Catering By Design
About Catering By Design
Catering By Design
The purposeful manifestation of pairing food and design in every last detail of an event. The menu, décor, and facilities are all crafted specifically for each occasion. We know that every event comes with its own unique set of circumstances, parameters, and goals, etc. As such, each event is tailored to these ends. Each menu is carefully crafted, staff personally selected, and the décor artfully executed by our in-house floral and design studio, garnish. Our team has over 34 years of professional experience and can to transform any concept or idea into a reality.
Veteran event specialists who have years of experience planning momentous events, a culinary team who plates with care and precision, and an in-house floral and design studio. We also partner with exclusive historic venues throughout Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, namely ONE North Broad, The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Michener Art Museum, and Clothier Hall. All of these aspects bring your event to life!
Services
Services
- Bartenders
- Cleanup and breakdown
- Delivery and setup
- Rental coordination - directly invoice couple
- Serving staff
Cuisines
- African
- American
- BBQ
- Cajun
- Chinese
- Eastern European
- Farm-to-table
- French
- Fusion
- Greek
- Hawaiian
- Indian
- Italian
- Japanese
- Korean
- Latin American
- Mexican
- Middle Eastern
- Seafood
- Southern
- Southwestern
- Spanish
- Thai
Dietary accommodations
- Dairy-free
- Gluten-free
- Halal
- Kosher
- Nut-free
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
Meal types
- Breakfast/brunch
- Buffet
- Dessert service
- Family-style meal
- Food stations
- Passed appetizers
- Seated meal
- Stationary appetizers
- Wedding cake service
Beverage services
- Bartending
- Beverage servingware rentals
- Mixers/non-alcoholic options
- Provides liquor license
Drink types
- Beer
- Coffee service
- Liquor
- Non-alcoholic
- Signature cocktails
- Wine
Extra costs
- Administrative Fee
Reviews
Write a review4.6 out of 5
11 reviews
mitzvah party
everything was just amazing. got so many compliments on the food. fred of course knew what he was doing. would absolutely recommend this company again!
Response from vendor•Nov 24, 2025Hi Erica, Thank you so much for your kind words! Maddie's Bat Mitzvah was a wonderful evening, and we're so glad that we were a part of it! Have a great Thanksgiving! All the Best, CBD TeamThorough and detail oriented, plus delicious food.
Catering By Design was an absolute pleasure to work with for our wedding. From the start, the team was extremely responsive and detail-oriented, ensuring every aspect of the catering was carefully planned and executed. The food they provided was delicious, with a wide variety of interesting and creative menu options that our guests raved about. On the day of the wedding, the Catering By Design team seamlessly handled all the event timing and coordination, even working closely with our florist to move the ceremony flowers to the reception space. Their professionalism and attention to detail allowed us to fully enjoy our special day without having to worry about a single thing. We highly recommend Catering By Design for any couple planning their wedding!
Response from vendor•Nov 10, 2025Hi Karl, Thank you so much for your kind words! It truly means the world to us when we hear how thrilled our couples were. We wish you all the best in this next journey - Congratulations to the Newlyweds once more! All the Best, Catering By DesignExpensive, terrible coordinator, and frustrating
Honestly from beginning to end this was my biggest pain point for the wedding. It caused so much stress and I didn't even get the option to not have them. From the start, the menu options were never consistent. Alaina rarely could even find the "latest". She assured me, I would taste "the whole menu" at the shared tasting. That was a complete lie and I didn't get to try most of what I was interested in. I had to fight to get a partial private tasting in which they tried to charge 400 for but we didn't even get the full tasting. For months, I tried to get clarity on pricing per plate and overall cost. I NEVER got it, and they didn't send me an invoice for the meal until 3 business days before the wedding which was almost 10K higher that I expected. At the end of the day, the cost per plate was 350 but they didn't have enough apps! They didn't use the drink decor I paid for nor did they use the cocktail recipe for my signature cocktail. Then comes dessert. I have several conversations about how all desserts should be out. We even changed the floor plan to add another table. I presume I paid for that table but it wasn't there. Further, they didn't put out all the cookies. My family had to complain several times before anything was done. My aunt asked to try my wedding cake, CBD said no that I didn't want my wedding cake cut! This is WILD given the previous conversations. I would never recommend CBD. This vendor alone made wedding planning so stressful! Also, after giving 3 business days to pay the invoice, the followed up every day on the invoice. That is truly insane as it takes 3 business days to transfer money. Especially after asking for it for weeks with no invoice!
Response from vendor•Oct 28, 2025Dear Keara, We’re truly sorry to hear that your experience with us felt stressful — that is never the impression we wish to leave on any couple, especially on such a meaningful day. Your wedding was a beautiful celebration, and our entire team was honored to be part of it. We take every piece of feedback seriously and have reviewed your event details carefully with our staff. While we understand there were some frustrations around pricing and coordination, we did provide detailed pricing throughout the planning process, and the final total reflected the various additions made in the final weeks. We always aim for transparency and regret if the evolving details caused any confusion or concern. Regarding your menu and service points: our Bar Captain confirmed that your signature cocktail was prepared exactly to the recipe you provided. While it is certainly possible that a bartender may have inadvertently made a drink differently, none of them recollect it. We have photos showing your custom décor displayed with the drinks. Hopefully your photographer captured those details as well. Likewise, your dessert presentation included the 2 cookie tables and the separate wedding cake display table as planned. That said, we never want a client to feel unheard or unsupported. We’ll be using your feedback to ensure even greater clarity and communication moving forward — particularly when last-minute changes occur. We genuinely wish you and your family all the best in your new chapter together. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for allowing us to be part of your wedding day. Warm regards, The Catering By Design TeamDevelopment Associate
Catering by Design recently catered our Farm to Table Gala at Camphill Village Kimberton Hills, and we couldn't be more pleased! They were amazing, from start to finish, and people are still complimenting the food and their professionalism. I highly recommend their services!!
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