The 5 Best Catering Services in Australia for Spreading Smiles One Plate at a Time
Planning a major gathering means you need reliable food service to keep your guests happy. And finding the best catering in Australia comes down to matching your menu expectations with the right culinary team.
You might be an event planner organising a corporate lunch in Sydney or coordinating a massive family barbecue in a farmhouse. Either way, a great caterer handles the pressure so you can actually enjoy the food.
To make your search easier, we’ve listed our trusted caterers in the city, so you can choose right away. Keep reading to meet them!
How much does catering cost in Australia?
Catering in Australia typically ranges from $15 to over $220 per person, with total event budgets usually falling between $4,000 and $15,000.
| Catering Format | Typical Cost (AUD per Person) |
| Corporate Office Drop-Offs | $15 – $40 |
| Casual Party Platters and Buffets | $30 – $70 |
| Food Trucks | $20 – $45 |
| Finger Foods and Canapés | $25 – $55 |
| Gourmet Shared Buffets | $55 – $75 |
| Plated Sit-Down Dinners | $90 – $220+ |
1. Australian Catering Services
Website: https://www.australiancatering.com.au/
Address: N11 The Hub, South Ring Road Nathan
Contact: 07 5302 4123
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Australian Catering Services brings award-winning quality to big occasions.
This is thanks to their Sleeman Sports Complex crew earning Queensland Venue Caterer of the Year at the 2022 Hostplus Restaurant & Catering Association Awards for Excellence.
Local event planners often rely on their kitchen for everything from hot conference buffets to formal plated dinners. Their chefs can also cook on site, serving up crisp pork belly and decadent dark chocolate mousse.
For early meetings, you can book morning tea platters filled with sweet bites.
Just keep in mind that function menus require a minimum food spend of $1,000. Once delivery and staffing costs are added, that minimum could push smaller gatherings beyond their planned budget.
Customer Reviews
Australian Catering Services absolutely delivered a wonderful service
Wonderful service, delicious food for my wedding of over 100 guests. Australian Catering Services absolutely delivered a wonderful service on my wedding day and Chris, Tess and the team are to be commended. I will definitely be using Australian Catering Services again.
- Amanda Diaz | Google Review
The food really is excellent
I have been fortunate over the years to experience Wok On catering at a few different functions. The food really is excellent, and the whole experience of the woks cooking in front of you creates a great atmosphere.
- Jayne Swanson | Google Review
2. Flavours Catering + Events
Website: https://www.flavourscatering.com.au/
Address: 23 Hotham Parade, Artarmon
Contact: 1300368605 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM | Saturday-Sunday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Serving great food feels even better when your booking also supports vulnerable locals through a charitable community partnership.
Flavours Catering + Events works with the Haymarket Foundation through their Meals That Matter program, providing fresh dishes to neighbours in need.
A client we spoke with who had them cater a birthday party last spring said their live Spanish paella station was a big hit, with guests lining up for seconds of smoky chorizo and chicken.
The menu also includes build-your-own burger bars and fresh sushi boxes for weekday lunches, giving you plenty of options for different events.
The main catch is the weekend minimum spend. It rises from $149 during the week to $500 on Sundays, making smaller, casual backyard gatherings harder to justify on weekends.
Customer Reviews
They had a huge range of menu items to choose from
We had the catering for a large event and found it to be a wonderful service. It was delivered on time, well packaged and all survived the travel. We like that the packing was very environmentally friendly and a lot that could be recycled. They had a huge range of menu items to choose from; sweet, savoury as well as gluten free, vegan and dairy free choices. The food was really tasty and enjoyed by guests.
- Sarah charles (Thewhereto) | Google Review
They have an excellent collection of food
We have been ordering from Flavours for all of our events. They have an excellent collection of food, cater to all your needs, very flexbile with last minute changes. The food tastes so good and the quantity is substantial. Highly recommend them for all your catering requirements.
- Kavita Thakur | Google Review
3. EatFirst
Website: https://www.eatfirst.com.au/
Address: 1 Denison Street North
Contact: 1300 851 900
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
Organising office lunches across different capital cities can quickly become an administrative headache.
