Frequently Asked Questions

Corporate catering in San Francisco typically ranges from $45 to $250+ per person depending on the service style, menu complexity, and guest count. A standard corporate lunch buffet runs $45–$75 per person, while plated dinners with passed appetizers and full bar service range from $120–$250+ per person. Most of our corporate clients spend $75–$150 per person for premium full-service catering. Pricing includes food, service staff, setup, and breakdown. Sales tax (8.625%), a 10% service charge, and optional gratuity are added separately.

Wedding catering in the San Francisco Bay Area ranges from $100 to $350+ per person for full-service catering. A typical premium wedding dinner with passed appetizers, plated entree, dessert, and bar service runs $150–$250 per person. Factors that affect pricing include guest count, venue requirements, menu complexity, service style, bar package, and seasonal ingredient availability. Most weddings we cater fall in the $175–$225 per person range. We provide detailed proposals so there are no surprise costs.

We cater corporate events (product launches, team offsites, board dinners, holiday parties, investor meetings), private dinners (birthday celebrations, anniversary dinners, intimate gatherings), weddings and rehearsal dinners, large-scale galas and fundraisers, and tech company catering (daily office meals, hackathon catering, company retreats). We serve events from 20 to 1,000+ guests across San Francisco and the greater Bay Area. Our service styles include plated dinners, buffet stations, passed appetizers, family style, and custom station formats.

Full-service catering from High Touch includes: custom menu design and tasting (for events over $5,000), all food preparation using locally sourced seasonal ingredients, professional service staff (servers, bartenders, kitchen team), complete setup and breakdown, all serviceware (plates, flatware, glassware, linens), coordination with your venue for timing and logistics, on-site event captain, and post-event cleanup. Bar service, specialty rentals, and floral arrangements can be added. We handle all vendor coordination so you have a single point of contact.

Yes — dietary accommodation is central to how we operate. Every menu is built with dietary inclusivity from the start, not as an afterthought. We handle vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, kosher-style, halal, and complex multi-allergen requirements. For events with diverse dietary needs (common in San Francisco tech), we design menus where 60–80% of items are naturally inclusive, so guests with restrictions don't feel singled out. We label every dish with allergen information and train our service staff on ingredients and cross-contact protocols.

Yes, we provide full bar service including craft cocktails, wine pairings, beer, and non-alcoholic options. All bartenders are RBS-certified as required by California law. We can work with your preferred alcohol supplier or recommend trusted vendors. For events requiring a liquor license, we coordinate ABC permits. Bar packages range from hosted open bar to cash bar and consumption-based billing. We also design custom cocktail menus that complement your food selections.

Our booking process has four steps: (1) Submit a quote request through our website or email lena@hightouchcatering.ai with your event date, guest count, venue, and any preferences. (2) We send a custom proposal within 24–48 hours with menu options, pricing, and logistics plan. (3) Once approved, sign the service agreement and submit a 50% deposit to secure your date. (4) We coordinate all details leading up to the event — final guest count confirmed 5 business days before, and the remaining balance due 7 business days before the event.

For corporate events, book at least 3–4 weeks in advance for standard catering, and 6–8 weeks for large events (200+ guests) or peak season (September–December, May–June). Weddings should be booked 6–12 months in advance, especially for popular San Francisco venues like the Ferry Building, Palace of Fine Arts, or City Hall. Private dinners and intimate events can sometimes be accommodated with 1–2 weeks notice. The earlier you book, the more flexibility you have with menu customization.

Cancellations 30+ days before the event receive a full refund minus the non-refundable deposit. 14–30 days before, 50% of the total is retained. Less than 14 days, 100% is retained as ingredients are ordered, staff is confirmed, and other bookings have been declined. Date changes more than 30 days out incur no additional fees (subject to availability). Force majeure events receive full refunds including deposits. All cancellations must be submitted in writing to lena@hightouchcatering.ai.

We're based in San Francisco and serve the entire Bay Area: San Francisco (all neighborhoods and venues), Peninsula (Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Redwood City, San Mateo), South Bay (San Jose, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Cupertino), East Bay (Oakland, Berkeley, Walnut Creek), Marin County (Sausalito, Mill Valley, San Rafael), and Wine Country (Napa, Sonoma) for special events. Travel fees may apply for events outside San Francisco proper.

Three things set us apart: (1) Precision execution — we treat every event as mission-critical, with detailed logistics planning, backup protocols, and an on-site event captain. (2) Menu-first philosophy — we design menus around seasonal, locally sourced ingredients with built-in dietary inclusivity, not menus that treat allergies as exceptions. (3) Technology-driven operations — we use modern tools for proposal management, real-time communication, and logistics coordination, which means faster responses, fewer miscommunications, and better execution. We're a small, focused team that treats your event like it's the only one on our calendar.