WeddingCorporateBirthday partyHoliday partyFull-service
Catering companies in Columbia, SC
TopCaterers lists 19 catering companies serving Columbia, SC. 1 offer plated dinners. 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 | 19 |
|---|---|
| Service styles available | Plated (1), Full service (4) |
| County | Richland |
| City population | 136,632 |
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A closer look at catering in Columbia
Columbia has 19 caterers listed on TopCaterers, all of them based in the city. The events they list are fairly spread out: corporate events (9), weddings (9) and birthday parties (6). On the menu side you will find breakfast and brunch (3), Southern (3), desserts (2) and sandwich and deli (2). For format, listings mention cocktail receptions (6), full-service (staffed) events (6) and bar service (5). Dietary tags: vegan (1) and vegetarian (1).
Events
- Corporate events 9
- Weddings 9
- Birthday parties 6
- Holiday parties 6
- Baby showers 3
- Parties 3
- Funerals and repasts 1
- Graduations 1
Cuisines
- Breakfast and brunch 3
- Southern 3
- Dessert 2
- Sandwich and deli 2
- Greek 1
- Indian 1
- Soul food 1
- Vietnamese 1
Service styles
- Cocktail receptions 6
- Full-service (staffed) events 6
- Bar service 5
- Boxed lunches 5
- Buffets 4
- Event staffing 4
- Grazing tables 3
- Food trucks 2
Dietary
- Vegan 1
- Vegetarian 1
Counts are listings tagged with each type, out of 19; one caterer can carry several tags. 13 also describe their food as American.
More South Carolina cities with caterers
- Rock Hill 6 caterers · 64 mi
- Greenville 12 caterers · 97 mi
- North Charleston 10 caterers · 100 mi
- Charleston 15 caterers · 106 mi
- Mount Pleasant 6 caterers · 107 mi
Catering by event in Columbia
Catering in Columbia: common questions
How many caterers serve Columbia?
19 caterers are listed for Columbia, SC on TopCaterers. Elsewhere in South Carolina, Rock Hill has 6, Greenville has 12 and North Charleston has 10.
What cuisines are available in Columbia?
Listings serving Columbia are tagged Breakfast and brunch (3), Southern (3), Dessert (2), Sandwich and deli (2), Greek (1), Indian (1), Soul food (1) and Vietnamese (1). The other 9 don't name a specific cuisine, so mention the menu you want in your quote request.
What events do caterers in Columbia cover?
Counting the event types each listing names: corporate events (9), weddings (9), birthday parties (6), holiday parties (6), baby showers (3) and parties (3). Many caterers take more than one kind of event, so these overlap.
How do I get catering quotes in Columbia?
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.
How far in advance should I book a caterer in Columbia?
For an office lunch or small drop-off order in Columbia, SC, 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.
How much does catering cost per person?
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.
What is the difference between drop-off and full-service catering?
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.
How much food do I need per person?
A common planning rule is 1 pound of food per adult across all dishes, split roughly into 6 oz protein, 4 oz starch and 4-6 oz vegetables or salad. For appetizer-only receptions, plan 4-6 pieces per person per hour if a meal follows, or 10-12 pieces per person for a two-hour reception that replaces dinner. Order for 100% of your confirmed headcount, not your invited count.