Park Avenue Catering

f were. Thank you, PAC!

ce I did most of the wedding planning, the hubby did all the reviewing! Read his comments below: Wedding food is never memorable. The task of preparing several different dishes for 100’s of people; the expectation that each person eats at relatively the same time; requesting that everyone’s food is hot, that salads are crisp, and that gluten free peanut allergy vegans are all taken care of… All of this is an impossible ask. So, most often, wedding guests walk away saying- “The chicken wasn’t bad,” “The fish looked okay, but they ran out before I could taste it.” And, for the most part, this is all okay… we don’t attend (nor organize) weddings for the food. Because of this, I didn’t have high hopes for the food at my own wedding. I wanted it to be affordable, I wanted steak, and I wanted the decision made quickly. My fiance (now wife) however, the foody, had different ideas. She imagined hors d'oeuvres that represented our favorite travel destinations and SF restaurants (mango sticky rice, crispy pork belly, Peruvian ceviche, etc.). She wanted our guests to chase down the caterers for seconds; she wanted the food delicious, hot, exciting, and a topic of conversation. For the entrees, she wanted melt-in-your-mouth steak, delicate flavorful fish, and vegetarian options that wouldn’t feel like an afterthought. We got all of this and more with Sharon! Sharon worked with us to perfectly curtail a wacky / gourmet menu that reflected our love for food, our love for international fun, and our very special relationship. Over a month later, I am still regretting that I didn’t eat more at the wedding. And over a month later, friends and family are still bringing up how great the food was. I hope Sharon’s still in business 13 years from now, so she can cater our kid’s bar-mitzvah!

ng, who was so nice and quick to respond to questions we had. The staff the night of the wedding went above and beyond. Our guests were raving about the service! The small details from Park Avenue made our day so special: They had a tray of wine for our guests as they left the ceremony; they placed hor d’ourves and champagne in the suite for my husband and I to enjoy; they kept everyone’s glass full through dinner; we did buffet style but Park Ave brought the bride & groom a place to the head table so we didn’t have to go through the buffet line; lastly, they sent us a tote with so many goodies, leftovers, and some of our leftover cake to enjoy the next day!

knew from that time that when I got married I would want Park Avenue Catering to be the caterer. The venue that my fiance and I originally chose had a list of exclusive caterers. We ended up having a tasting with two. The first one was not PAC; my fiance was impressed but I was waiting for our tasting with PAC that would follow in a few weeks because I knew their quality. Once we sat down with Janine in a private room for tastings that had great lighting and she poured us a glass of bubbles, we were already impressed. Tasting the food just had us blown away! Janine sat with us and chatted with us and described the food and if we weren’t sure about something, she knew their menu selections backwards and forwards and gave us great other selections. We actually ended up choosing some dishes without trying them! And we were not disappointed at all! We were met with a hiccup leading up to the wedding. The Tubbs fire in October unfortunately destroyed our original venue. During this time, not only did Janine reach out and check to see how we were doing but also to give us recommendations of other venues to reach out to. Once I had a list of new venues, I would stay in contact with Janine to let her know about what places we were looking at and if they could do the catering there. We ended up with Gloria Ferrer Vineyards. Since we had to change our venue, the logistical plans had to change as well. We opted to have our ceremony in the cave, move to the tasting room for the cocktail hour, back to the cave for our buffet dinner, and then back up to the tasting room for the reception & dancing. Janine worked with us seamlessly to make our back-and-forth plan work amazingly! The level of service that everyone at PAC offers is just amazing! JD was our captain for the night and often checked on us to see how we were doing. We opted for a buffet dinner but we wanted our meal plated so that while our guests were going through the buffet we could eat. The food was absolutely amazing and we got to take leftovers home with us! Looking back, I do not remember anything that did not go well! They are the utmost professional at all times and our guests are still saying how good the food was! If I ever need a caterer again in the future, Park Avenue Catering will be it! Venue: Gloria Ferrer Vineyards Wedding planner: Lindsey with Ooh La La Weddings & Events Caterer: Park Avenue Catering Florist: Floral Designs by Heather Hendrickson Photographer: Jennifer Bagwell Photography DJ: AMS Entertainment Transportation: Pure Luxury Transportation

the event planner who was an absolute pleasure throughout the entire process - he made what could have been a stressful time a calm and smooth experience. Park Ave. also offered a wide variety of options, so there's something for nearly any taste or event type. Our entire menu was perfectly prepared and we had many guests tell us later that it was the best wedding dinner (or nearly any dinner) that they've had. I would always go back to Park Avenue for our catering needs.

