Tall Guy and a Grill Catering — Local services in West Allis

The food was delicious and the service staff was generally hard working and eager to please. There were some very well thought out and yummy appetizer and special diet details that had clearly been designed in response to our unique tastes and requests. That was appreciated. Glitches are to be expected at any wedding and ours was no exception. But Tall Guy stood out in refusing to correct some issues that were foreseeable, preventable, and even fixable after the fact.

A partial list of the disappointments::

Owner Dan insisted that “the city” should be responsible for removing the remaining catering mess (even though there is no such service available at the venue’s rural location) and should have been handled by his staff per the contract. This was especially awkward and embarrassing because we held the event at someone else’s home. After a week of waiting for Dan to follow through, we finally had to hire someone to come clean up and haul away his mess. When I objected to our event being used as a photo shoot for Tall Guy’s new marketing campaign without notice or permission from us or the home owners, he told me that I don’t understand how social media works and that he has over 30 staff people and can’t know what they are all up to. Ultimately he did direct his people to make edits, which were completed quickly. When his staff failed (refused after multiple requests, really) to serve the wedding cake his justification was that the original contract that I signed to secure the date didn’t include those details. I’m not sure why it wasn’t included from the start, but in any case all of the subsequent versions created and shared by his staff that did include serving the wedding cake. Tall Guy staff asked multiple times if it was ok to use disposable serveware as back up if we ran out of rentals. Of course I agreed to be flexible if need be, and of course I made sure that our rental order was adequate. What I didn’t realize at the time was that they had a preference for using disposable serveware. Crates of unused and dirty plates and dishware were left to block entrances rather than carried to the designated storage area. They also left the rentals in poor condition. It’s well understood in the industry that catering staff should scrape excess food and return to their containers. Thank goodness the rental company was gracious and generous in not charging us for the extra time it took them to clean them. The original banquet manager left the company (though is still featured on their website, almost a year later). It seems that the service staff that remain aren’t getting the time, training, and support they need to execute on event plans. We would have been willing to pay more if that was the issue, but it seemed that they weren’t even prepared enough to realize that they were under resourced. They arrived too late to set up according to our agreed upon plans and left with such haste that some guests compared it to a military evacuation.

I was reluctant to post a negative review but hope that in doing so I might help someone else avoid a similar ordeal. It’s really easy to forgive mistakes that happen in the midst of a complex event if you are offered a simple “sorry.” But Dan didn’t seem to have any interest in understanding what went wrong or making even a small effort to make...

Where do we even begin? Our wedding and the welcome party the night before were truly unforgettable, and that’s thanks in huge part to the incredible work of Betsy, the catering team from Tall Guy & A Grill, and the expert bartenders from Crafted Tavern. From the very first interaction to the final toast of the evening, this team was nothing short of spectacular.

Let’s start with Betsy – the superstar food planner who absolutely knocked it out of the park. From day one, her professionalism, warmth, and attention to detail set the tone for what would be an incredible culinary experience. She invited us to a group tasting event hosted by the Tall Guy & A Grill team, which felt less like a tasting and more like a mini-wedding itself! The presentation, the service, the sheer volume and variety of dishes – it gave us confidence right then and there that we were in great hands.

But we didn’t stop there – we opted for a private tasting so we could go even deeper into the seasonal menu and carefully craft the perfect spread. And with Betsy guiding us every step of the way – asking the right questions, sharing thoughtful suggestions, and always being quick and clear in her communication – we felt incredibly supported and excited for what was to come.

Come wedding day, the entire Tall Guy & A Grill team executed flawlessly. Not a single beat was missed. Given the unique layout of our venue, we chose to go with family-style service, which made us slightly nervous about timing and food quality, especially when it came to meat staying juicy and tender.

Let us assure you: every single dish was PERFECTION.

We still cannot get over how fall-off-the-bone tender the smoked chicken and braised beef short ribs were – so juicy, so flavorful, not a hint of dryness in sight. The mashed sweet potatoes? Creamy, rich, and absolutely unforgettable. People are still texting us to ask for the recipe! The maple-glazed carrots and roasted green beans were fresh, beautifully seasoned, and plated with care. You could genuinely taste the passion and precision in every single bite.

To say the food was a hit would be an understatement. We personally received over 30 messages from our guests raving that this was the best food they had ever had at a wedding – and honestly, we agree. It blew us (and them) away.

Of course, no celebration is complete without a great bar – and that’s where Crafted Tavern comes in. Their bartending team kept the good vibes (and delicious drinks) flowing all night long. They flawlessly executed our signature Old Fashioneds and Manhattans, crafted with Maker’s Mark bourbon, and kept the bar line moving with speed and smiles. Guests kept commenting on how smooth and well-made the drinks were, and we couldn’t agree more.

From top to bottom, this entire experience was beyond our wildest dreams. Betsy and the teams from Tall Guy & A Grill and Crafted Tavern brought professionalism, flavor, warmth, and excellence to every moment of our weekend. If you're planning a wedding or any special event, do not think twice. This team is a rare gem, and we are forever grateful for their role in making our celebration the unforgettable experience it was.

Look NO FURTHER - The Brazen Standard Team is what you want and need...

I cannot say enough good things about our experience with Tall Guy. From our tasting to our wedding day, the team made us feel so cared for and valued - I cannot recommend them enough. The menu options are absolutely incredible, and the time taken to craft the perfect menu, with personalized options and creative and delicious choices beyond the usual "chicken or steak" options, adds such a special touch to the wedding. We were also so excited about Tall Guy's "farm to table" mentality, and their seasonal choices to support local Wisconsin farmers. With lots of out of town guests, that "taste of Wisconsin" was so important to us. Our point of contact, Alissa, was beyond patient and wonderful. From an easy to read invoice, to a prompt response on questions, it was really easy to know exactly what you were getting and track every change. Alissa was incredible when our event downsized due to COVID-19, and the team worked with us to re-schedule our original April 2020 event with kindness and compassion, which were so valued. On the day of our wedding, the food was outstanding, and the entire staff working the event were professional, kind and accommodating. From grabbing my bouquet and putting it in water for me, to making sure that my husband and I got fed during our cocktail hour, the team was so warm and kind. During dinner, the team handled every transition with ease, and helped to make sure the whole thing ran so smoothly. Our guests were wow'ed by the food. I don't think anyone expects the food at weddings to be THAT good, but Tall Guy really makes you feel like you're eating at a 5 star restaurant. We also worked with Tall Guy for our bartending, and the custom cocktails were perfectly executed. Our guests had nothing but great things to say about our very professional and lovely bartender, and she made sure that the drinks were flowing with ease and such a professional demeanor. If you're looking for catering that really takes it up a notch, Tall Guy should absolutely be your go to. They are the best at what they do, and I would hire them a thousand times over for my wedding. Thank you,...