About this vendor
At Bar Harbor Catering Company, we’re foodies with an extreme case of wanderlust. Our mission is to produce extraordinary events with legendary customer service and modern Maine cuisine, created by happy people.
Armed with the motto “good enough isn’t enough”, we have successfully composed, since 2009, hundreds of events from intimate cocktail parties and dream weddings, to detailed corporate events for 700+. With a passionate team of experienced professionals, we’re large enough to handle the biggest and most complicated off-site events, but small enough to offer personalized, concierge-style service to each and every client, throughout the entire planning process.
Details
Business Attributes
- Woman-owned Business
Cuisine
- American
- BBQ
- French
- Fusion
- Greek
- Italian
Dietary Options
- Dairy Free
- Gluten Free
- Halal
- Kosher
- Nut Free
- Organic
Food & Catering
- Buffet
- Catering Clean Up
- Catering Delivery & Setup
- Chef Stations
- Family Style
- Menu Tastings
Reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
4.8
out of 5.029 reviews
- Top reviews
- Newest first
- Oldest first
- Highest rated
- Lowest rated
Sort by
Mandy and the Bar Harbor Catering team catered our rehearsal dinner at French's Point this past September. While the outcome was very much a positive one, the process of working with the team was not. We did use a different caterer for the wedding, which provided us with a different team, process and product to compare Bar Harbor Catering to.
It is worth noting and only fair to highlight that the Bar Harbor team executed very well and their food was enjoyed by all. There were zero issues in the immediate lead up to our rehearsal dinner and the dinner itself went off without a hitch.
Working with Bar Harbor was a different story. Maybe we should have been less quick to book and we should have hired a different caterer, but from the early days of working with the team, it felt as though our vision of a simple backyard BBQ buffet fell on deaf ears. Each time we discussed and attempted to simplify the menu (and decrease the cost), the Bar Harbor team would come back with a menu that felt like the numbers had just been massaged around to be in the same ball park of what they wanted a gathering of 150 to cost. It felt as though they wanted to deliver a different event than we may have wanted and wouldn't meet us in the middle. For example, one menu draft had an item for a certain price, which they then increased on the next draft for the same item. They corrected this when we addressed this, but it didn't build trust. There were lags in communication and some uncomfortable conversations, especially when their catering peers were quoting cheaper prices for bar services that included higher quality wines and equal quality beers.
Bar Harbor is a fine choice in the area and you will be happy with the outcome but compared to other providers, I would just be aware of some of the issues we had.
Bar Harbor Catering knocked it out of the park for our wedding reception. Food and beverage was a huge focus for us, and the crew from Bar Harbor Catering delivered 110%, dazzling us and all of our guests.
Heather worked closely with us in the months leading up to the event, and day of, Mandy, Freddie, and Nick created a comprehensive dining and bar experience that felt more like an incredible, intimate pop-up from your favorite new restaurant than a traditional, catered event. Their technical culinary and bartending skill was evident, and the service element was truly exceptional – combining gracious, friendly attitudes with timing and efficiency for a crowd is no easy feat, and their attention to detail made our evening unforgettable (and delicious).
This is a team of professionals capable of putting out incredible plates of food, keeping well-crafted drinks flowing, and creating a beautiful experience to compliment your celebration – highly recommended.
Bar Harbor Catering did two events for our wedding and both were incredible! Heather worked with us from the beginning to come up with two very different menus, and helped us adjust things as ideas changed along the way. The same team worked both events and were so professional and friendly! They even had to work in a torrential downpour for our wedding day and still made everything go perfectly. They were so thorough with attention to detail throughout the whole process. The food was incredible, and we had so many compliments from our guests about the food at both events.
They are the absolute best catering service, and we felt so lucky to have them for our wedding!