EatFirst makes things easier with a national marketplace that connects you with more than 1,000 corporate caterers, plus 90-minute rush delivery for those last-minute boardroom meetings.
You can order everything from Vietnamese spring rolls and rich Thai curries to generous grazing boards packed with artisan cheeses.
Their supplier network also includes First Nations dishes and classic Italian pasta bakes, so there’s plenty of variety to choose from.
For serviced events, though, on-site staff require minimum shifts of up to four hours in New South Wales and Victoria. As a result, those staffing requirements can quickly increase the total cost for shorter afternoon gatherings.
Customer Reviews
It was a life saver for finding great catering in a new city
This was my first time using Order-In. It was a life saver for finding great catering in a new city. Instead of spending the time searching for a suitable cafe, close to our meeting, that was open on a Sunday… Order-In took care of this for me! Also very open to ensuring dietary requirements are met. Great support, I will definitely be using them again!
- Renae Lewis | Google Review
The team are responsive and super helpful
We’ve been delighted with EatFirst’s catering function and it’s ability to support our business provide client experiences. The team are responsive and super helpful – and always willing to find a solution when presented with curve balls! Looking forward to continuing to work with them!
- Emily Milton Smith | Google Review
4. The Catering Company
Website: https://thecateringcompany.com.au/
Address: 42 McLennan Drive, Kensington
Contact: 93725865 | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Eco-conscious hosts can enjoy sustainable catering without giving up rich, authentic flavours. With more than 38 years of experience, The Catering Company uses tree-free bamboo disposables and biodegradable wraps to help keep party waste low.
A client we spoke with who booked them for an anniversary dinner said their Abruzzo-style Italian buffet was a standout.
The slow-cooked porchetta and tender gnocchi were big favourites, and you can also add live oyster stations or hand-carved Parma ham spreads.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind, though. They don’t split invoices across departments, and all service crew require a four-hour minimum booking.
Customer Reviews
The service was faultless and the finger food was a massive hit with my guests
Excellent experience from start to finish with The Catering Company for my milestone birthday. Toni was wonderful to deal with during the organisation. Dominic and the team were fantastic on the night. The service was faultless and the finger food was a massive hit with my guests. Highly recommended and will definitely be using them again for future events.
- Tash Zampogna | Google Review
I would recommend them to anyone
Thank you to The Catering Company for looking after our catering for our sons 21st birthday From booking through to organising the menu it was fuss free. The whole team where outstanding nothing was an issue and they where always there to help and assist. I would recommend them to anyone the food was amazing.
- Rosina Cappola | Google Review
5. Vanilla Blue Catering & Events
Website: https://www.vanillablue.com.au/
Address: 29 Hotham Parade Artarmon
Contact: [email protected] | [email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday, 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM | Monday-Friday, 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM (Delivery) | Saturday, 7:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Delivery)
Punctual service can make or break an event, especially when hungry delegates are watching the clock. Vanilla Blue Catering & Events brings over 18 years of catering experience, with a strict on-time delivery guarantee to keep things running smoothly.
Their kitchen serves up mouth-watering options, from Peking duck pancakes and crisp arancini to warm teriyaki chicken platters. Morning tea is just as tempting, with freshly baked frittatas and buttery croissants.
However, their kitchens handle various ingredients in shared spaces, so they can’t guarantee an allergen-free environment for guests with severe or life-threatening allergies.
Last-minute changes can also get expensive, with cancellation fees increasing sharply within three days of your booking.
Customer Reviews
The presentation was beautiful and delivery was right on time
Highly recommended, I chose Vanilla Blue catering for my kids birthday party. Food was delicious, the presentation was beautiful and delivery was right on time. Special thanks to Katrina for making ordering process seamless🥰 …
- navjot kalra | Google Review
Great catering company!
Great catering company! We’ve been having tooo many events with Vanilla Blue, and it’s always been perfect!! Deliveries have been great and on time, food has been amazing!! You can’t go wrong with Vanilla blue!!!
- Karyn Zou | Google Review