What will it cost to cater my event?
This is the most frequently asked question, by far. Honestly, it’s a hard one to answer, because there are so many variables. The price depends on the kind of food you want, the kind of service, and whether you want beer, wine or cocktails served.
Check out our menus and our How to Order page or contact us to get a more specific idea of costs.
Do you have a venue?
We don’t have our own venue, but we have been to most of venues around the area many times. We’re happy to make recommendations and put you in touch with the appropriate people.
What about the space at the Vets’ Club?
While our business operates out of the Vets’ Club building, the venue space there is run by a different organization. Contact us on availability and pricing.
Do you have limits on the size of an event you will cater?
No firm limits. We’ve done many events with literally hundreds of guests. On the other hand, rarely do we cater events smaller than about 20.
Do I have to choose straight off your menus?
No. Any of our menus can be adjusted to accommodate your budget and your event. We can even do a completely new and custom menu. Give us a call to talk about what you want. That’s why we call it Mac’s Custom Catering.
Do you do food tastings before an event?
Yes, after an initial consultation Chef Rob is happy to do a food tasting to help you choose your menu for weddings and other larger events. A tasting usually costs $50 for up to 4 people, but if you decide to book us for the event, we’ll deduct that cost from the catering fee.
What kind of beverages do you offer? Do you serve alcohol?
We offer a wide variety of beer, wine, champagne, cocktails and nonalcoholic beverages. We are fully licensed and carry liability insurance for any event at which alcohol is served.
How do you charge for beverages?
For no host events (where your guests are paying for their alcoholic beverages) there is a $200 setup fee for full cocktail, beer and wine service.
For beer and wine service only there is a $50 setup fee.
For hosted events (where you are paying for your guests alcoholic beverages) the cost is based on consumption, so we won’t know the exact price until after the event. But we can give you an estimate, based on our extensive experience with various types of events. In most cases, the $200 setup fee is waived for hosted events.
What does it cost for staff at an event?
For events that require our staff to be on-site we charge the following rates, for time from departure at our location in Eugene to arrival back to our location in Eugene.
- Servers/prep help: $15 per hour
- Bartenders: $20 per hour
- Chefs: $20 per hour
What about buffet tables, china, linens and things?
We offer linens, tables for buffets and food service, paper products and plasticware all at competitive prices.
- Disposable/compostable paper products: $1 per setting
- Linen napkins: $0.50 each
- Buffet/service tables: $10 each
- China with glasses: $4.25 per person
- China with plastic glasses: $3.25 per person
- White table linens: $6 each
We can also order portable bars, canopies, guest tables, chairs, fountains and any other necessary items through rental companies. We’re happy to take care of the arrangements, although you simply pay the rental company directly.
Do you deliver?
Absolutely. For local deliveries that are drop off only we charge $25. Local deliveries with set-up and pick-up we charge $35. Deliveries outside Eugene/Springfield cost an additional $1.50 per mile round-trip, plus $15 per hour for staff travel time.
Is there any service charge?
A 20 percent service charge is added to food and beverage service for sit-down events. For other events, an 18 percent service charge is added.
When do you need a final head count?
We expect a confirmed guest count seven days prior to your event.
Is there any paperwork?
Once you select your menu and beverages, and determine equipment needs, we will provide a detailed proposal. This is an estimate of your total bill, and it serves as a contract between us and you.
When is payment due?
We require a $500 nonrefundable down payment to secure your date. Down payments will be deducted from the final bill, but they cannot be refunded if you cancel the event.
We expect payment of the balance in full on the day of the event. Payments not received within 10 days following your event may be assessed a late fee. Fees will accrue daily until payment is received in full.
Do you take credit cards?
Yes. Payments by credit card will be charged a processing fee that amounts to 3 percent of the total bill.