We hired Bar Harbor Catering Company to cater our wedding weekend (cocktail hour, reception, after party and next-day brunch). I really wanted the food to be a highlight of the wedding. We were incredibly impressed with them from the start. Heather asked us about our likes, dislikes, life stories, our story and our vision for the wedding. BHCC sent us a couple of proposals, each of which took into account our earlier conversations: artichokes (my favorite) were included in multiple dishes, there were multiple Deep South meets New England ideas (lobster and grits); everything felt tailored and thoughtful. Due to covid, we weren't able to do a tasting so were basically going on faith (based on Heather's competence and our wedding planner, Rachel Sisson's, experience with them. Our faith was incredibly well placed. The food was phenomenal, the staff was so friendly, efficient and impressive, the entire operation felt seamless. In addition, they noticed I wasn't able to eat much of my dinner and sent it over as leftovers (which I devoured the next day). The after party food was delicious, portable and not prone to spilling (fried chicken sandwiches, parker house rolls and lobster fried rice served in little takeout containers(!!)), which was very helpful as the night went on. In addition, BHCC came to set up for brunch the next morning and came into a mess of a kitchen (since we just went to sleep and didn't look around the house after people left). They went above and beyond, cleaned and got everything set up for brunch without missing a beat (I felt so bad about the mess!).
So many guests came up to me to compliment the food, drinks and service. Truly, I cannot recommend Bar Harbor Catering Company enough. If you want memorable food, great staff and a really collaborative planning experience, BHCC is an excellent choice.
Heather and her team did an incredible job. Not only was the food excellent, as expected, but the bar service was fantastic. We were particularly blown away by the presentation of the bar, dessert table, appetizers, table settings, etc. There we so many great details that make it clear that the team takes a lot of pride in their work! If you share your vision with Heather, she will make it happen! From a planning perspective, Heather was a huge value add as well. She calmly solved minor problems as they came up, and did a GREAT job of managing the itinerary and general flow of the party. We had a truly perfect weekend, and are SO glad we worked with the BHCC team.
Delicious!! We planned our wedding out of state, so we didnt get a chance to taste the food. Truthfully we were a little worried, but BHCC didnt disappoint! Every menu item we had was supreme. The staff at the reception were wonderful and friendly. Big shout out to Mandy who helped us every step of the way and made the process smooth.
Just wanted to give a big shout out to Bar Harbor Catering Company! I am a wedding planner (fern & flair weddings and events) and worked on my first wedding with them this past weekend. Meg was leading the event and did a fantastic job. Meg and the whole team were on top of everything. Helping put the final details together and fulfilling all of the wedding party and my requests. There is not one critique I would have for them. The performance and service seemed flawless. Not to mention the food was amazing. All the guests loved it including the vendors. Definitely one of the most professional companies I have had the opportunity to work with. They really went above and beyond going out of their way to add special service like bringing plates of appetizers on the trolley for the wedding party who had to go off to photos during cocktail hour. So thoughtful! Great job guys! Hope to work with you again in the near future!
Bar Harbor Catering is hands down the best caterer on MDI. I hired them for my July wedding this year and they were absolutely incredible! Our guests raved about the food and the overall service. They did a cocktail hour, plated dinner and late night food, and executed all of them perfectly. Also, our reception was outdoor and tented, and there was a torrential downpour that turned the ground into a total swamp - despite being up to their knees in mud, the staff was incredibly kind and patient the entire time. Mandy is a rockstar and was great to work with. She came up with special dishes for us, and worked around all of our menu and guest count changes graciously! Thank you BHCC!
