5 Best Wedding Catering Services in Ottawa
Weddings are some of the most celebrated occasions in one’s life. But preparing for such a huge event often requires careful planning, which can be stressful for some.
To help you tick off one of the things on your long wedding checklist, we have gathered the best wedding catering services in Ottawa. But first, how much do they cost these days?
How much do wedding catering services cost in Ottawa?
On average, catering services would cost around $2,650. For weddings, the price is estimated to be close to $5,000.
These figures, however, can still vary depending on some factors. Among these include the number of guests, the type of meal, and the location.
To provide you with a better picture of these costs, below is a table showing the common types of wedding catering with their corresponding price ranges.
Best Wedding Catering Services in Ottawa
To trim down our choices, we used the following criteria to get the best in the business:
1. Essence Catering
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Flexible Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
We like Essence Catering because it is a full-service catering company. That means extra convenience for you since you can have all your event needs, including rentals and florals, under just one roof.
We commend the company’s Chef Jason Laurin, who already has 30 years of experience in the business. A graduate of Cordon Bleu Cuisine and Pastry, we think that he’ll be useful in helping you design the perfect menu for your special event.
It is nice to know that the company can customize your menu according to your preference. This is ideal if you have special dietary requirements for yourself and your guests.
We appreciate as well that there are available sample menus, which can pretty much help you decide on what to go for.
Should you opt for a prepared meal, it has a decent collection of special meals that you can choose from. The best part is that these can be purchased anytime and can be picked up or delivered straight to your doorstep.
Also worth noting are its gift cards, which can be a nice present for friends or loved ones.
The only downside we see here is that there are no price guides provided. It is also unfortunate that Essence Catering is closed on Mondays, which kind of limits its availability for some customers.
Nonetheless, we still think that the company is a good option when looking for a catering service to attend to your needs.
Pros
- Full-service catering company
- Houses an experienced chef
- Custom menu
- Prepared meal option
- Gift cards
Cons
- No price guides provided
- Closed on Mondays
Customer Reviews
Couldn’t have asked for a better experience
“We had Jason and his team from essence catering, cater for our wedding and we were beyond pleased! The food was honestly beyond words and still people are talking about how great and tender the steak was as well as the vegetarian options (cauliflower steak). Two of my brothers said they could have eaten a plate full of the steak sushi hors and it would have been money well spent! But beyond that the staff was all very kind and helped out beyond just the catering! Could not have asked for a better experience!” — Hannah Corrigan, Google Reviews
Food and service were phenomenal
“We used Essence catering for our wedding and the food and service was phenomenal! Jason and Tanya are incredibly professional and completely down to earth people who are incredibly talented. Their staff is also so respectful and hardworking. Would highly recommend for any function big or small!” — Jaime Nead, Google Reviews
2. Epicuria Food Shop and Catering
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Flexible Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
With over 30 years of experience, Epicuria Food Shop and Catering is one good place to tap when preparing for big events like weddings. We like this service provider because it offers various catering services to meet your needs.
It has corporate catering services, which are great for business meetings and team-building events. The available luncheon menu makes the selection process a lot easier and more convenient.
There’s also one for social events, which are perfect for special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and cocktail parties. One of the things we like about these services is that they come with free quotes, which gives you an idea of the costs involved.
Ther company offers ready-to-serve catering with a wide array of choices you can choose from. Apart from having price guides, we also appreciate that menus can be customized to meet dietary considerations.
The only issue we found here is that bookings have to be placed at least 3 weeks before. Further, this service might not work on any given day since it is only available from Thursday to Saturday.
If you’re busy and can’t find enough time to prepare for a special occasion at home, you may resort to its food shop, where you can purchase prepared lunches and dinners, along with other options like fresh appetizers and frozen meat entrees.
The best part is that the menus are updated weekly, which is great when trying out new dishes at more affordable rates.
Pros
- Corporate and social catering services
- Provides sample menus
- Offer free quotes
- Custom menus
- Ready-to-serve catering
- Food shop
Cons
- Early booking is required
- Some services have limited availability
Customer Reviews
Will be using them for future events
“I used Epicuria to cater my wedding this week. All of my guests loved the dishes from Epicuria. The food was delicious and portions were accurate for the number of guests. I definitely will be using them for future events and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a caterer.” — Colette Nader, Google Reviews
Phenomenal
“Phenomenal! We ordered from the ready-to-serve catering menu for our rehearsal dinner and everything was amazing. The food was perfectly prepared, flavourful and entirely indulgent. Portions are generous and plentiful. All our guests could not resist going for seconds! The team is also extremely professional and prompt to respond. Could not be happier. We will be definitely be coming back for future events!” — Jonathan Bedard Schami, Google Review
3. My Catering Group
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Flexible Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Experience | ★★★★✩ (4/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
My Catering Group is a full-service company that offers more than just catering services. It can also help you plan your event and provide you with all other needs, like staffing and rentals.
We commend the company because it has multiple types of catering services, which are great for different occasions such as weddings, corporate events, political events, and outdoor parties.
Talking about outdoor events, it was interesting to know that it has a mobile catering service, which brings its kitchen and staff. The versatility this provides helps celebrations held at offices or cottages outside the city to be extra convenient.
Should you choose to throw a party at home, the company also has chef-prepared meals you can enjoy. We appreciate that these nicely packed meals are matched with heating and assembly instructions for easy preparation.
The best part here is that it can be delivered right to your doorstep or picked up. The menu also rotates every week, so you pretty much get to enjoy new dishes every time you avail of these services.
We like that the website shows the catering menu, which is complete with images and descriptions. The only downside is that there are no price guides provided.
