Simple yet Delicious!
Chicagoland area
Travel area: Within 100 miles See details
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Gregory Chanthalusy
OWNER
Typically responds within 24h
AWARD WINNER (1X)
Thanks to recommendations from couples on The Knot
Catering Made Simple is a professional wedding catering company in Elgin, IL. Since 2013, these expert caterers have proudly served weddings and special events throughout Chicagoland, serving up delicious and unforgettable cuisine.
Greg Chanthalusy is the talented chef and founder of Catering Made Simple. After years of working in the restaurant industry, he decided to launch his own business and assembled a talented culinary crew. The team is dedicated to seamless service and excellent food, tailored to your specific tastes and preferences.
Before the big day, reach out to Greg and the team and describe your catering needs. Whether you're looking for Italian comfort food classics, succulent seafood, mouthwatering barbecue, or another kind of cuisine, Catering Made Simple has the expertise to make it happen. They're also happy to meet any dietary needs, to suit dairy-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan guests. With Catering Made Simple, you'll be able to simply relax and enjoy the meal with your nearest and dearest.
Details
Cuisine
American
BBQ
Chinese
Fusion
Greek
Hawaiian
Italian
Mexican
Middle Eastern
Seafood
Southern
Specialty
Dietary Options
Dairy Free
Gluten Free
Nut Free
Organic
Sugar Free
Vegan
Vegetarian
Food & Catering
Buffet
Catering Clean Up
Catering Delivery & Setup
Chef Stations
Family Style
Menu Tastings
Passed Appetizers
Seated Meal
Servers
Awards and Affiliations
Any questions?
Meet the team
Gregory Chanthalusy
Owner
Gregory Chanthalusy brings passion, creativity, and professionalism to every event. With over 15 years of industry experience, Gregory has built a reputation for delivering chef-inspired menus, seamless service, and unforgettable experiences.
He works closely with each client to bring their vision to life, whether it's a corporate event or a private celebration. Known for his attention to detail and dedication to quality, Gregory ensures every event is stress-free and memorable.
At Catering Made Simple, Gregory believes catering is more than food; it's about creating experiences that bring people together one plate at a time.
Reviews
4.7
out of 5.034 reviews
Your trust is our goal. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
Review Summary
This AI-generated summary is a snapshot of this vendor's ratings and feedback.
Catering Made Simple received overwhelmingly positive reviews for weddings, with reviewers praising the exceptional level of service, delicious food, and professional staff. Customers highlighted the attention to detail, seamless planning process, and responsiveness of the team, including Cari, in ensuring a memorable and flawless experience. The team exceeded expectations, with guests raving about the quality and presentation of the food, making it a highly recommended choice for couples seeking a caterer for their special day.Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
Taylor M
Highlighted review.
5.0
1/27/2025
Best caterer ever!!! If you're shopping for your wedding caterer, you've found your people! Greg, Cari and the Catering Made Simple team were so incredibly wonderful. From the intr...
oductory phone call, to the tasting, (even catering my birthday!) and then absolutely crushing our wedding day, we couldn't have been happier. They were so flexible and responsive, and the food was INCREDIBLE. They accommodated every request and personalization and made it all truly so simple. They were also respectful of our budget and helped us serve a great meal at an affordable price. They handled a 250-person plated meal, and everyone raved about how hot, delicious and quickly their meals were delivered. Multiple guests asked us for their contact afterwards and we were happy to share. Thank you CMS!
Kayi L
5.0
11/21/2025
We had a relaxed start to the planning process, but everything came together beautifully on the wedding day. The food was absolutely delicious, and our guests couldn’t stop raving ...
about it. In the end, the service and quality exceeded our expectations, and we’re so glad we chose them for our wedding.
Any questions?
Liza F
5.0
11/05/2025
Cari, Leah, Greg and rest of Catering Made Simple team not only made my wedding day the most beautiful, seamless, and memorable day. They went above and beyond to make sure that my...
husband and I were accommodated the whole time. My guests have been RAVING about the quality of food, service and hospitality they received.
My experience has been nothing short of excellent with CMS. Cari has been commutative since beginning of time, explained the process to me over and over without getting upset and calmed my nerves down when things got closer to our day. Her professionalism, responsiveness and compassion is beyond me. With all the negativity around her and the company both Cari and her team have been nothing short of incredible.
Everything that was communicated to CMS was not only done the way I imagined but way way way better. Their attention to detail is something beyond what I could imagine. I can tell they genuinely care about their customers and will go above and beyond.
If you want a wedding or any event where you want your guests to remember your day forever, Catering Made Simple will make a long and lasting impression not only with their delicious food, but great service, passion and quality.