We had used Bar Harbor Catering Company for our wedding in Maine over Memorial Day weekend this year due to rave reviews from our wedding location and online. Unfortunately, we were underwhelmed by the product that was delivered to our party. The best part of the service was the passed appetizers which we had during cocktail hour between our ceremony and the reception, those were a hit for everyone. After much back and forth between pricing and food options before our wedding, we had spent the time to make sure we had confirmed food selections for all of our guests, as we opted out of doing a buffet-style meal and instead did plated service. All of our guests had their proper food request shown on their cards, though the entire staff went around asking each of our guests what they wanted after serving an hour later than planned. It was not them confirming meal selections, but rather almost disregarding the work that had been put in. Additionally many guests said that they were not really impressed with the meat option that they had been served, while most enjoyed the chicken. Needless to say it was a minor setback on an overall amazing day for us. The staff was friendly and helpful but for the cost we were not that impressed. Additionally there are many things they will not provide including any cooking surface if cooked by the tent, despite the kitchen being very close. We ended up having to rent a lot of unanticipated cooking equipment.
We used BHCC for the Rehearsal Dinner, day-after Brunch and cocktail hour for our Wedding Reception. I was happy with the food (it was to die for!), the service for the rehearsal dinner and the drop off communications for the other events. Our guests raved about the food for all of the events, too! It really highlighted the 'Maine' feel in so many different ways. Mandy, was extremely helpful through the process, and I really enjoyed working with her. In the beginning stages of planning, I would've really liked a little more guidance and communication from Jennifer, but ultimately it all worked out. Again, the food is AMAZING. I highly recommend Bar Harbor Catering Company!
We are parents of the groom and Bar Harbor Catering did a Rehearsal/Welcome lobster bake for 180 people on a beach...not the easiest logistics...and it was spectacular. People are still talking about it. The food was wonderful, they were organized, creative and the staff was attentive. It was effortless on our part. I would use them again in a minute if I were doing something again in Maine
Jennifer and the entire staff at BHCC are extremely professional and efficient! They are very responsive and the staff on the day of were amazing. My reception dinner went so smoothly, and most importantly the food was delicious. I would highly recommend them if you are looking for a catering company.
Jennifer from BHCC and the whole staff were so easy and wonderful to work with. They really know how to coordinate and execute an event. We received so many compliments from our guests and really enjoyed working with them throughout the entire process. They are up for anything and make it so easy on the bride. Thanks again!
Definitely recommend Bar Harbor catering. They have a ton of 5 star reviews for a reason. We opted for a clam bake at our welcome dinner, and the fire pit smores were a hit with our guests. Wedding dinner was lobster rolls and low bush blueberry pies for dessert. Staff is prompt, professional, responsive and felt like friends.
Bar Harbor Catering Company is more than just food -- they are amazing at planning events and coordinating with other vendors. The service they provide is outstanding (we even had guests mention that our bartenders were awesome)! The food is unreal. We had guests asking if the passed appetizers were the main course because they were soooo good! I would highly recommend the BHCC for any event where you want top notch food and service to match!
Used Bar Harbor Catering for rehearsal dinner and for morning after the wedding family breakfast....staff for both occasions were wonderful and very professional. Food was excellent...we had gluten free, seafood, and vegan. I would use the again in a heart beat.
I wish there were more than 5 stars to give Jennifer Mandy and the entire Bar Harbor Catering Company crew. This amazing team made our dream celebration come true. They were so patient with all of our many detailed requests and they totally got and made a reality out of our outer island, field day, vegetarian wedding dream!!! I can not thank them all enough or recommend them more highly. They are a pleasure to work with and the food and professionalism are unmatched!
If you are planning a wedding in Bar Harbor you MUST hire Bar Harbor Catering Company as your catering company.
I contacted at least 5 caterers in the area and BHCC was hands down the most professional caterer in the whole process.
Jennifer helped us from the beginning to meet our budget while not sacrificing our wishes, quality of food or anything else.
Working with Jennifer and the team was a pleasure and they were so much more than just a catering company. We met with them the day before the wedding to talk through everything and the day of the whole BHCC team was almost like our day off wedding planner team. They set everything up, helped with the decoration and made everything look and feel perfect.
The food and service were outstanding and we are still getting compliments for that from our guests.
Bar Harbor Catering Company contributed a lot to making our day as special and perfect as it was for us! Thank you!
