In recent years, more and more companies have been migrating into downtown Milwaukee from the surrounding suburbs. While this allows them to take advantage of the city’s extensive urban workforce, it also means employers need to fight harder than ever to stay ahead of the competition.
From cheese curds and butter burgers to other Midwestern comfort food, bringing corporate catering from Milwaukee’s best restaurants into the workplace can create a more engaging atmosphere that increases employee participation, impresses clients, and makes important meetings run more smoothly.
That’s why we’ve put together a quick guide to help you plan excellent corporate catering for your next event. Keep reading to learn what to consider when planning and discover some of Milwaukee’s best catering options.
Before you start looking at vendor options, you should know exactly what your needs are. If you end up going with something that doesn’t fit, your event can quickly go downhill. Here are some things to keep in mind before you start looking at corporate catering providers:
There are a lot of different types of corporate event catering, so it’s important to select one that works with your office’s needs. Now that you know what you’re looking for, you can choose the catering format that best suits your event, helping you narrow down your catering provider options.
When planning corporate catering in Milwaukee, choosing the right partner is critical. Working with a third-party food provider allows you to bring great local restaurants into the workplace without the hassle. When considering your options, it’s important to look at what each one has to offer. A good partner will provide a reliable, delicious, and low-lift experience that appeals to employees’ tastes and values. As you make your decision, here are three things to look for.
In recent years, Milwaukee has made a concerted effort to make the city more eco-friendly. This is a unique aspect of the city’s culture that shouldn’t be dismissed. In fact, a Qualtrics survey found that employees who feel aligned with company values are less likely to say they’re considering looking for employment elsewhere. By putting visible effort into making your office more environmentally conscious, you can make your company one that employees are proud to be a part of.
While one of the easiest ways to practice sustainability is through workplace food, minimizing food waste in corporate catering can be difficult. Trying to order the right amount of food is often a guessing game, forcing you to choose between risking over ordering or risking running out early.
By working with a catering provider that prioritizes waste prevention, you can appeal to these values. Getting accurate headcounts, working with restaurants to determine the correct order volume, and relying on historical data can all help reduce corporate catering food waste, keeping your event practical, cost-effective, and sustainable.
Milwaukee employees are used to familiar comfort food and rich flavors. The city boasts a surprising amount of culinary variety, and employees are used to having plenty of meal options outside of work. While having catering at corporate events and meetings can help improve engagement and participation, you’ll quickly stop feeling this benefit if you continually cycle through the same spreads. To maintain appeal, keep things fresh with plenty of different cuisines, new vendors, and unique dishes.
While it’s important to maintain interest by switching up your catering options every time, working with new vendors can be a gamble. Their food needs to be high quality, travel well, and appeal to employees’ tastes.To avoid any risks, work with a third-party workplace food provider that has an existing network of restaurant partners. All of them should already be vetted for quality and reliability in order to provide an excellent corporate catering experience every time.
Corporate catering can elevate any event, but only if it’s executed well. If your food arrives late, is difficult to set up, or puts strain on your admin team, it can become disruptive rather than helpful. That’s why it’s so important to find a partner that prioritizes providing ongoing support and logistics management.
A good corporate catering partner will communicate with restaurants on your behalf while working with you to ensure that all your needs are met. They should be able to tailor the menu, catering format, order volume, and budget to your event without excessive oversight from your team.
In addition to planning, other aspects like delivery, setup, service (if needed), and cleanup should be taken care of for you. If your food arrives early, it will be cold which will disappoint your guests. If it shows up late, it will disrupt the flow of your event and create frustration. Your provider should have a reliable, streamlined delivery process that brings your food right on time.
Milwaukee is home to plenty of great local restaurants, and narrowing down your options can be overwhelming. To help you get a taste of what the city has to offer, we’ve curated a list of a few great options. They’re all part of Fooda’s restaurant network, making it easy to bring them into the office for your next corporate event.