lower then what you actually get quoted. Not the professionalism I expected from a high end caterer for my large wedding.

hen we ended up having to reschedule our wedding due to the Wine Country wildfires. At the wedding, our day-of team, led by Carl, was amazing as well—they were so attentive and it seemed like they anticipated any question I would have before I even asked it! The actual taste of the food is most important, and we are thrilled that we were so pleased with our wedding food. The appetizers were AMAZING (the short rib spring roll and mushroom tart were incredible) and our family-style dinner was fabulous as well—highlights being the chicken with mushrooms and pancetta and the pesto pasta side dish. I know this is something everyone says, but we were told multiple times by our guests at the wedding and afterwards that it was the best wedding food they had ever had. Some of the small touches they provided was what made PAC so special. They served a warm cider/rum cocktail for us as a welcome cocktail, and it was a huge hit with everyone—our guests loved having their mugs topped off on the spot with some rum to kick off the ceremony. Immediately following the ceremony, they made sure to have entire trays of appetizers and drinks ready for the bridal party and ensured we were happy and fed! I made an unusual request to them to see if they'd be open to having me serve Taco Bell as a late night snack/surprise to my husband and they were totally game—the servers even brought the tacos around on silver trays which was unexpected and hilarious. They also boxed two full meals for us to enjoy the day after the wedding, which was such a nice touch as I was too nervous/distracted at the actual wedding to really take the time to enjoy the food. All that to say, PAC is amazing and I cannot recommend them enough!

pful, she answered all of our questions but also allowed us to enjoy the food, talk about what we might want differently and enjoy the company of our dads who helped us with the tastings. The food was also amazing, no surprise there! After selecting Park Avenue as our caterer, we worked closely with Stephanie to get everything just right. Again, she was beyond helpful and answered any questions we had even if it was outside of her scope. She helped set up a visit for us to go to Encore to select our linens and additional rentals. They were also super flexible when I had a major change to my diet last minute and helped work with me so I, and all my guests with allergies, could enjoy the meal as well. On the day of, I was even surprised that they had prepared gluten free and dairy free versions of the appetizers just for me! It was so thoughtful and it helped me feel like I wasn't missing out on anything!! We both really wanted the food to be amazing and Park Avenue Catering absolutely delivered! Everyone has commented on how amazing the food was, especially the Parmesan crusted chicken!! We highly recommend considering Park Avenue to cater your event! You will not be disappointed!

ite and beyond helpful! He treated us like gold the first time we went in for a tasting. Besides the food being honestly the best wedding food we’ve had, Anthony’s positive attitude and willingness to always help was the icing on top of the cake. Our budget was also really important and Anthony made sure to always keep that in mind for us. Choosing Park Avenue caterers was one of the best decisions we made with our wedding and we HIGHLY suggest if anyone is looking for a caterer to go with them!!

ng out some new food and cocktail recipes for us. My husband and I love food, so it was very important that the food at our wedding met a certain standard. Not only did Park Avenue meet that standard, but they surpassed it. So many of our guests said that the food was the best wedding food they ever had. Portions were also incredibly generous. Everyone left more than satisfied. The service was also impeccable. The staff was extremely courteous and professional. Glasses were always filled. The bar staff had our signature cocktails and champagne at the ready as soon as we got to cocktail hour. The hor d'ourves were appropriately circulated, and the food at dinner was hot for everyone. They even made sure to pack up some extra food and desserts for us to take away, knowing that we would be hungry later on. Stephanie and the rest of the PAC team were an absolute pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend them!

e things that was really important to me when planning. Turns out, I had nothing to worry about. It was amazing, and the staff present at our wedding were incredible professional. If there were any hiccups, I was kept blissfully unaware of them. We particularly loved working with Stephanie, who was our main point of contact and our captain at our wedding. It was so nice to have a familiar face at our wedding and she made sure things went off without a hitch. She was very responsive and flexible throughout our planning process. We were even sent home with a delicious goodie bag to snack on. Highly recommend working with PAC!

