Catering companies in Des Moines, IA
TopCaterers lists 17 catering companies serving Des Moines, IA. 1 offer food trucks. Dietary coverage: gluten-free (1). Compare them below, or send one request and get quotes back from up to 5 of them.
Want prices to compare? Ask local caterers for sealed bids: up to 8 matching caterers are invited to bid.
| Caterers listed | 17 |
|---|---|
| Service styles available | Full service (2), Food truck (1) |
| County | Polk |
| City population | 214,133 |
Browse by catering type
More filters: service, dietary, extras, guests
Quick filter:
BuffetGrazing tableBoxed lunchCocktail receptionVegetarian
WeddingCorporateGraduationBuffetEvent staffing
WeddingBuffetPlated dinnerBar serviceEvent staffing
CorporatePartyIndividually packagedDrop-offBoxed lunch
WeddingCorporateIndividually packagedFull-serviceBuffet
WeddingCorporatePartyGraduationHoliday party
WeddingCorporateHoliday partyFull-serviceBuffet
WeddingGraduationFuneral and repastBaby shower
WeddingCorporateGraduationFuneral and repastFull-service
WeddingPartyCocktail receptionBar service
WeddingCorporateSchool and churchFood truck
WeddingCorporateFull-servicePlated dinnerCocktail reception
What Des Moines caterers offer
Events
- Weddings 12
- Corporate events 10
- Graduations 4
- Parties 4
- Baby showers 3
- Funerals and repasts 2
- Holiday parties 2
- School and church events 2
Cuisines
- BBQ 2
- Cajun and Creole 1
- Italian 1
- Mexican 1
- Sandwich and deli 1
- Southern 1
Service styles
Dietary
- Gluten-free 2
- Allergen-friendly 1
- Vegetarian 1
Counts are listings tagged with each type, out of 17; one caterer can carry several tags. 14 also describe their food as American.
More Iowa cities with caterers
- Cedar Rapids 19 caterers · 105 mi
- Iowa City 14 caterers · 108 mi
- Sioux City 5 caterers · 156 mi
- Davenport 15 caterers · 158 mi
Catering in Des Moines: what to know before you book
TopCaterers lists 17 caterers serving Des Moines. Most menus are broadly American (14); beyond that, the listings include barbecue (2), dessert (0), Italian (1), Mexican (1) and sandwich and deli (1) caterers.
Des Moines is a major insurance and financial-services center, so office lunches, meetings and company events make up much of the catering demand. Many listings here are restaurants with catering menus, alongside event caterers. Late summer is busy: the Iowa State Fair in August competes for staff and dates.
How to choose: For office meals, compare restaurant caterers on reliability and delivery windows; for larger events, ask about staffing and rentals.
Planning tips
- Watch August dates. State Fair weeks tie up caterers and staff; book early.
- Set up a standing order. For recurring office lunches, ask about invoicing and volume pricing.
- Order to confirmed guests. Cater to RSVPs, not invitations; a small buffer is plenty.
- Get a day-of contact. Ask for the name and number of the person running your event on the day.
Planning a wedding in Des Moines?
Only a handful of caterers here list weddings on their own sites, so a single quote request is the fastest way to find who is available. Tell us your date, guest count, venue and preferred service style (buffet, family style or plated), and we will pass it to caterers whose service area reaches Des Moines.
As a rough guide, staffed wedding catering commonly runs about $40 to $150 or more per guest depending on service style, before service charge, tax, bar and rentals; buffets sit at the lower end and plated dinners at the top.
Catering by event in Des Moines
Catering in Des Moines: common questions
How much does catering cost per person in Des Moines?
Treat these as rough planning ranges, not quotes. Drop-off trays and boxed meals commonly run about $15 to $30 per person; a buffet with setup commonly $25 to $55; and full-service events with staff and plated or stationed food commonly $50 to $150 or more. Des Moines quotes commonly sit at the lower-to-middle of national ranges, especially for restaurant drop-off.
Service charges (often around 18 to 24%), sales tax, rentals and delivery are usually added on top, so compare itemized quotes rather than headline per-person prices.
How far in advance should I book a caterer in Des Moines?
A few days to two weeks for office orders. Book weddings 6 to 12 months ahead, and allow extra time for August and December. Rush drop-off orders inside a few days are sometimes possible, usually for a fee, so ask directly.
Should I choose drop-off or full-service catering in Des Moines?
Drop-off is the norm for office lunches and meetings. Full service makes sense for galas, weddings and anything with plated or passed food.
With drop-off, food arrives ready to serve in disposable pans and the caterer leaves; you handle setup, refills and cleanup. Full service adds staff, setup, often rentals and cleanup, plus a service charge.
How do I find a wedding caterer in Des Moines?
Only a handful of caterers here list weddings on their own sites, so a single quote request is the fastest way to find who is available. Send one wedding quote request with your date, venue, guest count and preferred service style, and compare the replies on what is included, not just the per-guest price.
How many caterers serve Des Moines?
17 caterers are listed for Des Moines, IA on TopCaterers. Elsewhere in Iowa, Cedar Rapids has 19, Iowa City has 14 and Sioux City has 5.
What cuisines are available in Des Moines?
Listings serving Des Moines are tagged BBQ (2), Cajun and Creole (1), Italian (1), Mexican (1), Sandwich and deli (1) and Southern (1). The other 12 don't name a specific cuisine, so mention the menu you want in your quote request.
What events do caterers in Des Moines cover?
Counting the event types each listing names: weddings (12), corporate events (10), graduations (4), parties (4), baby showers (3) and funerals and repasts (2). Many caterers take more than one kind of event, so these overlap.
How do I get catering quotes in Des Moines?
Use Get free quotes on this page. The form asks for the event type, rough guest count and city, plus optional date, service style and budget per person. We pass it to up to 5 matching caterers that serve Des Moines, and they reply to you directly. It is free and there is no obligation. Leave “Also ask for sealed bids” ticked and up to 8 caterers can also send a sealed bid with a total and per-person price.