A good catering company in Abu Dhabi can transform your event or party from average to spectacular. After all, well fed guests are normally happy guests. So be sure to make a well-informed decision based on your party plans, number of guests and the theme of your event. ServiceMarket has put together a list of things you should definitely consider when hiring a catering company in Abu Dhabi.
Food preparation
Does the caterer use fresh or frozen ingredients? Is the food cooked on-site or delivered? Will the food be prepared on the day or a day in advance? Who will be handling your food prep? All these factors do make an impact on the quality of food and how good it is when it is served to the guests. The preparation of the food will depend on the type of food you want to serve.
Event size
You need to consider the size of your event to pick the right caterer and types of dishes. When you get in touch with your shortlisted caterers, you need to ask questions that will help you determine if they can handle your event. If they seem unsure or reluctant, then you may have to consider a caterer who is more suited to your needs. The caterer might also be willing to arrange a food tasting session so that you can determine the quality of the food and whether or not it would suit the needs of your party.
Certifications
Another thing to look out for is whether the company is certified by the Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority. Without this certification. If they cannot produce the required certifications, then they are probably not a legit catering company and you will do best to look elsewhere for catering services so that you can have peace of mind.
Experience
The longer they have been in operation in Abu Dhabi the more contacts they will likely have and the better deals they can get from grocers and butchers. They will also have ironed out all the hitches that come with a new catering business and know how to handle events smoothly. A good catering company in Abu Dhabi should be able to accommodate special requests and provide all manner of food for your event.
Staff
How many cooks will prepare your meal? Will there be a supervisor to oversee the process? How many staff members will be available to help you on your big day? Below is a guide on approximately how many waiters you will need to host your event:
- Buffet: You would likely need one waiter for every 15 guests. For larger groups, two or three additional would be necessary to clear the dishes and refill stations.
- Sit down dinner: one waiter for every two tables would suffice, with more waiters to handle drinks.
- Bar staff – one bartender as well as one bar-back for every fifty guests.
Reviews and recommendations
Reading online reviews is a very important part of the hiring process. You can easily read customer reviews and do comparison shopping on ServiceMarket. You can even consider asking for recommendations on an Abu Dhabi Facebook group.
A quote breakdown
The quotes you receive from your shortlisted caterers should tell you exactly how much the food and other services will cost. This will allow you to make an accurate comparison between different catering companies in Abu Dhabi.
