A holiday party menu has to fit the room: the headcount, the venue, and the guests who don’t eat meat. Our holiday catering menu covers passed appetizers, grazing displays, Christmas buffets, plated dinners, chef-attended stations, desserts, and hosted bar packages. We’ve catered holiday parties across San Diego County since 1988, and every menu is built to your guest count and dietary needs.
If you are planning a San Diego Holiday Party, it is a safe bet that your guests will arrive hungry. After all, dining with friends, colleagues, and family is a big part of the holiday party experience. Nothing puts guests in a more festive mood than menus and beverages that bring out the flavors of the season. By having catering from an experienced and trusted company, it will elevate your event from normal to extraordinary. Bringing the meal front and center makes it part of the experience – one that your guests will surely remember.
As mentioned, the catering is likely what attendees will remember most! As they sit by a crackling fire, or laugh about highlights from the year, they need food and drinks to enliven the experience. Without an expert company in your corner, it makes planning your holiday party catering in San Diego much more cumbersome. If you are tasked with providing all the catering yourself, you won’t be able to relax and enjoy the party. Instead, you’ll be on your feet all night, running around and serving your participants. It leaves a lot to chance and puts quite a bit of burden on you.
As opposed to this, why not hire a San Diego Catering company known for creative and delicious holiday party menus? Our trusted team has everything you need to host an exceptional party. For example, we have special seasonal menus designed specifically around Christmas and holiday favorites. These chef creations are sure to please, and range from traditional dishes to fine dining. We also have comfort food for events that are more relaxed and less formal. There is truly something for everyone.
In addition to catering, we have a wide range of services to make your holiday party a success. From event rentals to bartending, we are your full service event solution. If you need a scenic location for your event, we even manage our own venues here in town! Also, if there’s something you find you need that we don’t provide, we may still have an answer. This is because we have a tight knit circle of partner vendors. These companies are well known and trusted within the industry, and we have worked with them for years. We have a partner vendor for almost any service type you can think of. So if you need anything for your holiday, be sure to ask! Chances are we will be able to help.
There’s a lot of variety when it comes to planning your holiday party menu. We offer you a sample menu to give you an idea of the kinds of catering we provide — but this is only the starting point!
If you have specific dietary requests or unique preferences, we’re happy to adjust our menus. Whether you’d like to feature seasonal favorites or family-inspired dishes, we can tailor everything to your guests’ tastes.
We love putting our own creative spin on time-tested classics. If you’d like inspiration or help deciding what works best, we’re always happy to share ideas and past favorites.
Choose between elegant seated dinners or festive buffet-style service — both designed to create the right atmosphere for your celebration.
Our plated entrées include Filet Mignon, Braised Short Ribs, and Pistachio Crusted Mahi Mahi. Buffet selections feature Butternut Squash Ravioli, Herb Roasted Turkey, and Chicken Marsala.
No matter your menu style, every dish is crafted with fresh, seasonal ingredients that capture the warmth and flavor of the holidays — with plenty of satisfying vegetarian options, too.
STEP 1
Consultation & Menu Planning
Every holiday menu starts with the basics: date, headcount, venue, and service style. We walk through the formats on this page, from passed bites and a Chef’s Market Table to a Christmas buffet or plated dinner, and narrow them to what fits your guests and budget. Dietary needs get settled here too, since every item on our menu is marked vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, or can be prepared vegan. You leave with a custom quote and a menu that sets the timeline and staffing plan.
STEP 2
Event Coordination & Setup
Once you approve the menu, we plan layout and logistics around your venue, whether that’s your office, a private home, or one of the venues we manage. Event rentals, staffing, and bar service all run through us, so you’re not coordinating separate vendors. Your dedicated event manager stays your one point of contact from the first call to the final headcount. Final pricing is set once your guest count is confirmed.
STEP 3
Holiday Party Service
On party day, our team sets up before your guests arrive. Passed bites go out during the cocktail hour, carving stations and flatbreads are prepared on-site, and dinner service follows the timeline you approved. The bar runs on the same schedule, from the first pour to the champagne toast. The party should be about your guests. The catering should run itself.
STEP 4
After the Party
When service ends, our team breaks down and clears the catering and bar areas. The same planning process carries into your next event, whether that’s next December’s party or a spring company event through our corporate catering. You start the next event already knowing how we work.
Our San Diego Catering Company serves San Diego County. So whether your event is at an office, a private residence, one of our managed venues, or your location of choice, we will be able to help with your catering and event production. We also have options for many different catering budgets. If you are looking for a preferred San Diego caterer for your next holiday party or outdoor catering event in San Diego, please reach out to our team!
Send the basics: your date, headcount, venue, and menu direction. We’ll respond within 1 to 2 business days. Prefer to talk it through? Call (858) 638-0672. The party should be about your guests. The catering should run itself.
Yes. Buffets and stations are built for large headcounts, and Chef’s Market Table add-ons are each sized for 50 guests. Flatbread stations cap at 100 guests because they’re fired on-site. For bigger events, see our holiday party catering services.
For an after-work office party, passed bites and a Chef’s Market Table keep people mingling without a sit-down meal. The Slider Bar and Street Taco Bar feed a full team without formal service. For a seated company dinner, go with the plated menu and a dual entrée. More options are on our corporate catering page.
Yes. Every item on our menu is marked vegetarian, gluten free, vegan, or can be prepared vegan. Vegan Paella, Baked Eggplant Stacks, and Chipotle Stuffed Peppers are full mains, not side dishes. For more info, see our specialty diet catering page.
A buffet includes 1 salad, 2 mains, and 2 sides, and guests serve themselves. A plated dinner includes 1 salad, 2 meat mains, 1 vegetarian main, and 1 side, served to each guest at the table. Buffets suit mingling crowds. Plated suits a formal company dinner. For more buffet menu ideas, read our guide to Christmas party buffet ideas.
Yes. Our Christmas catering service covers Christmas Eve and Christmas Day dinners, including drop-off and full-service options.
Yes. Our hosted bar packages run 4 hours of unlimited service with a champagne toast. We can also serve alcohol you provide. Details are on our bar services page.
Send us your date, headcount, venue, and the formats you’re considering. We’ll respond within 1 to 2 business days. Final pricing is set with your final guest count, and seafood is priced at market rate.