We worked with BHCC this past summer to plan our daughter's wedding and Wow! We couldn't have been more pleased with the service, the level of professionalism, the yumminess of the food. The entire planning and execution process was easeful and fun. They made it look easy.
Finding a caterer for my wedding was probably the thing that scared me the most when I was planning. My husband and I are both vegan, so we knew we'd want all vegan food at our wedding. However, we were planning from far away, so not being able to go to tastings or meet with caterers adds an extra challenge. BHHC went absolutely above and beyond to ensure our food was nothing short of spectacular. Jennifer was always very responsive to my likely obnoxious amount of questions and menu changes! On the day of, since it was a small affair, we were able to get the food dropped off and also borrow some warmers and trays. She even came and picked them up the next day. The food was absolutely delicious. I didn't have a single complaint about how anything turned out. I couldn't have been happier with the service we received and how accommodating they were with our somewhat unique request.
I was so pleased with my decision in hiring Bar Harbor Catering Company for my wedding! Their food was equisite and all my guests raved about it! The staff made me feel so special and I never had to worry about anything! I think one if my favorite parts was when they came down to where we were doing photos and delivered drinks and appetizers! So thoughtful <3
Bar Harbor Catering did such an amazing job; they catered to our needs and did everything in their power to make our requests become a reality! We had an elegant/glam wedding with Disney touches and Bar Harbor Catering went above and beyond with the Disney touches that I know our guests will be talking about literally FOREVER!!! Thank you VERY much!!!
Wonderful, amazing, delightful, funny, professional. THE Best !
Jennifer Wright & her team outdid themselves at my son's rehearsal dinner. The menu was a hit! The chicken in the waffle cone - we could not get over how yummy those were! Everybody wanted more.
Jennifer was a pleasure to work with from start to finish.
Being a 'local' up here on MDI, she knew her suppliers, the area, and most important - she knew the venue and the space she had to work with.
Jennifer - WOW ! Thank you !
Bar Harbor Catering, Mandy and crew are truly the best. The food and presentation were fabulous, and the staff and bartenders helped make sure we had a great time! They handled every request perfectly, including some very last minute tricky diet limitations - going the extra mile to go purchase fish in the middle of the event to make sure the guest was taken care of.
You will get knowledgeable, dedicated service and they think of every detail so you don't have to. Can't recommend them enough!
We were incredibly impressed with Mandy and Bar Harbor Catering through the entire process! Mandy made things so easy and she was always available through the entire wedding planning period. She worked really well with the venue and other vendors, and was really creative with presentation. Above all, the food was amazing!! We would very highly recommend Bar Harbor Catering!
The events person at our untraditional venue suggested looking into Bar Harbor Catering Company. She suggested it a few times. Despite having our minds made up to go with another vendor, we looked at BHCC's website. I'm so glad we did. Had we not, the full-service, blissfully worry-free, perfect wedding we had would never have taken place. The food was delicious. Unbelievably good. My last-minute "Ah, one of our vegetarians is a vegan," got yet another warm smile and a "We'll take care of it," and they did. Our cake was also baked by the amazing BHCC baker, and we opted not to save a layer, because we'll just order a cake next year...it was that good. But the exquisite food--while it's the best around--isn't what makes us adore BHCC beyond compare. It's the people. Mandy and Jennifer met us to discuss our menu, and we had a lovely meeting, and a very smooth menu working-out process. Then Jennifer took over, and she is already a legend in her field. The director of our venue was thrilled to see her, having worked with Jennifer a few years ago, and knowing her to be uber-capable and responsive. Anytime I had a question about anything, Jennifer answered it promptly and told me that's what she was there for. If you hire this catering company, they will set your new standard for full service. Event coordinating, dealing with nerves, solving any and every problem you might have before your wedding, providing the most excellent recommendations for other service providers...my wife and I will never be able to thank them enough. We also had a fairly small wedding--smaller than we thought, due to some family and medical issues, and we were certainly not a huge money maker for them. They never treated us as anything less than royalty. Food standouts: lobster rolls, bacon-wrapped scallops, blueberry/Brie bites, pollo al matton with risotto, steak frites, limonada, just everything.