Alex A
1.0
11/01/2025
Really disappointed with this company’s lack of communication. We received a fantastic quote, but when we followed up to schedule a tasting, we were ghosted with no explanation. We...
assumed our emails might be going to spam, so we called directly to try to connect. Upon answering, the gentleman on the phone immediately told us we’d receive a callback because he couldn’t open the quote PDF. I can understand why he would struggle to do so, when he hadn't even asked for the name of the event or ours to try and locate the correct document. Needless to say, we did not receive any calls back and decided to move on to a different, more reliable catering company. A very odd experience, and I can’t, in good faith, recommend them given the terrible communication. This was a truly disappointing end to things, as we had really liked the quote and menu diversity and had hoped to schedule a tasting.
Christina E
5.0
10/26/2025
Look no further for an amazing catering company. As our big day was less than a year out we knew food was one of the most important things for us. We mapped out exactly what we env...
isioned and spoke with the chef and even did an in home taste test. They exceeded our expectations, from day one till our big day. Thank you CMS
Alexandra K
5.0
10/25/2025
We hired Catering Made Simple for our wedding, and they completely exceeded every expectation. From the very first conversation, their professionalism, responsiveness, and attentio...
n to detail stood out. The team went above and beyond to make sure everything was perfect — from the beautifully presented dishes to the flawless service.
The food was incredible — fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. Every guest raved about it and still do to this very day! They perfectly balanced creativity and crowd-pleasing flavors, and the presentation was restaurant-quality. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely seemed to care about making our day special.
It’s rare to find a company that combines this level of quality, service, and passion. Catering Made Simple truly elevated our event and made it unforgettable. I can’t recommend them highly enough — if you’re looking for catering that impresses on every level, this is the team to call!
Anthony L
5.0
10/22/2025
The Catering Made Simple team did an amazing job with preparing our food selection for our wedding. This team is the most professional, detailed, and provided white glove services...
during the day! The food was delicious, and our guests were very pleased as well!
Briana H
1.0
9/30/2025
Catering Made Simple Full Transparent Review – BRIDE BEWARE: How This Vendor Nearly Ruined My Wedding (With Proof)
LONGER AND FULL REVIEW IS ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE FROM ME, OR ON ...
TIKTOK @BLURRYBUTBLOOMING:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BLwhwhgft/?mibextid=wwXIfr
If I could give zero stars, I would. Catering Made Simple was, without question, the most stressful, unprofessional, and disappointing vendor of my entire wedding. What makes it worse is that the owner chose coercion over accountability — attempting to pressure me into deleting my review before even agreeing to speak with me. That alone should tell you how they handle their mistakes.
I posted multiple public notices tagging them and gave them a deadline — Friday, September 26 at 12:00 PM — to reach out and make things right. Despite several attempts, they ignored every one.
Planning Failures: Our contract clearly stated a plated dinner, and I provided a detailed color-coded diagram with guest names, allergies, and meal choices weeks in advance. Despite this, staff insisted it was a buffet while we were lined up for our ceremony. I had to walk into the reception in my gown minutes before walking down the aisle to correct them. Because of their confusion and refusal to listen, our ceremony was delayed — critical time lost as we were already working around rain.
Execution Failures: We paid for full cake service, but utensils were missing, and flimsy tools from a décor box labeled “Do not use” were handed to us. Our cake, made by a close friend, was ruined when staff shoved a fragile custom topper — still in its frame — into the cake, splitting the top tier. One staff member even called it “cheap.” They also failed to provide the highboy table we paid for and placed our cake awkwardly in the back of the dessert table.
Guest Service Failures: Staff hovered over tables and repeatedly asked guests if they were finished. My own half-eaten meal was cleared while I was in the restroom, leaving me hungry at my own wedding. When I asked for water, I was escorted to the bar instead of being served.
Professionalism & Accountability: My coordinator was harassed to the point of tears, and staff even threatened to pull me aside during the reception to complain about her. The owner, Greg, was present all night, saw me address problems directly, and never once spoke to me or apologized. Instead, he posted defensive public comments and tried to coerce me into removing my review.
The only positive: the food was warm, tasty, and as expected from the tasting — but that’s where the good ends.
The impact on our wedding was significant:
• Our ceremony was delayed.
• My coordinator was harassed.
• Our cake — lovingly made by a friend — was ruined.
• Guests felt uncomfortable.
• I was left hungry.
• The owner refused to take responsibility.
To top it all off, I have since been blocked from a major Chicago wedding vendor group — likely due to a complaint from Catering Made Simple — instead of them engaging in constructive dialogue.
Catering Made Simple failed in planning, execution, professionalism, and accountability. They caused unnecessary stress and ruined key moments of a once-in-a-lifetime day — and then tried to silence me. Brides and grooms: do not risk your wedding on this company.
Melanie S
5.0
9/13/2025
If you are looking for a caterer in Chicago, look no further than Greg and his team at Catering Made Simple. I’ve trusted Greg with everything from professional meetings to one of ...
the most important family events of my life, and he has exceeded expectations every single time.
