CARTHAGEKITCHEN

Frequently asked

Catering questions, answered straight.

The questions we hear most — about pricing, menus and dietary needs, staffing and logistics, lead times, and government or institutional service. Don't see yours? Ask us in the quote form and we'll answer within one business day.

A catered spread laid out for service
ASKED & ANSWEREDLOS ANGELES · ORANGE COUNTY

Pricing & minimums

What catering costs, and where it starts

How per-guest pricing works across drop-off, stations, and plated service — and the minimums to plan around.

How much does catering cost per person in Los Angeles?
Carthage Kitchen ranges from about $13 to $167 per person. Drop-off service is the most affordable; chef-attended stations sit in the middle; plated full-service is the highest because it includes staffing, rentals, and on-site execution.
What is the difference between drop-off, stations, and plated pricing?
Drop-off covers food, packaging, and delivery only. Stations add chef attendants and live equipment. Plated full-service adds composed plating, uniformed servers, rentals, and coordination — which is why per-person pricing rises with each step.
What drives catering prices up or down?
Guest count (larger events lower the per-person cost), service style, menu tier and proteins, staffing hours, rentals, and venue logistics like load-in and field kitchens. Dietary tracks and bar service add to the total.
Is there a minimum guest count or order size?
Most service starts around 10–15 guests; boxed lunches start at 15 boxes. Larger events unlock better per-person pricing and more service options.
How do I get an exact quote?
Share your event type, date, guest count, and dietary needs through the quote form. We come back within one business day with menu options and a per-person price for your exact event.

Service & logistics

Staffing, venues, delivery, and setup

What we bring, where we can cook, and how food gets to you — from field kitchens to boxed-meal drop-offs.

Do you provide staff, rentals, and setup?
Yes — staffed packages include captains, servers, and on-site chefs scaled to your headcount, and we coordinate rentals (tables, linens, china, glassware) so you book one vendor, not five. Drop-off service is food, packaging, and delivery only; stations and plated service add the people and the equipment to run them.
Do you offer boxed and individually packed meals?
Yes — individually boxed meals run from 15 boxes to 1,000+, each labeled with contents, allergens, and dietary marks, and sorted by team, floor, or classroom before delivery. Compostable packaging is our default, not an upcharge.
Can you cater at a venue without a kitchen?
It’s our specialty. We build full field kitchens — chef stations, cold lines, even a wood-fired hearth — on cliffsides, gardens, and lofts across LA.
Will there be a chef on-site?
Yes — private events always include a dedicated event chef on-site, plus service staff scaled to your headcount.
How early can you deliver?
5:30am windows are routine for production crew calls; earlier is possible with notice. Hot service arrives hot, not held.
Do you bring coffee service?
Proper urns, real cups on request, and oat milk as standard — the coffee program is part of the order, not an afterthought.

Booking & lead time

Lead times, deposits, and tastings

How far ahead to book, how deposits work, where we serve, and what to expect before the date is locked.

How far in advance should I book catering?
Two to four weeks is comfortable for most events; weddings and large galas are best booked one to three months out so we can lock the date and build the menu unhurried. Smaller drop-off and boxed-meal orders often turn around inside a week, and short-notice production or corporate runs are sometimes possible within 72 hours — call us and we'll tell you honestly what the date allows.
Do you require a deposit, and how does payment work?
Yes — a deposit confirms the date and covers menu development and sourcing; the balance is due before the event. Established corporate, government, and institutional accounts can be set up on itemized net-30 invoicing instead. The exact split is spelled out on your proposal, with no surprise line items on the day.
What is your service area around Los Angeles?
We cater across Greater Los Angeles and Orange County — from the Westside and Downtown LA through the San Fernando and San Gabriel Valleys, and south into Irvine, Anaheim, Newport Beach, Huntington Beach, and Santa Ana. For events outside that radius, ask; we travel for the right brief and will quote any added logistics up front.
Do you offer tastings before we book?
Yes — every wedding engagement includes a tasting at our Melrose atelier with the chef at the table. Menus are corrected in pencil, then signed in ink.

Government & institutional

Government, school, and healthcare service

Procurement-ready invoicing, allergen documentation, USDA-aligned school menus, and texture-modified healthcare meals.

Are you registered for public procurement?
Yes — we hold an active SAM registration, carry $2M liability coverage, and provide COIs before delivery as standard.
Can you provide per-head, itemized invoicing?
Per-head invoicing with allergen documentation is our default posture for government service — no special request needed.
Do you meet labeling requirements?
Every dish is labeled with contents and allergens, and a full ingredient sheet accompanies each delivery.
Are your menus USDA-compliant?
Our school menus are built to USDA portion and component guidance, with documentation per menu cycle for your records.
How do you handle nut allergies?
School service runs from our nut-free line, and every box is labeled per student group with full allergen marks.
Can you provide texture-modified meals?
Yes — minced, pureed, and soft tracks are available, prepared to IDDSI-aligned levels with dietitian documentation.
How strict is your allergen control?
Hospital-grade: dedicated prep zones, sealed labeled service, and ingredient sheets per dish, per delivery.
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Still have a question?

Tell us about your event.

Two fields — your event type and guest count — and a real menu sketch with a per-guest price lands in your inbox within one business day. No spam, no upsell call.

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