guests and took incredible care of my husband and me. Never without a beverage or food in our hands, he was often at our side taking care of our needs. I highly recommend Park Avenue for your Wedding or Event!!

and the mini desserts. Working with Janine was such a joy. She was so helpful and patient through the entire process.

a charming picnic for two. The service was stellar as was the planning team. Thank you!

nt off without a hitch. I highly recommend Park Avenue for any event!

ful about budget, and Sharon was willing to help suggest things that were not on the list. The tasting was fun to do and it was perfect time to work through some of the details all at once. In the end we ended up with mushroom tarts, sliders, beats with goat cheese, and bacon wrapped dates (this we asked to have changed to have bacon because we really wanted them and they were a hit). We were worried that we were not going to get the appetizers because of the pictures, which would have been a huge disappointment. But they brought us over a tray with some of each while we were doing pictures so that we did not miss out on anything. Not only were the appetizers delicious, but Sharon recommended a white sangria for the cocktail hour that went over great. The dinner was great too. The staff made sure we were well taken care of, I never had an empty glass and to my husband’s great pleasure he got an extra plate of steak. We did not do cake but opted for a cheese table, s’mores (there was a fire pit), and a small dessert table. Park Avenue does have preset cheese offerings, but I had some strong opinions on the cheese. They work with Cow Girl creamery so I was able to pick exactly what I wanted and they made the table look great, they also put together the s’more area for us. Overall Park Avenue was fantastic and I would highly recommend them.

detail along with us. PAC acted as more than just a caterer -- they were a hybrid between a planner, a rental company and a caterer, making sure everything was in order across the board. The food at the wedding was the best wedding food I've ever had (echoed by many guests), and the dinner service was downright magical. Choosing the caterer for your wedding day is a big decision, and I would make the same decision to go with PAC in a heartbeat.

catering staff. The food overall was great and our guests really enjoyed it. There was plenty of it. The packaged up dinner for the bride & groom was a nice treat to take home and be able to enjoy the meal again! We would highly recommend PAC!

at was a problem for me. The amount was added to the final cost without even a conversation with me. There was just an email letting me know that it was already done. This was an issue because it was incorrect to not only to do, but it was against my contract. The additional charge was added by Anthony due to the rental pick up time, which had already been discussed without any further charge. I felt as though PAC and their event rental company was trying to nickel and dime me at the last moment and that made me feel grimy. In the end Anthony fixed the problem, but not before a very angry email was sent his way. All in all like I said he was able to eradicate the issue. All in all the food was great, however I think that the planning side of things could really use some work. Somebody at PAC needs to cross the T's and dot the I's Edit: After posting my original review from PAC, I quickly received an email within about 48 hours of doing so, from Anthony at Park Avenue Catering. With that email I was basically asked to change my review as Anthony felt as though he did a good job. He was afraid that my bad review would lead future couples into thinking that "we don’t pay attention to the details." Which seems to be a common theme within Park Avenue Catering, throughout the negative reviews. Up until I was asked to what I only see as fabricate my review for PAC I decided to let everybody know about the company and their way of doing things. I understand that within this industry a bad review for a company can make or break somebody, however, being a company that changes/breaks contracts last minute and asks its clients to lie for the betterment of their company is not a company that I would want to be associated with again.

that weighed everyone down so they couldn't dance! They delivered with amazing flavors and creative ideas including a steak with chimichurri sauce, fish with a mango salsa, and different vegetable side dishes that were amazing. They were also incredible to work with throughout the whole process. Very accommodating and friendly. I am so glad we picked them to cater our wedding!

e them on board during the planning process. Justine was extremely responsive and was able to get a proposal to us within 24 hours of our first phone conversation. They were very accommodating with any menu changes or fluctuation in guest count, and were able to provide updated proposals quickly and efficiently. We were able to visit Sonoma during the winter to meet with our vendors and Park Avenue served us with our entire menu so that we could preview our wedding food before the big day. The chef, Bruce, took time to meet with us and discuss any menu changes and offer new suggestions. Food was the one area we were willing to spend on, considering we are both foodies and really enjoy eating out. But I felt that Park Avenue was completely reasonable compared to other caterers in the area. And you really can't beat the service. The presentation beautiful and the food was absolutely delicious! We are still getting compliments weeks after the wedding! They even pack a picnic basket with both entrees and some snacks to take home after the event. I really can't recommend these guys enough!