Further, since the provider is closed on weekends, you might want to book earlier to ensure the availability of the services and products you need.
But other than these, we think that My Catering Group is worth a shot when looking for wedding catering services.
Pros
- Full-service catering company
- Various catering services
- Offers at-home catered meals
- Mobile catering
- Customizable menus
Cons
- No price guides provided
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
Exceeded my expectations
“We can’t thank the My Catering Group team and staff enough for making our daughter’s wedding so special. Everyone, and I mean everyone, all of our guests, the DJ and the Photographer and her crew, all told us how delicious the food was and how amazing the staff were – so personable and attentive to all the details. Staff was so friendly and made all of our guests feel at home and special. Customer service was amazing. Food was amazing. When I booked with My Catering Group I knew about their food and service but they really exceeded my expectations. Planning for the event was made easier and simpler with the expert advice of staff at My Catering Group. We had no worries or concerns leading up to the special day.” — Deb & James Abbott, Google Reviews
Exceptional food and service
“Looking for a caterer with exceptional food and service? MY CATERING GROUP IS IT! The flavours, portions, and plating is exceptional and IF that wasn’t enough – the customer service is top notch! They’re always willing to customize your catering selections to your liking, they’re so professional and responsive and on the day-of, their staff is so incredibly calm, punctual, helpful, and a JOY to be around. I highly, HIGHLY, recommend My Catering Group for your next wedding/event – you won’t be disappointed!” — Simplicity Events Co., Google Reviews
4. Grenfell Catering
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Flexible Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Operational since 2017, Grenfell Catering is one of the go-to places for catering needs. We like the company because it is a full-service catering provider that specializes in custom events.
We like that it is managed by chefs with years of experience. Having someone with in-depth knowledge in the industry provides more confidence in what the company does and offers.
This could be one of the many reasons for its Tsirmpa Award back in 2017. For those who might not know, this award is given to acknowledge an individual or a company’s outstanding dedication to the wedding industry.
We appreciate that its wedding options on the website are furnished with all the available dishes you can choose from. From proteins to salads, each category is equipped with a comprehensive list that helps a lot when planning for your event’s menu.
Likewise, its other catering services are also complete with menus that are categorized based on events. This allows one to browse through its wide array of dish options with relative ease.
It can customize dishes, too, which is great if you have dietary requirements to meet. There’s a special Non-Kosher Bar/ Bat Mitzvah menu as well, which is nice as it acknowledges the religious differences of its diverse patrons.
The only downside we saw is that there are no prices indicated on all of its menus. The company is also closed on weekends, so that’s something you’ll have to remember when planning to avail of its services.
Pros
- Full-service catering company
- Specializes in off-site catering
- Owned by experienced chefs
- Complete catering menu provided
- Tsirmpa Awardee
- Non-Kosher Bar / Bat Mitzvah menu
Cons
- No available price guides
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
Check them out
“Grenfell Catering catered our small wedding (dinner for 22 people buffet style) this October. The food was both beautiful and delicious. Christine was really great helping us plan our menu. Joanne, our server/worker on the day of was very friendly and professional. We definitely recommend checking them out!” — Caitlin W., Google Reviews
Amazing team
“Grenfell Catering is amazing. Christine is amazing. She is very knowledgeable and the food is excellent. Our daughter’s wedding was wonderful and our guests raved about the food. The caterer was extremely well organized and was attentive to every detail. The food was hot, fresh and plentiful. I would recommend this amazing team to anyone planning an event!!” — Lonny and Jennifer Bleeks, Google Reviews
5. Goodies Fine Catering
| Criteria | Ratings |
| Rates | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Flexible Menu | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Experience | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Customer Feedback | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
Good Fine Catering is a full-service catering company that can provide all your event needs in one place. It is nice that it offers custom-made wedding packages that cover everything you’ll need in an event.
We appreciate that its team can also help you plan things out to make your dream wedding a reality. This is nice, especially for inexperienced people who don’t exactly know where to start.
Turning to food, we commend the company for providing a comprehensive list of menus for various types of events on its website. Complete with details and prices, its menus are useful in helping customers make decisions more easily.
If you don’t find what you want on its list of menus, don’t worry! This is because Good Fine Catering’s experienced chefs can accommodate custom dishes for your reception.
Should you want to thank your guests with some take-home meals after the event, the company also has a special menu for that. The best part is that servings are enough for 4 individuals.
The only issue we saw here is that the provider is only open on weekdays. Further, prices on the menu are based per person with a minimum number of guests required.
Nevertheless, we think that Good Fine Catering is worth a visit when in need of some catering services.
Pros
- Full-service catering company
- Custom dishes
- Offers take-home meals
- Comprehensive menu
- With price guides
Cons
- Surcharges for smaller groups
- Closed on weekends
Customer Reviews
Excellent to work with
“Excellent caterer to work with, very knowledgeable and generous. We are very excited that they are catering our wedding.” — Arafat Rubaiyat, Google Reviews
Everything surpassed our expectations
“Goodies Fine Catering recently catered for our wedding. Upon request they put together a unique German style buffet menu that was just what we were looking for! The staff was friendly, professional, great to work with, and very accommodating. The food was delicious and the service was excellent. Everything surpassed our expectations and we had nothing but great feedback from our guests. We would highly recommend!” — Katie Morrissey, Google Reviews
FAQs about Wedding Catering Services in Ottawa
If you’re tying the knot soon, we hope that this listicle has helped you decide on who to tap for your catering needs.
For more wedding-related topics, you might want to check out the following articles: