We chose Magpie to cater our wedding, and we could not have been happier. From the very start they were easy to work with and totally professional. One thing that made planning on our part tricky was that both my fiance and I had to do it long distance. Janel was our contact there, and we could tell right away that she knew what she was doing. She asked lots of questions that we hadn't thought of, and worked with us to create a custom menu that we wanted and would fit our budget. Working with her before the wedding was a breeze, and she was always available to answer questions.

Magpie does not supply the alcohol for their catered events, which was awesome for us, we went out to a local winery and bought a few cases of wine and their staff worked the bar. In addition to the wine we had beer and a couple of cocktails. Janel made suggestions on how much alcohol to buy based on the guests, and she was pretty good with the estimate (we went a little over, but better to have extra than not enough!).

The staff was awesome. Everybody was professionally dressed, helpful and willing to help wherever they could. The bartenders poured all night with the friendliness you would expect from your local pub bartender. We chose to have the food come out family style, and everything was delivered at the right pace and in sufficient proportions. In addition to taking care of the catering, we also rented our tables and chairs through Magpie, so they took care of the delivery, set up and take down of the tables. We had an outside wedding, and last minute there was wind issues, so we had to move the tables. They rolled with it and had them set up in a new location, no problem. Janel even helped with things that weren't part of her service package, like moving a mountain of cupcakes or tables that weren't out of her package.

Finally, what you hire a caterer for: The food. So good. We had Neiman Ranch Tri-tip and Petaluma chicken with roasted vegetables and black central valley rice pilaf. Our passed appetizers were Crab cakes and leek tarts, with a local cheese spread and crackers at a table. It was all delicious. Because we had the food plated and served family style, people felt happy to take as much or as little as they wanted. All of our guests loved the food, and there was plenty without being too much. For the vegetarians in the group the roasted vegetables and potatoes (which were delicious) were filling enough, and the fresh salad was awesome. They used local and organic ingredients for most of the meal, and it was well worth it. Magpie got the food on our tables for about $29 per person. That includes all the rentals, linens, flatware, drinks (non-alcoholic), appetizers, tables and chairs and the bar glasses

Working with this caterer was so easy, and their service and food was so good that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to any of my friends.

Our only regret about going with Magpie is that they don't have a restaurant so we can't go and eat their food anytime we want! Luckily there's been talk of opening up a cafe in Midtown, and when and if it happens, we will be one of the first ones at the door.

Our guests are still raving about the food at our wedding, and for good reason--it was absolutely delicious. From our first tasting, the food was fresh, innovative and knock-your-socks off delicious. Janel and Ed perfectly captured what we were going for in our menu, an barbeque picnic done up just right for an elegant and rustic setting, and they delivered it in spades. Their staff was wonderfully professional, and did an exemplary job on the day. Janel was great to work with as a coordinator, and her calm ease made for a wonderful energy during our planning process and on the day of.

A perfect caterer for foodies, and for those who are committed to green-friendly, sustainable, and locally based cooking, Magpie was top of the line. Even things that could have been throw away afterthoughts, like the lemonade and non-alcoholic sangria, were pitch perfect and truly exceptional.

Go with Magpie; they are well worth the cost and you won't regret it for a single second.

How I wish there were a way to separate my review for the market and cafe from the catering business.

If I were just rating the market and cafe for a casual lunch, they would get five stars easily. The food is delicious and quick and not overpriced.

However, the catering business I would give a zero. I contact edthe owner of Magpie last year with the intention of having her cater my wedding. All the reviews on yelp were so positive about the cafe, that I really wanted her to do the catering. Over the course of several months, we traded emails about the vision and price of the catering.

First of all, she was super non-responsive. There would be weeks and sometimes, months where I did not hear back from her - which is totally unacceptable given the amount of competition in catering and the amount of money involved. Second, she had a vision for what she wanted to do and was super rigid about it. If you are trying to save even a dollar per person, she has a preference for serving certain meals on paper plates and not doing passed appetizers and she let me know it - which I think is really tacky for a wedding, personally. Finally, and worst of all, her costs were obscene and she would not budge or work with me on the budget.

After months of frustration, I frankly gave up on Magpie and solicited the help of another highly regarded caterer. The experience could not have been more opposite. They were immediately responsive and so flexible to work with. Best of all, I am getting the wedding meal of my dreams for less than Magpie's paper plate dinner.