For business, he makes it easy. Whether it’s a quick breakfast meeting or a client lunch, he works with your budget and still delivers food that has people asking, “Who catered this?” His talent shows in the details, and I’ve even had friends in fine dining call his dishes “delicious” and “well executed.”
For personal occasions, there is no one I would trust more. Greg helped make our family gathering not only beautiful but meaningful. He created one of my dad’s favorite recipes, elevating it into something that honored him perfectly. The food was outstanding, the presentation gorgeous, and his staff were warm, professional, and genuinely caring. They went above and beyond to make the night unforgettable—we didn’t want the evening to end.
Greg can do it all: an intimate dinner at home, a business lunch that leaves an impression, or a white-glove wedding that feels like a dream. He’s incredibly talented, endlessly creative, and completely reliable. If you can dream it, he can make it happen.
I can say with full sincerity that Catering Made Simple is the only caterer I’ll ever recommend to call. Once you work with Greg, you’ll understand why.
Lucette H
5.0
9/10/2025
Cari was awesome! Flexibility with meeting our requirements. Event went smoothly, food was really good, and they were even kind enough to assist in decor set up! Couldn’t be happie...
r with the service.
Margie F
5.0
7/06/2025
Catering Made Simple did an amazing job with our wedding! We had multiple power outages at our event space (our home) and they ended up working in a very hot environment, and that ...
didn't deter them at all. Stellar service, unbelievable food, and even made sure we had custom meals for kiddos and allergy specific guests. Cari and Greg were top notch to work with, and made sure everything was what we dreamed! I would 100% recommend them to all friends and family, and will definitely use them again. Cannot praise them enough!
Christina E
5.0
6/13/2025
Cari and team were so accommodating and friendly for our wedding of 100. They were checking in with everyone, especially us, regularly and making sure we were comfortable (in my op...
inion, above just catering needs). We got so much food feedback about the food, and saw many people getting up for seconds and thirds. The setup was done beautifully, and after dinner they were so swift cleaning up.
Kamilla Z
5.0
5/31/2025
We are so grateful. The food was amazing, all the guests loved it and they still talk about it. The staff were awesome and extremely professional. Highly recommend!
Kate S
5.0
4/14/2025
Catering Made Simple truly lived up to their name. From the initial consultation, to the tasting, to the execution - the catering staff went above and beyond. All of our questions ...
were answered, the food was delicious (and our guests agreed!), and the service was outstanding. We would definitely recommend them!
Melissa B
5.0
1/10/2025
I can’t recommend this caterer enough. We did plated meals for roughly 200 people and I was nervous just because their kitchen was over an hour from our venue and was worried about...
how the food would travel. They over exceeded every expectation that I had. The appetizers were amazing and the dinner was out of this world. The portions were HUGE and everything was so delicious. The staff was so sweet and professional. Everything was set up perfectly and food was served according to our timeline. I really can’t put into words how happy I am with everything they provided. If you are on the fence about booking them, don’t be! :)
Sabrina B
4.0
1/04/2025
From our Wedding tasting to the wedding, food was GREAT! Carrie and her staff were great!
Amy L
5.0
11/02/2024
Everyone loved the food!! So delicious and they were so helpful and accommodating🖤
Audrey A
5.0
10/23/2024
They were very easy to work with. Cari was very accommodating to what we wanted for our wedding. We received so many compliments from our guests how delicious the beef Wellington a...
ppetizer was, the entrees of stuffed shells and the beef tenderloin carving station was amazing. I would highly recommend Catering Made Simple for anyone looking for high quality food, amazing service for the next event.
Austinn M
5.0
10/14/2024
It was all amazing. Catering Made Simple made sure everything was a 10/10 for us and our guests. Highly recommend their team for your catering needs!!
Dena E
5.0
8/16/2024
Very responsive and attentive vendor. We ended up changing our location and did not require the catering services, so unfortunately did not have the opportunity to work with them i...
n more detail.
Abigail D
5.0
8/04/2024
Catering made simple was an amazing vendor! I am a vegan and my husband and party was not , they went above and beyond to make sure I could have a yummy evening aswell. The waitsta...
ff was beyond attentive and always on thier feet. They fed all of our vendors and went above and beyond to communicate throughout the night. We could not be more happy with how the night went!