nd that did not go as we discussed. I paid a lot of money for these caterers and they didn't follow what I asked. To start off with, during cocktail hour, my husband and I were supposed to have a waiter by our sides since we were missing the entire cocktail hour for family pictures. This was a highlight of the caterers. The waiter offered us an appetizer once and then never showed his face again. We had to ask other people to get us drinks and hold them and we never tried the appetizers. We spent a long time choosing them as well and were extremely disappointed that we didn't get to try them. The next thing that bothered me was that we had an array of 3 spectacular desserts that we chose and never saw them. Only about 1/3 of our guests realized the desserts (other than cake) were available. No one announced or even told my husband and I that they were available and so we never got to try them. That was a real bummer because they won't make the desserts for the tasting so I had no idea how they turned out. I only saw pictures from the photographers of them. The third issue was the menu card. They designed one for us and I took their designed and customized it. I sent it to Janine and specifically said how it was supposed to look. She said no problem. The front and back card turned into 4 front and back cards the day of and looked a mess. She should have discussed it with me before hand if it was not going to fit on one card like I had asked. They looked very unprofessional and not classy as menu cards. Overall, the service was great and the food was as well. It definitely wasn't a bad experience, but my comments above left a sour taste in my mouth.

all our rentals as well so we were in contact quite a bit! Sharon was always there to honestly answer all my questions. When it came to the actual wedding the staff worked flawlessly! All my rentals came in without any issues. The food was delicious and the presentation was stunning! Everyone commented on how attentive the staff was, never leaving wine glasses empty and accommodating any requests. I cannot thank Park Ave enough for making my wedding perfect! Thank you, thank you, thank you. I obviously recommend Park Ave to all brides in the area :)

20 North-Easterners, and we were the destination. We were introduced to Justine via Trentadue Winery (our wedding venue), and to be candid, we fell in love with her. I literally emailed her boss to beg for her to be placed as the team captain the night of my wedding (which is usually randomly assigned). She is organized, creative, attentive, sweet, charming...I can go on...and she is a wealth of knowledge about wedding planning. And the food!!! It was heavenly and delicious. Everything was fresh and unique and exciting. The day was magical, and I can thank Justine for that!

ices were not totally overblown like a Paula Le Duc and the food is way better in my opinion.

many compliments on the food. Everyone absolutely loved it. The tri-tip was particularly popular among our guests. Even our vegetarian guests were boasting about the pasta and the veggies and assured us that they had more than enough food to eat. The staff was wonderful and treated us incredibly well. They even provided a sweet basket for us, the bride and the groom to take home that night. They also made sure that we ate first so that we could actually eat on our wedding.

y helped to create the most beautiful table settings, and menus for us that had a personal note on the back with such detail! In no way, shape, or form, does Park Avenue provide you with "typical wedding food" that taste like you're going to the prom. Their food was custom, and tasted like you were sitting in a small private restaurant having them cook right for you. They were able to do Family Style meals for each table as we wanted, and everyone loved their service. Park Avenue also created a custom bar service for us, creating a package that was unique to our event- and for that I will forever be thankful to the amount of time and effort that went into that. I will forever recommend Park Avenue to all of our friends and loved ones. If I had to chose a catering company a hundred times again, I'd pick to work with them each and every time. Thank you for going above and beyond, Park Avenue, to help make our wedding day custom and everything that we could have dreamed of. Love, Mr. and Mrs. William Robowski

ur tasting and were blown away with the quality of the food. Everything tasted amazing at that first meeting and we were pleasantly surprised to find that the food on the day of our wedding tasted just had we had expected, if not better. Throughout the day, and even after the wedding, we have received SO many compliments on the food. Everyone absolutely loved it. The tri-tip was particularly popular among our guests. Even our vegetarian guests were boasting about the pasta and the veggies and assured us that they had more than enough food to eat. The staff was wonderful and treated us incredibly well. They even provided a sweet basket for us, the bride and the groom to take home that night. They also made sure that we ate first so that we could actually eat on our wedding. Sharon was a dream to work with during the planning process. She was knowledgeable, organized and worked within our budget. We couldn't have asked for more.