Brim offers Mediterranean-inspired breakfast and lunch dishes with an elevated, modern twist. Their catering menu is expansive, with fresh-baked pastries, indulgent and health-conscious breakfast classics, flavorful appetizers, hearty salads, pastas, entrees, sides, and more. Their platters and boxes offer a more affordable option with artisanal, refreshingly unique sandwiches. They also have plenty of kosher, vegetarian, vegan, and nut-free options for inclusive dining.
Bring comfort and warmth to any event with Shawarma King’s traditional Middle Eastern catering trays. They have everything from savory appetizers like falafel and hummus to flavorful entrees like kabob and, of course, shawarma. For those looking for something a little more familiar, they also offer chicken wings, tenders, and nuggets. They can cater to practically any size event, making it an especially accommodating drop-off catering choice.
Located in the Milwaukee Public Market, Margarita Paradise was founded in 2009 and has been serving authentic taqueria-style cuisine ever since. They’re known for their commitment to quality and hospitality, and everything is handmade, including their chips. They have all the taqueria classics, alongside breakfast options perfect for early morning events. No matter what you order, it will be made with fresh ingredients and bold flavors.
Megawich specializes in innovative, high-protein sandwiches that include halal and vegetarian options. Their bread is all locally sourced, and their ingredients are always fresh. They have plenty of unique creations to choose from, including sandwiches filled with shrimp and hot dogs. If you’re not in the mood for a sandwich, they also have burgers, chicken tenders, and plenty of flavorful deep-fried sides.
With authentic Filipino cuisine, Cocina Filipina brings life and flavor to any event. Their menu has classic dishes like pancit, and longsilog alongside rice bowls, appetizers, desserts, and sides. If you’re looking for a more unique experience, you can order a Kamayan, which is a traditional, communal feast featuring a large selection of food served on banana leaves.
Fooda’s Corporate and Event Catering offers a unique, streamlined experience that’s highly customizable to each event. When you partner with us, dedicated catering coordinators work with you to understand exactly what you’re looking for. They’ll coordinate with partners in our extensive restaurant network to make your vision a reality.
We provide a consistently reliable experience that allows you to provide great catering every time without overwhelming your admin team.
To learn more about what Fooda can do for you, contact one of our experts today.
What food is Milwaukee known for?
Milwaukee is primarily known for its cheese, thanks to Wisconsin’s thriving dairy industry. Additionally, many Midwestern staples are heavily associated with the city, including cheese curds, frozen custard, butter burgers, and fried freshwater fish. Because these dishes have been part of Milwaukee’s culinary scene for so long, many restaurants have put new twists on them and fused them with other international cuisines.
How much does corporate catering cost in Milwaukee?
Total catering costs in Milwaukee depend on a number of factors, including catering type, headcount, and service fees. The best way to remain within your budget is to work with a catering provider that offers customizable solutions and transparent pricing.
How far in advance do I need to book corporate catering in Milwaukee?
This depends on what kind of catering you’re planning and how many mouths you have to feed. Larger orders require more lead time, while smaller orders can often be placed as soon as 24 hours in advance. Additionally, serviced formats often require you to book orders farther ahead of time, as they require more logistical planning. The best practice is to check with your provider weeks or even months in advance so you get what you need.
Can corporate caterers in Milwaukee accommodate dietary restrictions?
Yes. Many catering vendors provide gluten-free, vegan, vegetarian, halal, kosher, and allergy-conscious options. To meet everyone’s needs, take stock of the dietary restrictions in your office and make sure the catering vendor you choose can properly accommodate them. Working with a corporate food provider can help streamline this process.
What are the best catering options for large company events in Milwaukee?
While most catering formats can accommodate large groups, it’s still important to double check with vendors, as many have strict minimum and maximum order sizes. To simplify this process, work with a catering provider that already has a relationship with the restaurants and can communicate with them on your behalf.
