Benji CarterIf you love throwing a party or event, you know the food can totally make or break the vibe. Thankfully, Charlotte is packed with some awesome catering services that know how to wow a crowd!
Whether you’re after comfort food classics or creative bites that’ll get everyone talking, there’s something here for every taste and budget. And the good news is, we’ve rounded up Charlotte’s best catering services that’ll load up your event with delicious bites.
Now, instead of stressing about the menu, check out our list below!
How much does hiring a catering service in Charlotte cost?
In Charlotte, catering services typically cost between $10 and $50 per person for most events, with drop-off options starting at $10 to $25 per person and buffet or plated meals ranging from $25 to $85 per person.This price range still depends on the menu and service style. Now, if you’re planning a wedding, expect catering expenses for 100 guests to fall between $4,000 and $8,500.
1. ROOTS Catering | Charlotte Catering & Events
Address: 3410 St Vardell Ln., D
Phone: +1 980 277 2726
Business Hours:
- Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday – 9 AM to 5 PM
- Wednesday – 8 AM to 5 PM
Roots Catering leans into local flavours, and their menu isn’t just one-size-fits-all—it’s more like, “How can we make this perfect for you and your guests?”
We loved seeing their buffet spreads, platters, and even boxed lunches, all with the option of a totally custom menu. This is a huge benefit in the era of dietary restrictions!
Guests we spoke with highlighted the station-style service (great for mingling) and the way Roots staff went out of their way to make sure everyone was happy.
Their bartending and custom cocktail services are a nice touch, too, especially if the goal is a seamless, hassle-free event. It doesn’t end there, though, since the team offers so much more than food.
We found out that they can also handle venue hunting, vendor connections, rental coordination, and all those little details most people dread setting up!
The only gripe we heard was that Roots sometimes pushes clients to add more waitstaff than expected, which can be frustrating.
Exceptional service
“We had the absolute best experience working with Roots catering for our wedding! From start to finish, Alyssa went above and beyond. She was incredibly attentive, made us feel taken care of, and worked with us to create a menu that felt so personal and unique to our day. The food was beyond amazing. We are still hearing from our guests about how delicious everything was! The short rib and salmon in particular were out of this world and left such an impression. We couldn’t be more grateful for the care, professionalism, and incredible service they brought to our wedding. Highly recommend!!”
Faith Jarek, Google Review
Helpful planning
“I recently used Roots catering for my daughter’s baby shower and couldn’t have been more pleased. Olivia was incredibly easy to work with. She gave wonderful suggestions, and I never felt like my questions went unanswered throughout the process. The staff was fantastic, providing a lovely presentation of the food and even neatly boxing up the leftovers when the event was over. Thanks so much for the delicious meal and for helping to make the shower such a special day.”
Jennifer Rothermel, Google Review
2. QC Catering
Address: 601 Calvert St.
Phone: +1 704 305 7778
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:30 AM to 5 PM
QC Catering takes “we start with yes” pretty seriously, and it shows from the planning process all the way to plate presentation.
With over 15,000 drop-offs, stacks of full-service events, and hundreds of weddings under their belts, it’s obvious they run a tight ship and love what they do.
Their state-of-the-art kitchen and logistics team mean food arrives fresh and on time. Plus, their range of service (from fuss-free drop-offs to full-blown staffed stations) makes hosting events here a breeze.
In fact, we had fun messing with their menu builder and loved how many cuisines and dietary things they cover, so whether someone’s looking for vegan, kosher, or gluten-free, no one’s left out.
Service-wise, everyone seemed not just on-the-ball but actually happy to help, which goes a long way when events get stressful or plans change at the last minute.
That being said, a couple of folks we swapped stories with wished the servings were bigger for the price. You may want to account for portion sizes when planning your budget.
Thoughtful service
“We used QC Catering for our wedding day, and they were incredible. It’s been a few months since our wedding and we still have guests talking about the food. Everything was beautifully displayed, and the team was so kind, professional, and accommodating. The tasting was also a lot of fun, we felt like they took the time to help us figure out every detail. We loved that there were a variety of options for guests with dietary preferences and restrictions. Hands-down the best food at a wedding I’ve ever had. Such an unforgettable part of our day!”
Maye Stevens Weigle, Google Review
Seamless planning
“We used QC Catering for our company holiday party. Chloe McCann was an absolute dream to work with! She was responsive and accommodating even though we werent the easiest clients. Everyone on the QC team was amazing to work with and the food is delicious (dessert bar and late night bites are a must). All around incredible and easy process with them. Highly recommend.”
Satoria C, Google Review
3. Tin Kitchen Catering
Address: Serving North Carolina and nearby areas
Phone: +1 704 750 0477
Business Hours:
- Open 24 hours
Tin Kitchen kicked things off back in 2010—just a humble truck and a ton of ambition. These days, Tin Kitchen has evolved into a full-service catering crew that still keeps things fun, whether it’s just an office lunch drop-off or a full-blown wedding!