. The only problem we had with them is that we had 3 entrees - beef, chicken, and shrimp, and the beef and chicken were supposed to be served with potatoes, and the shrimp with rice. On the day of, the beef was served with potatoes, and the chicken and shrimp with rice. All the food was delicious anyways, so everyone still got a good meal. Their workers on site that day were also amazing, super nice and helpful. I would strongly recommend them.

no elements to contend with, and every aspect of timing at your control - but would they be able to pull off the same feat for 100 people at an outdoor venue? I am pleased to say that Park Avenue was able to do so, with a resounding YES! We have nothing but praises to heap upon Janine and her team at Park Avenue Catering. From Day One, we were impressed with how knowledgeable, accessible, and responsive she was through the preliminary planning process, which was key in helping manage the additional stressors of planning a wedding in Sonoma from NYC. Janine was very willing to accomodate our requests and concerns, but always willing to make "strong" suggestions, knowing that certain recommendations would be WELL worth the few inches we might have had to budge (and yes, she was always right!). We settled on three passed hor d'oeuvres, of which the slider burger was our absolute favourite - the little punches of perfectly seasoned meat and grilled onions were a hit with everyone. For our buffet, we had a "Sharpe" salad served to our guests with a seated presentation (a better green salad than I've had at many proper sit-down restaurants!), followed by grilled trip til with merlot jus lie; pan-seared mahi with shiso ginger glaze and scallion butter; crispy mascarpone-polenta cakes; grilled market vegetables; and gigli past with artichokes and olives. From our first bite at the tasting, we knew that the tri tip was going to be a hit, but was just concerned that our guests would not be able to share the same brilliance when served at an outdoor buffet. I am extremely pleased to say, though, that there was not a problem with ANY of the dishes - we were so excited to bite into every course and savour the same level of excellence that we did at the tasting - amazing! Although to be fair, the mahi was EVER so slightly more dry than at the tasting, but it was still comparable to what I would expect to be served at a finer dining establishment (and still unquestionably far better than any fish dish I've had at any other wedding reception, buffet OR seated!) and yes, because the mahi was just THAT amazing at the tasting! The service by Janine's team was also top notch throughout the entire evening. Our guests all commented on how well cared for they felt; my bride and I were guided and personally served by one of the staff for our own meals; and even BEFORE that, the staff made special efforts to bring my bride and I a completely separate plate of hor d'oeuvres so that we would not miss out on ANYTHING during the entire day. After hearing horror stories of brides and grooms who barely got to eat anything during their entire wedding CLEARLY did not have someone like Park Avenue Catering at their side! Another brilliant touch was the parting basket that they prepared for us at the end of the night. JUST in case we didn't get to eat, they packed us an entire course, PLUS a lovely selection of crackers, cheese, fruits, desserts, AND our wedding cake! It included a personal note, AND a personal visit from Janine herself just to check in and see how everything was going. My wife and I were both absolutely blown away by the quality of both the food and the service which Janine and her t

perience they won't soon forget! Everyone was amazed at how fancy the food was served, how large the servings were, and what great cuisine it was! Park Ave staff was top-notch! I highly recommend!!!

e on-site manager from Park Ave was so sweet, very attentive and excellent at her job. We even got a lovely basket with a meal and some cake to take home! I can't recommend them enough - the price we paid was well worth it!

ad. A definite plus-- they are a very good value given the quality. Chaz did a great job at the tasting by the way.

ept everything moving according to the schedule. We received many complements from our guests on how personable and helpful the staff was. I would recommend Park ave to anyone!

menu to please our guests and even accommodated those with special food needs: kosher, gluten free, vegan, and severe allergies to oil and food additives. They're not the cheapest caterer, but price is fair, and the service was excellent, the staff professional and the company went above and beyond to make our day special. On our wedding day, we didn't really get a whole lot of time to eat. Clare and the PAC team put together the nicest gift basket of left overs, cake, brownies, fruit, cheese and crackers and flowers for us to take back to the hotel. When we got back to the hotel room, Mr Right and I ate dinner in bed and it was the best meal I've ever had in my entire life! I definitely recommend choosing Park Avenue Catering. You won't be disappointed :-)

