Why We Don’t Allow Outside Catering And What We Recommend Instead

We get this question often, especially from clients planning cultural events, family celebrations, or those with a favorite restaurant in mind:
“Can we bring in our own food or an outside caterer?”
At Bonaventure Brewing Co., we are a full-service restaurant and event venue, and we handle all food and beverage in-house. We generally do not allow outside catering. That said, we always want our clients to understand the reason behind this policy and how we can still accommodate specific needs.
Here’s a breakdown of how it works, why we do it this way, and what we recommend for special situations.

Why We Don’t Allow Outside Catering

1. We Are a Full-Service Restaurant
We’re not just a venue, we’re an operating restaurant with an experienced kitchen staff, trained servers, and an event team that works together every day. That means we can provide fresh, high-quality meals, customized menus, and smooth coordination between our kitchen, service, and bar staff. We’re already fully set up to serve food at a high standard, which makes outside catering unnecessary and often disruptive.

2. Health and Safety Compliance
As a licensed and insured food establishment, we follow strict health department protocols. Outside food vendors may not meet the same standards, and we cannot guarantee proper food handling, storage, or service if food is brought in from elsewhere. To protect your guests (and your event), we need to ensure all food on-site meets safety standards.

3. Liability and Permitting
We are legally responsible for everything served at your event. Outside vendors would need to provide proper insurance, permits, and approvals, often including clearance from the hotel and local agencies. This adds risk and layers of coordination that can delay planning and create liability issues for everyone involved.

4. Onsite Staff and Timing
Our staff is trained to execute your event menu with proper timing and service. When outside food is brought in, it usually does not come with service staff. That creates confusion around who is setting up, monitoring, refreshing, and cleaning up the food. It can also disrupt the overall flow of your event if the food doesn’t arrive hot, or if no one is responsible for serving it.

5. Guest Experience
We’ve built our menus around real event needs. That means food that travels well between kitchen and buffet, stays warm outdoors, and pairs well with our bar packages. When our team manages everything together, your guests won’t experience long delays, missing items, or awkward transitions between food and drink.

But Isn’t Outside Food More Cost Friendly?
We understand that outside food can seem like a cheaper option, especially if you have a local favorite or are considering bringing in small bites from a restaurant. For some events, that feels like an easy way to save money.
But here’s what we want you to know:

• With us, you're not just paying for the food. You’re paying for setup, professional service, proper equipment, event coordination, cleanup, and a trained team that ensures everything flows smoothly from start to finish.
• Outside food usually doesn’t include service. So even if you bring in food from a restaurant, someone still has to unpack it, keep it warm, manage the table, answer guest questions, and clean it up after. That often means hiring additional staff or doing it yourself.
• There are hidden costs and stress points. From transportation and timing to food safety and presentation, outside catering can lead to more work and last-minute problems—even if the food itself costs less.

We’ve had clients bring in food from outside vendors in the past, and they often tell us later that it ended up being more stressful and not as affordable as it seemed once the logistics were added up.

When We Do Make Exceptions
We’re always willing to work with you when there’s a meaningful reason behind the request. In rare cases, we allow a limited outside food item under the following conditions:

• Cultural, religious, or dietary needs that cannot be met in-house
• The item is small-scale and supplemental, not replacing our full service
• It comes from a licensed provider and is approved in advance
• Proper liability, storage, and safety measures are in place

For example, we’ve had clients bring in ceremonial sweets, traditional bread, or a small family-made treat for display. In those cases, we’ll coordinate with you to ensure it fits safely into the event and doesn’t conflict with our team’s service.

What We Recommend Instead
1. Let Us Customize the Menu
Our chefs are flexible and experienced with a wide variety of dietary needs, cuisines, and presentation styles. If there’s a specific flavor profile, style, or dish you’re hoping to include, talk to us. We’ve created halal-friendly buffets, lighter wellness-focused meals, Latin and Asian-inspired menus, and much more. We’re happy to create something that feels like you.
2. Use Outside Food for Symbolic or Small Additions Only
If there’s a personal or cultural item you’d like to include, such as a family-made dessert or ceremonial dish, let us know. As long as it’s not replacing our core catering, we’ll often find a way to make it work respectfully and safely.
3. Feature a Signature Item Through Us
Sometimes we can replicate or reinterpret a favorite dish using our kitchen and staff. If there’s something sentimental or traditional you’d like to include, ask us, we may be able to feature a version of it as a passed app, display item, or plated course.

Still Have Questions?Let’s Talk
Our goal is always to make your event feel special, welcoming, and low-stress. If you’re not sure whether your food vision fits within our service structure, just reach out. We’re happy to talk through your ideas and give honest input on what works best.
We want every event to feel personal and memorable—and we’ll work with you to make that happen within the structure that keeps our events running smoothly for everyone involved.

Have more questions about food service, bar options, or customizing your event? Reach out any time, we’re happy to help!