it was entirely run by volunteers and funded through tickets and sponsorships. None of the planners was from Chicago (I am a Detroiter). I am not a professional planner, and we were creating an event without any on-the-ground support. After all kinds of research and many phone calls, I still wasn't satisfied with the Chicago catering scene. I explained my dilemma to Catalyst Ranch (the event venue). They listened to my concerns (low budget, no people in town to see/taste, loop location, etc.) and suggested TriStar. I am so happy they did! I worked with Brad via phone and email and he was ultra-supportive. They did both of our meals (breakfast and lunch for a one day conference) within our budget and without one single mistake or problem. The food was wonderful for the price we paid - a truly exceptional value. I had many compliments from attendees about the appearance and taste of the meals. The only issue anyone had is that the continental breakfast (breakfast breads) could have contained more bagels/non-sweet fare. If I ever have an opportunity or need for a Chicago caterer in the future I will not have to go through the looking stage. I will be calling TriStar immediately. read more

I haven't had my wedding yet so this is more a review on the process so far. I'll write a follow up after the event. Truth is that I love Brad and Tri-Star so much, I couldn't wait to write something nice about them! They have been so attentive, responsive, cooperative and helpful! They created a great menu that fits our personality and theme perfectly, and it tastes great too! Brad has answered all of my questions fast and patiently, he's worked with me on bringing the price down, he has great ideas and connections that are making other things easier too! I can't say enough good about Tri-Star. But I will be back in June to give a full, post-event, review. (Or maybe July, I might be busy:) read more

Mediocre at its best. Nothing exciting or extraordinary about this place. My employer decided to have our lunch catered from Tri-Star. We had the asian food which was not great at all. I did enjoy the Hoisin BBQ Steak (marinated grilled flank steak with onions and peppers brushed with a tangy Hoisin sauce) the best and the asian slaw was ok but everything else...Meh, I've experienced better. We were also given breakfast from this place earlier in the week and the eggs were pretty good and the potatoes. The only option for meet was bacon and sausage, both pork so I didn't eat and there was no option for the non-pork eaters. I've noticed from a couple of other reviews that their pricing is good which is probably why they were my employers choice. The food was not bad, but there are so many other Asian restaurants to choose from in Chicago...probably would have done better with the sandwiches, etc. read more

My office frequently orders from Tri-Star Catering, especially if we want to do a really nice meal/lunch etc. .and we have yet to disappointed with any of their services! The catering managers are phenomenal and are always willing to help. They are kind and considerate with respect to the clients needs and expectations. The food is always delicious! Tri-Star offers great alternatives for vegetarian clients that we have and are very accommodating. Needless to say, people are always fighting for these left overs! read more

I won't use any other caterer for our corporate functions in the West Loop. Ever. Tristar handles our every need and meets our sometimes odd requests without fail. Pricing is excellent for the quality of both service and food we receive. From having a collaborative voice in our menu planning to delivering HOT and delicious food, I can't complain at all - and neither can our teams who partake in multiple catered events throughout the year. The French Toast Souffle is absurdly good. Beef pot roast is better than any my mom ever made. Our vegetarians are in love with the veggie kabobs and veggie pot pie........and the bread pudding is just downright sinful. The ability to make one call to cover multiple meals over multiple days and have the peace of mind knowing that the service and food will be great is invaluable. read more

Tri-Star catered our corporate event last night and I can't say enough good things about them. They arrived on time, set up the display area with decorations (that we'd not thought to ask for), kept the hot food hot until the trays were warmed up, set up the hot and cold hors d'oeuvres beautifully, and then ensured that everything remained appetizing and appealing for the duration of our event. Oh and DELICIOUS - all of it - and just the right amount of food. It wasn't a large order for them, but they treated us like we were their most important customer. Special thanks to Scott Fiero for the extra TLC. read more

For our wedding at Ovation we wanted something non traditional (pizza served to our tables) but still needed a catering company for appetizers, servers and bartenders and to pull it all off. I was told by many companies that my vision of having pizza delivered to the tables and kept warm was impossible, but Ian was great from the start and really understood our plan. The day of everything went flawlessly and I was told by our guests that the appetizer food was great. I would highly recommend them! read more

We recently began ordering the fajita bar from Tri-Star Catering and I can't say enough good things! The buffet was fresh, plentiful, and well presented - a lot more variety than the chains we normally order from. Brad in the office always responds very promptly to my e-mail requests - even our extremely particular salad topping requests. Delivery has always been early. A new office favorite! Can't wait to try the rest of their menu. read more

After MANY bad experiences with MANY reputable caterers in Chicago, I was just about ready to make my wedding a potluck. My last attempt was TriStar and I'm glad I gave it another go with them. Brad was the most responsive person! He not only came back with a menu and proposal in a very short amount of time, he also totally embraced our offbeat wedding theme: Day of the Dead! He integrated the theme into the menu so beautifully. Our tasting was fantastic and the day of the wedding was even better. So they need to work on having the tortillas warm for the guests :) but their wait staff was so sweet and accommodating to our requests for things. I would recommend taking a look at this caterer. They are affordable in comparison to other Chicago caterers and you get SO much food. read more

I hired Tri-Star to cater my husband's 50th birthday party. He requested Mexican so when I learned they could do a fresh-made guacamole bar with a huge mortar, I was so excited. They exceeded my expectations. The food was so good and I had so many compliments from my guests on the food. We also served chicken enchiladas, pork carnitas, salad, beans and rice. Everything was wonderful! Brad and Debbie worked with me on the menu and helped me stay within my budget. They were both at the party and made sure everything was just as we had planned. All of the servers were friendly and professional. I couldn't be more pleased and I will gladly recommend Tri-Star to anyone and everyone. read more

1st time ordering Tri-Star for a meeting here at the office. I was very impressed. Food delivered early without a hitch. The meal was very fresh and they gave a good portion for the amount of people I ordered for. The delivery person was friendly and so was the staff on the phone at Tri-Star. I will certainly be ordering from there again soon. Thanks! read more

Being a corporate meeting planner, it is hard to get have reliable service in the loop. Tri-star is one of my companies preferred caterers and one of my first choices when setting up meetings. The food quality is good and the price is moderate. No processed meats here, all the real thing. The chef is also flexible when I come up with things not on the menu because I like to change things around and add variety to the lunches. The delivery service is reliable, things are not forgotten, I don't have to worry that serving spoons, plates, knives, forks, etc. will arrive. The delivery staff is helpful and pleasant too and will do things outside of their duties to help. They have delivered to a conference center and helped move tables, definitely not in their job description but they wanted things to go well so did what was needed to make the event a success when the onsite conference staff weren't around. read more

After having a negative experience with a different catering company the party planner at our event location suggested we check out Tri-Star. My partner and I could not have been more pleased. I initially made contact with Brad and was immediately impressed with how excited he was about our theme (day of the dead) and with his attention to our request. He stayed within our budget, gave us everything we asked for and even threw in a few extras. Brad was also very quick to respond to all of my questions and handled everything very professionally from the start. On the night of our wedding they even went out or their way to salvage our cupcakes that had been damaged during transport. Now let me talk about the food. It was fantastic. They provided us with a taco bar which included slow roasted chipotle chicken and all the fixings and a guacamole bar that was quite possibly the best I have ever had! The servers were professional and helpful and our guest could not stop talking about how good the food was. I have already started recommending Tri Star to all of my friends and will most definitely be using them again in the future!!! read more