I did not have a huge budget, they worked with me to create everything I wanted without losing the quality in service or product. The food itself was of the best quality and I received many compliments days and weeks after from people I talked with who attended my wedding. My personal favorite was the tri-tip. It was full of flavor and so tender it melted as I ate it. We had four stations of food, including desert, each with themes. The first was an “All-American” station with sliders, fries, and macaroni and cheese. Second was an “Asian” station with dim sum and Asian noodle salad. Third was a “California” station with the tri-tip and Avocado, grilled peaches and Gorgonzola. For the last station we had a gelato bar set up with lemon, chocolate peanut butter, and peach. Chaz worked with my wedding planners and florists to create exquisite displays so our food was not just sitting on table buffet style. The staff on site was exceptional and professional; they were all very friendly, helpful, and accommodating. They even hand delivered iced tea to my bridal party when we were sitting in the van getting ready to walk down the aisle. All I can say, Park Avenue is flexible, accommodating, and went FAR above my expectations.

time I tried to get a potato lollipop – the dish was empty and I swore it was just brought out! I’m still getting calls about how delish the shrimp and the won tons were and people were still craving them the next day! The soup was such a clever and wonderful addition as well! The dinners were so tasty, and the quality was spot on! The filet was so tender and the chicken and ravioli – mmmm. My favorite was…well – all of it! We have to especially thank Clare! She was awesome, and my mom said to thank her as well! She paid great attention to us and really made us feel special! The staff was great, and nobody’s glass was ever empty! Now that’s a great party!

a month after the event. In choosing a caterer, my mom was very particular about presentation, and Park Avenue Catering did not disappoint! The buffet display was beautiful and our wedding specialist, Chaz, made sure that the decor tied into our centerpieces and the rest of the look we were aiming for. He spent the time to really understand what we wanted, and went out of his way to execute it. The service that Chaz and the rest of the staff provided was above and beyond, and it was such a pleasure to work with them.

blems several months before the wedding--my initial contact at Park Avenue was Janine, and then Jamie took over, then Jamie stopped answering my emails (apparently because she no longer worked there). Eventually I was able to get back in contact with Janine and everything was smooth sailing from then on. Janine was quick to answer questions and explain things when we were confused. Park Avenue was very willing to work with us to accommodate some food allergies. I'm allergic to grapes, so we had to combine two separate menus to come up with a dish I could eat. They also plated three salads without grapes for me and two other family members, and cooked a separate meal for another relative who is allergic to onions. The food at the wedding was good--it was slightly less good than it had been at the tasting, but only the two of us even knew, and all the guests had nothing but good things to say about the food. (People are still talking about the curry shrimp appetizers, and the wedding was a month ago!) The service on the wedding day was spectacular! All of the staff was so friendly, and did a great job taking care of us. During the cocktail hour (after pictures were done, while we were waiting for people to be seated so we could be announced) one of the caterers brought us a tray of appetizers so we could have some too. Throughout the night, members of the catering staff kept bringing me water and cider, and made sure the groom and I got some of the cake (it's easy to get caught up in talking to guests and completely forget to eat or drink anything). When my matron of honor's husband had to leave early (to put their toddler to bed), she asked Mark if she could take some left over cake for him, and he obliged--complete with wrapping it up in foil and shaping it like a swan! Park Avenue even put together a basket for us to take when we left that night, complete with cheese, crackers, dessert, a bottle of cider, and our place cards and a copy of our menu as keepsakes!

run out of plates/glasses (people should be able to have a cocktail glass at an open bar on demand, same with a dinner plate for the stations).

g that we didn't get to eat much during the wedding itself. They are a good value for this area and the food is fantastic.

, veggie, pasta, tri tip, and chicken. It was sooooo yummy. All our guest enjoyed it very much. The downside was we went through four people throughout the year that were in charge of our event. It was very disappointing to hear over and over someone else would be helping us. In the end we worked with Chaz who was amazing. He helped by giving us great ideas for the place setting decor and he even threw in some things for free. I would recommend them to anyone:)

asked for.

. We received many compliments following our wedding on the quality and tastiness of the dishes served! The servers were wonderful as well!

event in the future and recommend them to absolutely anyone for any occasion.