About this vendor
Catering by Wickey is an upmarket catering business, operating out of York, PA, that services weddings and other landmark occasions. Owner Ernest Wickey Helmick has a true passion for catering and food. This highly experienced event professional emphasizes organic, locally-grown ingredients in the recipes behind your wedding dining.
Throughout his entire career, Ernest has strived to practice his culinary skills. He apprenticed in the kitchens of several high-end establishments and graduated from The Postilion School of Culinary Arts, Fond du Lac, WI. Having served state governors and numerous events, Ernest and his team in Catering by Wickey offer to prepare a meal worthy of your special celebration.
Wedding service with Catering by Wickey comes in a range of packages and menus. This experienced culinary team offers dishes from a variety of cuisines and styles, made with organically grown fruits, vegetables, and meats from local farmers. Additionally, this staff offers high-end rental selections and event planning services to enhance your celebration even more.
Details
Cuisine
- American
- BBQ
- Eastern European
- French
- Italian
- Mexican
Dietary Options
- Dairy Free
- Gluten Free
- Kosher
- Nut Free
- Organic
- Sugar Free
Food & Catering
- Buffet
- Catering Clean Up
- Catering Delivery & Setup
- Chef Stations
- Family Style
- Menu Tastings
Reviews
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3.8
out of 5.015 reviews
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They have filed bankruptcy, DO NOT BOOK.
Signed a contract and provided a $5000 deposit in August for my daughter's wedding next July. Received an email from Wickey on Nov 14 that he has closed his business. He stated he anticipated his attorney will be reaching out regarding the deposit but did not offer the attorney's name. I've attempted to call to gather that information but there has been no answer. I've found other reviews stating others are experiencing the same.
Stay away from Wickey's!!!! I had my Dad's 90th birthday party on 11/12/22. I worked with Wickey for weeks, finalized a contract, sent it with a $3000 check as directed in the contract. The check was cashed on 10/18/22. On 11/4, "Wickey" called me to inform me that he would not be catering my event (One week notice!!) and he will not be returning my $3,000. Ernest W. Helmick ("Wickey") is a thief.
We booked Catering by Wickey several months ago. Two weeks before our wedding (and on the day of my brother's funeral) we received a generic email that they were closing effective immediately. No mention of our $6000 deposit which we will need to hire a replacement caterer. They have been completely unresponsive and dodging our emails and phone calls ever since. We have not even heard from their lawyer.
I hired Catering by Wickey for my September 2022 wedding. I wanted to work with a company that made delicious, inventive food at a reasonable price. Wickey definitely covered all those bases! We had fun creating a personalized menu with Cliff, who also helped us make decisions about flatware, napkins, drink offerings, etc. that fit our vision and our budget. I felt we paid a very reasonable price, considering many competitors in the area were far more expensive for similar quality, or around the same price but much more informal than what we wanted. The food at the tasting, cocktail hour, and reception were all delicious. The staff was very timely and professional during our event. To provide some constructive criticism (and explain why I only gave 4/5 stars), I do think this company could improve their communication skills. After we booked them, a noticeable number of emails went unanswered; or, when they were answered, at times it took weeks, if not months, for them to do so. It was also difficult at times to reach Cliff by phone, particularly in the weeks leading up to the event. If other employees picked up, they seemed unable to meaningfully help us. I’m not sure if they’re just short staffed or if it’s an organizational issue, but this somewhat soured my experience with them. I know my messages were read as requests I only made in writing were fulfilled the day of the wedding, but I would have appreciated a simple acknowledgement or quick phone call. When we could get a hold of Cliff, he was extremely pleasant and apologetic, and he was excellent at his job otherwise. But this was an issue that potential clients should be aware of. (Photos by New Chapters Photography)
I'm not sure how many guests told us that this food was the best they ever had! even the venue workers commented on how great the food was done and set up! Our personal favorite was the oysters, which were amazing! We were very happy with Wickey as our caterer, Heather was always amazing and had a special lactose free plate for me!
Even though as the married couple we didn’t get to fully see the cocktail table (pics to come) our guests couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful crushing was! We did the chips and salsa bar and the charcuterie table for our cocktail hour and everyone enjoyed every bit of it, nothing left over! They were very flexible with time and even moved their arrival time up last minute per our coordinators request with no complaints at all. Definitely recommend them for any of your parties!!!
Wickey catering was very professional from the moment we started working with them. The food was fantastic and set up very nicely for the buffet. Our only complaint was that after confirming there would be no way there wouldn’t be enough food, 4 of our tables did not get potatoes as they ran out. We were most concerned because our head count ended up being almost 15 less than originally planned and there was still not enough. Other than that, I will say Heather was very sweet and great to work with! Very quick to answer questions and help in any way possible.
Amazing! Awesome food and service. So attentive to detail! Hire them!!
If I could, I'd give them seven stars. Heather was fantastic, the food was fantastic, everything was so much better than we could have ever expected. Watching them get into a small kitchen at the PA museum and get to work was clockwork.
They helped to develop a menu that fit into our vague "Central PA-theme without being PA Dutch" idea. They took all of our odd dietary restrictions into account and made kids' meals. They sourced us a popcorn machine, and provided us with bartenders who were great, from what I remember. The whole night was amazing. And all of this despite having to postpone our wedding for a year and a half.
I'd gladly use Wickey again, but I don't really plan on getting married a second time.
WICKEY is the best! Our guests said it was the best wedding food they have ever had - and I can say the same thing. We did a stations theme instead of buffet or served plates and it was amazing. They did custom stations based on what we wanted. Every single thing tasted absolutely incredible and so fresh. I will be using Wickey for every event for the rest of my life!
If you are looking for a delicious meal that will impress all your guests at a reasonable price, then look no further than Catering by Wickey! Kim and her team were great to work with and accommodated our dietary restrictions effortlessly (gluten and dairy free). The appetizers were plentiful and the served dinner of potato crusted leek chicken and brisket was delicious and a huge hit with our guests. The tableware was included in their catering packages and they rented all of linens on our behalf. Additionally, we found out that Catering by Wickey did my (the bride’s) parents’ wedding, which just goes to show that their professionalism is founded on years of experience. We really enjoyed working with them and highly recommend them! – Matt and Cecily
Kim was absolutely amazing throughout my entire planning process despite every curveball that was thrown our way. After an awful experience with a highly recommended catering company, I came to the Knot looking for caterers; Kim contacted me within an hour of requesting more information and was consistently available throughout the rest of my planning process. Her team made sure my day went off without any issues. I couldn't possibly ask for anything better and will recommend them to anyone I can!
I can't say enough about how great this team was to work with. Kim and Heather were awesome through the entire process. The food was exactly as we expected, and they made the tear down and set up look seamless. They did a fabulous job of sending us home with all the leftovers! They are doing my daughter's wedding in September and now I have no worries at all!
The crew at Wickey walked us through the whole process. They visited the venue with us and helped in multiple ways outside of food. Wickey also provided a wonderful plated meal for our wedding, and a great buffet style engagement dinner.
Contact
2135 Tall Oaks Lane, YORK, PA | Mid-Atlantic States ~ we deliver your event to you
Catering by Wickey
Catering by Wickey's photos