The Catering Company of Central FLorida — Attraction in Winter Haven

Edit: Since sharing our initial feedback, we have had the opportunity to communicate directly with the owner, Phil, who sincerely apologized for the issues we experienced. He took the time to have a thorough conversation with us about the situation, and we appreciate his genuine effort to understand our concerns. Phil went above and beyond to make amends, and we are grateful for the steps he’s taken to ensure we are satisfied.

Our experience with The Catering Co. for our wedding left much to be desired. Despite meticulous planning and communication, several issues arose, tarnishing what should have been a seamless and memorable day.

One of the most glaring issues was the premature placement of pre-plated salads on the tables, a full two hours before guests entered the venue. As a result, salads containing fresh ingredients sat out for an extended period, compromising their quality and taste. This decision not only clashed with our carefully curated decor but also led to discomfort for our guests who encountered warm, unappetizing salads.

Adding to our frustration was the lack of accountability regarding this misstep. Despite inquiries from our DJ and decorator, the reasoning behind this premature placement remained unclear, leaving us feeling disregarded and undervalued as clients. Furthermore, reports from guests about cold food and less-than-fresh vegetables only added to our disappointment, considering the significant portion of our budget allocated to catering.

While we appreciate The Catering Co.'s acknowledgment of the miscommunication regarding the salad placement, we were disappointed by attempts to shift blame onto us for a delay that did not occur. Contrary to their assertions, our wedding reception experienced only a minor delay, as confirmed by photographic evidence.

Overall, our experience with The Catering Co. fell short of expectations. Despite efforts to address our concerns, the discrepancies in communication and execution left us with a less-than-ideal wedding catering experience. We hope that sharing our experience will serve as a cautionary tale for others and encourage The Catering Co. to prioritize transparency and accountability in their...

Our wedding venue gave us 2 options to choose from for catering and we chose to go with the Catering Co because the prices were more affordable and they provided appetizer & dinner options that looked appealing to us- and we're so glad we went with them! Christa is so sweet and super responsive with emails and phone calls. The Catering Co has a delicious menu with a wide variety of options for appetizers and dinner. Christa worked with us to create a menu that incorporated the food we wanted while staying within our budget. She was flexible, kind, and suggested options to help us save money which I really appreciated. We did the taste tasting and she helped us refine our menu and guide us in the right direction to accomplish our vision. On wedding day, the food was absolutely delicious! They provided silverware, plates, napkins, and a beverage station which made it stress-free. We also added a coffee station which guests loved. They also cut and served our wedding cake. In addition to our wedding day, we chose the Catering Co. for our rehearsal dinner and had a yummy pasta station. At both the rehearsal dinner and wedding, the staff were on-time, professional, and friendly. They set-up and tore down quickly. Overall, I highly recommend the Catering Company. Christa works very hard to stay within your budget and incorporate all your wants while not compromising on the quality and taste of the food. Reasonable pricing with the most bang for your buck. The catering packages include everything you need so you don't have to worry about it. Thank you...

Christa and her team catered a buffet for our wedding and provided our open bar and we were so impressed! They were so professional and Christa was genuinely willing to help during the planning process and answer all of our questions.

Our wedding ended up being the weekend after hurricane Irma hit Florida, and Christa assured us she was still able to provide her services and we were so thankful. Only a week after the storm, her team was fully functional.

I hired a day-of coordinator to take over all of the vendor contracts a month before the wedding, and my coordinator ended up giving Christa the wrong arrival time! She was told to arrive at 3pm, and unbeknownst to Christa that was only an hour before the ceremony. Apparently, the coordinator did not bother to find out how much time Christa would need for setup and they normally need two hours. After my wedding, I heard about the situation and how they worked so hard to be as prepared as possible in the time that they were given, and honestly, me and all of my wedding guests never would have guessed something had gone awry. The food was hot and fresh and tasted amazing, she and her team had smiling faces and were professionally dressed, and the service was exquisite. They cut and served our cake for no additional charge, on top of providing reasonable prices. Our bartender Elle was so friendly and we got compliments on the food and bar excellence all night long.

You will not regret hiring Christa, and she definitely exceeded our expectations and helped our wedding be an amazing day. Thank...