What Full Service Catering Includes

In New York City, hosting an event goes beyond the menu—it’s about delivering an entire experience. From the first conversation to the final cleared plate, full service catering encompasses a detailed, highly orchestrated process that takes stress off the host and brings the event to life with refinement. At Susan’s Kitchen Catering and Events, full service means more than food; it means flawless design, attentive staffing, and a tailored atmosphere that reflects your unique style and purpose.

Understanding what full service catering includes is essential for anyone planning a high-end event in the city. Whether it’s a corporate gathering in Midtown, a rooftop wedding in Brooklyn, or an intimate dinner party on the Upper West Side, the details matter—and they’re handled with precision. This guide walks through what full service catering typically covers, what sets it apart, and how we approach it differently at Susan’s Kitchen with a signature NYC touch.

What Is Full Service Catering?

Full service catering is a comprehensive solution that covers every aspect of event food and hospitality. It begins with conceptual planning and ends with a clean venue and satisfied guests. Unlike limited or drop-off catering, full service is about creating a seamless, full-circle experience that includes menu design, staff coordination, equipment rental, beverage service, and event-day execution.

At Susan’s Kitchen, our full service catering offering is built for clients who want elegance without micromanagement. It’s an ideal choice for hosts who expect their event to not just go smoothly—but to leave an impression. From the way hors d’oeuvres are passed to how tables are set and cleared, every detail is professionally managed by a team that understands luxury.

Menu Planning and Culinary Customization

Every event starts with food, but full service catering takes that a step further. It begins with a culinary consultation, where preferences, dietary needs, and event themes are translated into a personalized menu. This isn’t a pre-set list of options—it’s a bespoke process rooted in seasonal ingredients and curated flavors.

For clients who envision something sweet and memorable, our desserts catering options combine artistry with indulgence, perfect for a final course that feels celebratory. Others might lean into something more casual-yet-elevated like our gourmet sandwich trays and heroes by the foot, popular among corporate clients seeking crowd-pleasing sophistication. For wellness-focused events or summer rooftop gatherings, our grain bowl menu brings fresh, vibrant ingredients to the forefront.

Beyond aesthetics and taste, customization also means accommodating dietary needs seamlessly. Vegan, gluten-free, kosher-style, and allergen-conscious options are not afterthoughts—they’re integral to how we plan and present the experience.

Individual vs. Buffet-Style Catering Service

Another hallmark of full service catering is the flexibility to match the food service style to the tone of the event. For formal dinners or luxury launches, individually plated entrées offer sophistication, timing, and portion precision. Our individual entrée menu allows clients to select composed dishes that are both elegant and event-ready.

On the other hand, buffet-style setups bring a communal energy and are ideal for larger gatherings where variety is key. Our create-your-own salad bar offers a vibrant, interactive experience perfect for daytime events or wellness-themed receptions. For high-volume events with diverse preferences, we recommend our lunch buffet menu, which balances presentation with practicality, allowing for quick service without sacrificing quality.

In both cases, Susan’s Kitchen brings the same level of attention to plating, replenishment, and flow, ensuring guests experience a thoughtful culinary moment—not just a meal.

Hospitality Staffing: The Unsung Heroes

No matter how beautiful the food looks or how perfectly the space is designed, the people behind the scenes make or break an event. Full service catering includes a hand-selected team of hospitality professionals—chefs, servers, bartenders, captains, and coordinators—who manage the pace, tone, and hospitality of the entire event.

Our staffing packages are curated based on event scale, guest count, and service style. For private dinners, you may only need a small team to serve and pour. For large galas or corporate launches, multiple layers of staff work in tandem to ensure everything runs like clockwork. What distinguishes our team is not only training but a shared understanding of what upscale service looks and feels like in a New York setting.

Setup, Rentals, and Cleanup—Handled Seamlessly

What many hosts don’t see—but certainly feel—is the behind-the-scenes orchestration of setup and breakdown. Full service catering includes everything needed to physically transform a space: tables, linens, dishware, serving stations, lighting accents, and more. At Susan’s Kitchen, every setting is styled to match your theme and event goals, whether minimalist modern or richly detailed.

Guests walk into a fully realized environment, and after the final toast, everything is cleared with no trace left behind. For a more detailed breakdown of what this includes, see our guide on setup and cleanup expectations.

Full-Service Catering Is More Than Food—It’s Experience Design

The true value of full service catering lies in its ability to create a memorable experience, not just a meal. At Susan’s Kitchen, catering is integrated with event design, giving clients a unified approach to atmosphere, flow, and timing. We collaborate closely with each host to understand the intention behind the event and then craft a service plan to match.

This often includes coordinating with venues, managing vendor load-ins, syncing lighting with course pacing, and ensuring guests never wait or wonder what’s next. The result is an event that feels curated, effortless, and personal.