Their menus are a real standout: they pull in flavours from all over the globe, then mix them with familiar Southern classics and fresh, seasonal finds. We noticed that customization is a big deal for their team!
Past clients backed this up, raving about how accommodating Tin Kitchen is with everything from dietary tweaks to making the bar setup as easy as possible. Speaking of the bar, yes, they can handle cocktails, too—TIPS-certified bartenders and all!
Another thing we noticed is just how transparent and collaborative their whole process feels, from the first email to clean-up.
The only downside we kept hearing? It’s the high demand. People love them, so snagging your preferred date can take some planning.
Creative bar service
“Excellent food, friendly staff, and fantastic service and it made our wedding truly special. Their mixologist gave us 60 minutes and we were able to craft a perfect drink menu. They even incorporated pictures of our dogs on the menu! Everyone loved the drinks and signature cocktails. Having good service was such a concern for us and they truly delivered.”
James Burns, Google Review
Outstanding cuisine
“Diana was so extremely kind and helpful. We catered our wedding with Tin Kitchen and the amount of feedback about our food was incredible! I have been to many weddings with average food and I can gladly say ours was WAY above average. Everyone was talking about the delicious short ribs, mashed potatoes and the yummy seasoned veggies. We could not have asked for better! Thank you Tin Kitchen!”
Anna Grace Williams, Google Review
4. Plate Perfect Catering
Address: 601 S Kings Dr AA
Phone: +1 704 343 0155
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 9 AM to 5 PM
Plate Perfect Catering has a huge crew—over fifty chefs, event specialists, and hospitality pros! This only means that whatever event is being planned, they’ve got the resources and experience to pull it off smoothly.
Whether it’s a wedding, an office party, or a social get-together, they cover all the bases with flexible options. Clients can go for full-service catering, or stick with simple delivery if that’s more the vibe.
One thing that stands out with them is how versatile their chefs are. Sure, they’ve got classics like Italian, Mediterranean, and Tex-Mex down to an art, but if something custom is desired, we’ve heard they love collaborating to make something unique!
Plus, they handle a lot more than food! Previous clients have told us how helpful it was having Plate Perfect manage things like staffing, venue selection, and even decor.
The only thing we’d wish for is sample menus provided up front for easily comparing options.
Delicious wedding menu
“Perfect Plate catered my daughter’s wedding in September at Camelot Meadows. The food was delicious — Mama Ricotta’s Penne ala vodka, salad, pasta primavera and cheesecake brownies. Loved it all. Thanks so much for being part of her special day. We had so many compliments about the food.”
Patti Jacobs, Google Review
Great service
“You just can’t go wrong with Mama Ricottas! Delicious pasta, bread, and appetizers, bountiful plate sizes, and brownies that were to die for. Their team was extremely professional for our wedding day, and were also kind and fun!Accommodating to our gluten free family members was also extremely meaningful to us. If you cater with the Plate Perfect team, you’ll definitely get your fill!”
Logan Johnson, Google Review
5. La-tea-da’s Catering & Events
Address: 3401 Commonwealth Ave.
Phone: +1 704 338 6864
Business Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8:30 AM to 5 PM
La-tea-da’s Catering & Events has been around since 1990, when they started as a cozy antique store that served tea and coffee. Then slowly, they transformed into a full-service caterer for every imaginable event!
What sets them apart is their genuine flexibility and involvement. From handling intimate garden weddings to those mega corporate galas, and everything in between, they’re all in.
Foodwise, it’s not just the crowd-pleasing Southern classics; they offer everything from Cajun and Asian flavours to Italian and local Charlotte favourites. We love that they’re super accommodating for folks with dietary restrictions as well.
We can’t help but give a shoutout to their transparent approach to event planning, especially with their easy-to-navigate list of venue partners. Many clients agreed with us that this makes location sourcing a breeze.
The only hiccup we ran into was some spotty phone communication—definitely something they could sharpen up.
Attentive planning
“Amazing! LaTeaDa’s Catering absolutely hits it out of the park every single time. This catering company will listen to your vision and your budget. The food is so good. I don’t think I have ever had anything that wasn’t delicious. I think the main thing I loved is how they listened and offered solutions when our budget was an issue. Impeccable service. And they truly do pay attention to the details. I would use them and recommend them 1,000 times over.”
Shannon Routh, Google Review
Memorable service
“Janet was amazing to work with! She and her team did a tremendous job in planning for the event and executing it on the day of the wedding to make our daughter’s wedding reception an event she and her husband will always remember. The food was delicious with some guests saying it was the best food they’ve tasted…ever. And the service, hospitality, and courteousness of the staff was unparalleled. We would recommend La-tea-da for any event and would give them six stars if we could.”
Brian Storey, Google Review
