What should you ask a caterer for a corporate event?
Ask what the venue allows, then what the caterer needs from the room. Many venues limit outside caterers or require one from their own list, so check that before you start comparing menus. The best-rated come first on this page, and a second list continues it.
Which corporate caterers are highly rated in DC?
Open Fire Catering
What they do: Open-fire cooking experiences for events, using seasonal ingredients from local farmers, ranchers and watermen.
Best for: Events at a farm, a vineyard or a backyard, per their site
A friend of mine, and I recommend them.
DC Taste
What they do: DC caterer offering plated dinners, corporate breakfasts and luncheons, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, and weddings.
Best for: Corporate luncheons and plated dinners
Where: Washington, DC
Rating: 5.0 on Google, 32 reviews (checked Nov 2026).
Have Some Charisma
What they do: Boutique caterer and personal chef service with offices in Washington DC and Rockville MD.
Best for: Corporate lunch packages and boutique catering
Where: Washington, DC
Rating: 5.0 on Google, 153 reviews (checked Nov 2026).
CNF Catering
What they do: Full-service caterer and restaurant established in 1986 with catering packages for holiday parties, weddings and corporate events.
Best for: Corporate, law firm, association and nonprofit catering in downtown DC
Where: Washington, DC
Rating: 5.0 on Google, 24 reviews (fewer reviews) (checked Nov 2026).
Founding Farmers Co. Catering & Events
What they do: Catering and events arm of the Founding Farmers restaurant group, with corporate and wedding catering.
Best for: Working lunches, company parties and client meetings
Where: Washington, DC area
Rating: 5.0 on Google, 187 reviews (checked Nov 2026).
To Your Taste Catering
What they do: Award-winning catering company in Alexandria VA with weddings, corporate and special events.
Best for: Business breakfasts, lunches and corporate events
Where: Alexandria, VA
Rating: 5.0 on Google, 51 reviews (checked Nov 2026).
Key Ingredients Catering
What they do: Event caterer offering wedding, corporate and special event catering.
Best for: Corporate events
Where: Maryland
Rating: 4.9 on Google, 131 reviews (checked Nov 2026).
What questions should you ask before you book?
- Does the venue require its own caterer or an approved list?
- How do you handle dietary needs, and how far ahead do you need the count?
- What staff do you bring, and what do you need from the venue?
- What’s the plan if the guest count changes in the last week?
- Do you carry your own insurance and meet the venue’s requirements?
How does it show up in your event photos?
Food moments are photo moments: the carving station, the plated course, a toast. Tell me when the meal service starts and I’ll plan around it. Ask the caterer for the serving times so the photographer isn’t shooting a line at the buffet.
Should you double-check this?
Menus, ratings and venue rules change. Check each caterer’s own page, and confirm with your venue that the caterer you pick is allowed there.
Planning the photos?
See gala photography and networking event photography. For a second list, see more corporate caterers. For the venue side, see company holiday party photography.