Rachel V
5.0
7/09/2024
We used Catering Made Simple to cater our wedding. Everything really was seamless with their help. Communication, menu selection and day of set up truly was easy with their help. H...
ands down best wait staff as well making sure my groom and I had the time of our lives and were well fed. Definitely did not go hungry! They did a great job, and I would definitely recommend their services. Thanks Cari! :)
Lana V
5.0
7/09/2024
Cari was amazing at helping is plan a menu and remind us of all the things we might be forgetting. She quickly scheduled our taste testing and sold us with the delicious food and ...
most importantly the confidence that we could trust them to do what they promise and help us relax
Antonia M
5.0
7/05/2024
I had the pleasure of working with Cari at Catering Made Simple. Cari was always available via text which was super convenient for me as a planning Bride. She was so sweet and easy...
to talk to. She said Catering Made Simple was EXACTLY what the name meant. I did not believe her at first but she was RIGHT! From the first consultation to the tasting (Amazing, btw), to the preparations right before (you ever thought about the way your napkins were folded? No? Well that was a question I got at the end. LOL, Roses, we picked Roses as our fold... floral themed wedding and everything), to the food and servers on the day of! 10/10 Delicious. Everything I could ask for. The quote from the guest was "You said you were having wedding food and we were scared, but your food was AMAZING." Vegetarian/Vegan/Allergy friendly.
Jake M
5.0
6/26/2024
Great food at a reasonable price. We booked Catering Made Simple for our wedding reception ~ 1 hour away from their kitchen and were blown away with the food and quality of service...
. In addition to the delicious appetizers, dinner and dessert, they provided bar service and coordinated all rentals needed for our reception. We had several people tell us it was the best food they’d ever had at a wedding. A truly amazing team that was easy to work with throughout the process.
Arianna S
5.0
5/04/2024
Mary Catherine is the absolute best person to work with!! She understands your needs and is able to fully accommodate! I’d trust her with any event!
Faith S
5.0
4/27/2024
We hired Catering Made Simple for our wedding, and it was absolutely one of our best decisions! Cari was so easy to work with, professional, quick to respond, and helped our weddin...
g day flow beautifully! Not only was the food so delicious, but having a full service caterer, who will take care of tables, chairs, rentals, setting up table decor, wedding cake and desserts, and working as a day of coordinator, was so helpful! And they did an amazing job! Plus the entire staff was super friendly and helpful!
Would 1000% hire them again and recommend to all my friends and family!
Dustin H
5.0
2/28/2024
Catering Made simple did an fantastic job for our big day. Great value for the menu we wanted. I am a very picky person due to the fact I've worked in food service my whole life. T...
hey excited all expectations left all the guests (including all my fellow chef friends). My wife DIYed all the decorations and they were a great help adding little things and making her vision come to life. I couldn't recommend them enough.
Kara S
5.0
7/22/2019
Greg and staff were absolutely amazing! We received many complaints from our guest on how good the food was. Everything was delicious, on time and done professionally. Greg even m...
ade sure that the bride and groom had a plate. We will certainly recommend Catering Made Simple to anyone looking for a Caterer. Definitely exceeded our expectations! Thank you!!
CAROLYN M
5.0
5/25/2017
Very, Very Good Service
Ellen H
5.0
5/25/2017
I attending a wedding in may of this year that was catered by Catering made Simple! The staff Mary M. And the crew were so professional . The food was absolutely wonderful . I wil...
l definitely recommend them to my friends and family to cater our next events!
Danette B
5.0
4/25/2017
We HIGHLY reccommend Catering Made Simple!! Greg was so helpful and kind and flexible and the food was wonderfully delicious and beautifully prepared and served!! His staff is pro...
fessional and friendly and so accommodating. They were truly a blessing~they serves our 76+ guests a beautiful plated meal. They took care of the entire event for us from set up to clean up! We were able to enjoy our guests! We give them 10 stars!
Julie F
5.0
1/25/2017
Everything was perfect! Our guests loved the food. Greg and staff were on time and very helpful . They made sure everything went right. Cannot say enough good things about them...
. They care about what they are doing and it shows! Thank you for making our wedding a success!
Nikki M
5.0
1/11/2017
I just wanted to start by giving the staff at Catering Made Simple a huge thumbs up!! From start to finish Greg and his crew took care of everything. As we all know, planning the r...
eception meal is daunting!! We could not have made a better choice.I couldn't ask for a better company to use for our wedding reception. The staff were very attentive and eager to help in any way that they could. They made everything so simple for my wife and I.
We were looking for a less expansive alternative to having a large banquet hall setting with huge per plate pricing. We decided to go with the team at Catering Made Simple after we did a tasting at their facility. The food was awesome!! From the tiny appetizers, to the main course
; everything was well made and full of flavor.. Not only did we save money, but the service was better than anything we could have expected. The filet & chicken were fantastic.
There was no question too small for Greg to handle. The team was very professional and I wouldn't hesitate to use them again in the future for another event!!
Thank you again Greg and Catering Made Simple for making our day absolutely PERFECT!!!!
Service area & Contact info
Chicagoland area
Typically included in the starting cost
Travel area: Within 100 miles
Additional charges may apply
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Catering Made Simple
Gregory Chanthalusy
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Owner
Typically responds within 24h
Wedding vendors in Elgin
Catering Made Simple
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