There are not enough words to describe how amazing the entire staff at Bar Harbor Catering Company are!
We planned a small intimate wedding on Mount Desert Island at a private rental home and really wanted our food to be a highlight. Residing in NJ, we took a short weekend trip to Bar Harbor a year before our big day and met with Jennifer for some coffee and to go over our vision. She is one of the nicest individuals you will ever meet! Right away, she was on board with our ideas and excitedly jotted them all down. That just made us even happier with our decision to hire them. It's one thing to find a good catering company, it's another to find one that is genuinely EXCITED about your menu.
We continued communication throughout the year using emails and scheduled phone calls. Everything came together. A few days before the wedding, Jenn visited the site with her adorable dog and walked us through how everything would work. She even took a look at the table centerpieces and had the staff match the theme with their equipment the day of. Those are the details that make a wonderful vendor!
Day of was magical. The staff handles everything you may need.(Ceremony chair set up, table settings, etc) The food was unbelievably good. Even the personalized menu we asked for was beyond what we expected. Fresh lobsters, mussels, mini cuban sandwiches, etc. It was all so good. Our family was so impressed and kept saying how wonderful the staff was as well as the delicious food.
Jenn and staff did an exceptional job of making sure that we were taken care of first and foremost. We didn't need to worry about anything, which is exactly the way it should be.
Need a wedding cake!? Look no further than their baker on staff, Kirsten. We had this out of the box idea of having a lavender lemon honey CREPE cake as our wedding cake. We had never tasted one but, somehow felt fine taking a chance and having it on our big day. We are still having dreams of that cake a month later. Kirsten did such a great job with the cake and all of our guests (even the picky ones) had a piece. And, don't get us started talking about the blueberry pie!
During cleanup, the staff packaged up any left over food (and cake!) for us and stored it all in the fridge in the house. We had leftovers for the rest of our time there. Above and beyond what we expected.
So thank you Bar Harbor Catering Company for making our day so effortlessly special! You are the best at what you do and it shows in every way.
Bar Harbor Catering Company catered our daughter's small, intimate wedding reception in the VRBO that we rented on Mt. Desert Island. They were wonderful to work with and very accomodating. We changed our reception time three times, the last time change occurring the day before, and they were very willing to work with us. My daughter and her husband were an hour late for the scheduled dinner time as they got caught up in taking pictures and Jennifer and her team took it in stride. They were wonderful to work with and the food was excellent. We were so happy with the quality. Good food is very important to our family and we were not disappointed.
Mandy and her team were wonderful. I couldn't recommend them enough. From the start, Mandy worked with us to create a menu for our tight budget. Not only did she answer any of our catering questions, she even helped with the rentals (she reviewed everything and let us know exactly what we would need) and answered any questions we had about general things as well. On the day of the wedding, people would not stop commenting on how good the food was and how great the drinks were. And there was tons of it! (We had a buffet style dinner). Most of the wedding was DIY and after we had set up most of the decorations there was quite a lot left over. Mandy and her team did a wonderful job of using everything and incorporating little touches into the bar, cake table, cheese table etc. At one point during the speeches, one of the tables collapsed and Mandy's team was there immediately to replace spilled drinks and mop of the wine. I am not sure anyone even noticed! Her staff is great, very helpful and professional. They all made sure everything went smoothly and even helped to move tables out of the way for the dancing later on. I was so impressed and grateful to have Mandy be part of our day!
Contact
367 State Highway 3, PO Box 748, Bar Harbor, ME | Operates within a 1.5 hour driving radius from Bar Harbor
Bar Harbor Catering Company
Bar Harbor Catering Company's photos