Gardens Restaurant and Catering

Gardens Catering did catering for my wedding in April at the Botanical Research Institute of Texas. I am really disappointed to be giving them 2 stars. The food, service, and display were all outstanding. We had tea sandwiches, cheese, fruit, and drinks for 200 people. The food was delicious and the display was very nice. They were also kind enough to pack up some of the extra for my husband and I to take home. However, we had a few major coordination issues with them. First, they let me know a few days before the wedding that they would need 20 feet of table space. I didn't think I had that much space, so I asked if they could use less. They agreed. As they began setting up, they grabbed the table for the bar. The BRIT got new table for the bar. They grabbed that one too. We were incredible lucky that the BRIT had additional tables handy and was able to accommodate the space. Secondly, there was an issue with the cups. I did not deal with this personally, so I can also say what I have heard from the parties that were involved. I forgot to pack the cups for the bar, which were furnished ourselves. My coordinator knew I had said I would pack cups, and was confused when she couldn't find them with the other bar accoutrements. She assumed that meant that the bar could use catering cups. The caterer said no. She went to look for some in the kitchen and saw some in a bag. The caterer told her that it was her bag. She offered to buy the cups for the bar and the caterer refused. My coordinator send one of our helpers to Target to get cups. When the wedding started, though, the cups had not yet arrived. I was told by my coordinator, bartender, and a few guests, that the caterer was very rude regarding this issue. Thirdly, they ran out of sandwiches well before the end of the reception, which was extra surprising, considering we had over a dozen week-of cancellations and were under our forecasted headcount. It was an afternoon reception so no one starved but it was still surprising. Finally, the BRIT has a very strict no-trash policy. Throwing away trash onsite would result in a $100 fee. In my initial communications with the Gardens, I checked that they would remove all trash. In my coordinator's email the Monday before the wedding, she reminded the Gardens about the trash policy. After the wedding, the Gardens removed only the catering trash and not the bar trash. When I inquired after the wedding about the issue, I was then informed that they would only remove trash related to their services and not the bar trash, since they had not furnished the bar. That would have been fine and I would have been able to make alternate arrangements for the bar trash had they informed me of that policy in advance. These four coordination and communication issues were enough that I wouldn't feel comfortable recommending Gardens to anyone. The food was great, but the extra stress isn't worth it especially on a day that is already logistically challenging enough.