Catering companies in Columbia, MD

12 caterers are listed for Columbia, MD on TopCaterers. Elsewhere in Maryland, Baltimore has 24, Silver Spring has 9 and Germantown has 8.

Listings serving Columbia are tagged Indian (2), Taco (2), Breakfast and brunch (1), Chinese (1), Dessert (1), Latin American (1), Mediterranean (1) and Middle Eastern (1). The other 6 don't name a specific cuisine, so mention the menu you want in your quote request.

Counting the event types each listing names: corporate events (8), weddings (7), parties (4), holiday parties (3), baby showers (2) and birthday parties (2). Many caterers take more than one kind of event, so these overlap.

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 Columbia, 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.

Yes. Of the caterers listed here, 2 offer vegan menus, 1 offer gluten-free menus, 1 offer halal menus and 2 offer vegetarian menus. Give final allergy and dietary counts at least two weeks before the event. For a guest with celiac disease, ask specifically about separate prep surfaces and utensils rather than just gluten-free ingredients, and for strict kosher or halal observance ask which certifying body the kitchen works under.

For an office lunch or small drop-off order in Columbia, MD, 1 to 2 weeks is usually enough. For a large corporate event allow 2 to 3 months, and for a wedding allow 9 to 12 months, since the best caterers in any metro book their Saturday dates first. December and the May-June graduation window are the hardest times of year to book late. Many caterers will take rush orders inside 72 hours for a fee, and repast catering is routinely arranged in under 48 hours.

Nationally, drop-off trays and boxed meals commonly run about $15 to $30 per person, a buffet with setup about $25 to $55 per person, and a full-service event with staff and plated or stationed food about $50 to $150 per person or more. The three things that move the number most are service style, protein choice and guest count. Drop-off is cheaper than full service because there is no staffing, rentals or gratuity. Below roughly 40 guests, most caterers charge a flat minimum instead of a per-head rate.

Drop-off means the food is delivered hot in disposable chafing dishes with serving utensils, and the caterer leaves. You handle setup, refills and cleanup. Full-service means the caterer arrives early, sets up, cooks or finishes on site, staffs the event with servers, provides china and linens, and cleans up afterwards. Full service usually adds 20-30% on top of the food cost for labor, plus rentals.