The single biggest impact on what makes The Berwick so special is the fact that they are family owned and operated, They take great pride in their heritage of being italian and likewise they take great pride in all the food they prepare. They understand that every heritage has their own take on food and will do their absolute best to honor that, even if it is not italian food being served. They also take pride in the service that they offer and the reputation they have built in the community. The family is involved in every aspect of the process from the very first phone call to the actual clean up at the event. The food quality is also very important to them, with out outstanding tasting food the reputation of The Berwick would not be what it is today. The reviews on The Berwick are always complimenting their staff as well as their food, which they are very proud of.
We are constantly learning and trying new things, but in the end it is our 60 years of experience that sets us apart.
Quality is at the heart of our business. We believe that all food should be delicious, and we use high quality ingredients to give our food unparalleled taste that guests are sure to remember.
Homemade Italian goodness is what we specialize in, but our menus offer selections far beyond just Italian. We enjoy creating custom menus, from imaginative to ethnic.
In our family, great memories are created over a meal and that belief extends to any event we plan. It could be a Tuesday night dinner with the family or a 400 person wedding, regardless of its scale, the ritual of enjoying a delicious meal is important to us.
It is our job to worry, it is your job to enjoy your event. Event planning can be stressful, but we are here to help make it easier for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How long has your catering company been in business?
Berwick has been in business for 60 years. Stephanie, whom I interviewed for this, is the granddaughter of the original founders. They started as a seafood restaurant in 1955 off of College Ave. Five years later they looked to expand and they moved to refugee road, which is where they are now. Originally they focused on banquet and they slowly moved into catering. in the past 15 years the focus as really become catering. They still have a restaurant that is open Monday thru Friday for lunch. - Are you a licensed caterer and are you licensed to serve alcohol?
They do have a restaurant liquor license as well as a license to serve alcohol at other venues. - Will I need any special permits for my event?
In some cases a permit is required, it really depends on the venue that the event is being held at. Those kind of details are usually handled on a case to case basis. More often then not Berwick Catering has been to the venue and that kind of detail is already resolved. - Do you specialize in any particular cuisines?
Berwick is known for their italian, primarily due to the fact that the grandparents who started the business were italian. They are known for their Italian food like their tortellini with vodka sauce. Berwick can do anything, they do themed events, they have done Hawaiian, they have done country, they have done BBQ, they have done American, they have done just about everything. - Do we have to work off of a preset menu or can you create a custom menu for my event?
They do have their set menus and then they will recreate clients own recipes. They will normally provide a tasting prior to the event to ensure that it meets the clients expectations. If the client has a them they will do full custom menus as well. The preset menus that they offer are usually pretty extensive compared to most other caterers. Custom menus are usually for more corporate events. - If I have a special dish I'd like served, are you able to accommodate that?
The Berwick can do special dishes for clients. They will do a tasting to insure that it meets the clients expectations prior to the event. - What do you charge for the services you offer
For an offsite event The Berwick will have a per person price which depends on the menu. The average person will spend around $40 to $55 per head for a full service event. The price can go down with less services that are needed from The Berwick. With very low services the price can go as low as $20 to $30 per person. It also depends on the service level which can be buffet or plated or family style. They have service staff hours that they work into each event as well as Berwick captain hours which is the person that is managing that event on site and its usually a family member or someone that has been with Berwick for a very long time. They also have kitchen staff hours that are worked into the cost. Some events have bar tender hours if The Berwick is running the bar. There is also a service charge that is part of the bill which covers the behind the scenes labor such as setting up the reception or event and other behind the scenes services. - Do you offer event packages and what might a sample package include?
The Berwick does offer packages. The packages include the linens, the china, the silverware, the glassware and more. They set everything up and do all the clean up. Some packages are more extensive then others depending on the budget. There are wedding were they will go set up the buffet help serve clear the plates help with the cake and then they leave. - What's the difference in cost between passed appetizers and appetizer stations?
Most weddings that The Berwick does offer some sort of appetizer. The majority will do a fruit and cheese or a vegetable and cheese at a station. Some weddings will add on hot and cold appetizers if they want to offer their guests a little something special. The average wedding adds two or three appetizers to the event. They had one wedding that did 14 or 15 appetizers so its what ever the client wants. - What is your charge for children's meals?
Kids ages 4 to 11 are 40% off the adult cost. Kids 3 and under are free. The Berwick has experienced about 95% of the time they will make chicken fingers and Mac and Cheese for kids. The kids are allowed to get food from the buffet if thats what they want. - What is your charge for vendor meals?
In most cases the vendors are not fed by the wedding party. There are some circumstances where this will change. When the wedding is buffet style if the few vendors that are there working the event go thru the line the bride and groom are not typically charged for that. When the meals are served plate style that changes unless there is food left over or other special circumstances. Every situation is different so make sure you check with Berwick before offering to feed the vendors. - What is your cancellation policy?
The client must give 180 day notice to have the possibility of getting their deposit back. Less then 180 days the deposit is non-refundable. They will try to work with clients in certain circumstances. - What is your payment policy? Do you accept credit cards?
The Berwick takes credit cards, cash or cashiers checks. - How much of a deposit do you require?
For most wedding receptions The Berwick asks for a $750 deposit. An updated count is due a week in advance with half the remaining balance due with the final count and payment due two days before the event. - How many days before the wedding am I able to give you a final guest count?
You must have your final guest count two days before the wedding or event. - Do you use all fresh produce, meat, fish, etc?
They use the freshest product they can and use as much local produce as possible. They take a lot of pride in there food because it is a family business that has been handed down for generations. Food is very important to the family and they take it very seriously. All the sauces are homemade, they use fresh chopped herbs and spices. The meat is all freshly prepped and breaded and they try to make as much from scratch as possible. - Can you accommodate dietary restrictions such as kosher, vegan, etc?
Gluten free has become a big deal in recent times. Most weddings they are providing some extra meals to meet dietary restrictions. Those meals are sent separately in most cases. Sometimes they have vegans or vegetarians and they will work to accommodate these types of dietary restrictions. In one case the brides mother was allergic to black pepper. - What decor, if any, do you provide for appetizer stations or buffet tables?
They set the tables with Berwicks silverware, linens, china and glassware. They can also provide votive candles to go around the centerpieces as well as table numbers if they are needed. - Do you also create wedding cakes? If yes, is this included in the per person meal or is this extra?
The Berwick does do desserts but they do not do full blown wedding cakes. The Berwick will help cut and serve up the cake at the reception in most cases. - Do you do food tastings and what is the cost of this?
The Berwick does offer food tasting for up to eight family members at no charge. The client picks from the menu what they want to taste and The Berwick will set it up and have them come in for the tasting. - What types of linens, glassware, plates and flatware do you provide?
They do provide linens , glassware, plates, flatware, having said that the client does have the option to upgrade many of these items if they choose thru another company. - What is your policy on cleanup and who is responsible for this?
The set up and clean up is all included in the fee in most cases. - Are we able to wrap up any leftover food for guests to take home or drop off to a shelter?
For most receptions the leftover food is offered up for guests or the wedding party to take home. There are some instances where they will drop off food at a shelter but this is not an automatic service. - Do you provide alcoholic beverages and bartenders?
They can provide alcohol to the venus that do not all ready provide it. They can also provide people to serve the alcohol or work the alcohol stations. - How do you charge for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages? Per consumption or per person and which is more cost-effective?
For catered events The Berwick includes coffee and water. In some circumstances they will provide ice tea or lemonade. - Is the champagne toast after the ceremony included in your meal package or does this cost extra?
Included in the full service packages The Berwick does include the champagne flute for the toast. Some weddings it just the head table other it is more extensive then that. - What is the ratio of servers to guests?
The ration of servers to guests is directly related to the package that the client chooses. For an event that is plated the ratio goes up, conversely when they client chooses buffet style the ratio goes down. - How will the servers be dressed?
The Berwick just got all new uniforms. They wear black pants and black shoes. They also wear black formal shirts as well with The Berwick logo on the shirt as well as a black tie. At less formal events the serves might wear black polo shirts. - How much time do you require for setting up and breaking down my event and do you charge extra for this?
It depends on the size of the wedding but in most cases it takes two to four hours before and after. The venue can play a role in the clean up and set up time and in some cases might even effect the total budget depending on the demands of the individual venue. - In one or two paragraphs what would you say about your company?
The single biggest impact on what makes The Berwick so special is the fact that they are family owned and operated, They take great pride in their heritage of being italian and likewise they take great pride in all the food they prepare. They understand that every heritage has their own take on food and will do their absolute best to honor that, even if it is not italian food being served. They also take pride in the service that they offer and the reputation they have built in the community. The family is involved in every aspect of the process from the very first phone call to the actual clean up at the event. The food quality is also very important to them, with out outstanding tasting food the reputation of The Berwick would not be what it is today. The reviews on The Berwick are always complimenting their staff as well as their food, which they are very proud of.