Catering servers eating and not cleaning during reception

I don’t think this is the norm. Our servers cleared tables, refilled drinks, and were in and out of our reception throughout our lunch service. If they ate, it wasn’t until after our meal was done.

I don't think this is the norm at all. Our servers are supposed to serve the buffet to guests, clear tables, re-fill water goblets, cut our cake for us and serve to guests after we do the first cut, and they are allowed to eat but they will be there for over 8 hours. I don't even think the servers are supposed to eat until after dinner when everyone else has already been served.

No, I don't think so. Before we hired our caterer, I stressed how important it was plates were cleared quickly after being done. They totally understood and said it was normal practice anyway. Our event is longer, so if they eat I'm fine with it as long as it's in the back and doesn't affect their service. I would right a review & email the manager to let them know your disappointment.

If it was on your contract that they would move dirty dishes and so forth, I would dispute the contract and get some sort of a refund. Nevertheless, that is highly unprofessional of a catering company to do something like that. Better start on those reviews.

No, this is not the norm and I would be highly upset. Our servers catered to our and our guests every need. They went above and beyond. I know they did eat (in the kitchen area, not by the guests) once the dinner was done and dancing had started. But they had cleared the tables and cleaned up any plates from view. They cleaned the venue spotless, even rinsed off all of the rental dishes before they put them back in the crates for return. They were amazing!

I would definitely bring that up with upper management so it does not keep happening!

I’d talk to them about getting a refund. That’s ridiculous.

Id call the company. That isn't right and you should get some sort of refund for the lack of service that you paid for.

I don't think this is the norm and I would definitely bring this up to the caterer. Super inappropriate. If I offer you food then sure you can eat...but otherwise that's just wrong.

I used to occasionally work events including weddings.
We would eat appetizer, that were hand passed, if there were extra sitting in the window getting cold but only if we had tried to serve them and no one wanted them all while the cooks were making more. And normally it wasn’t very much
Anything off the buffet we could not touch until the party was over and we were cleaning up.
For them to be eating off the buffet while you were still eating and the party going is highly inappropriate especially since they were not even doing their job! I would contact an owner/manager and let them know as well as leave a review.

I would definitely seek recompense for these huge problems

get your contract handy: if they don’t play ball I would definitely file in small claims against them

Get a refund!! And tell on them to the caterer so they can be FIRED. I would've lost my mind if I saw that. Leave a review also. We are essentially paying our servers/bartenders and hourly rate for our package through the venue so they better be doing what they are supposed to!

Thank you, ladies! I did speak with the manager about it and she said that the fee ($150 for two servers for 2 hrs) doesn't include busing the tables--that's an additional 18% of the food costs. In her words, "whoever told you that busing was included was wrong." It has been lie after lie with this caterer. I would be told one thing by one person then find out further down the road that it was totally false (for example, they do not cater to special dietary needs. Prior to paying the deposit, I was told they could definitely do that. This was something that was super important to me since my now husband and his sister are lactose intolerant and my brother in law and niece are severely gluten intolerant).

She did say the eating was not allowed and she would be discussing it with the director to decide on a course of action. She also said they will work to find a way to make it up to me. I haven't heard from her since so I'm giving her a week (since there is a major holiday this week haha) and if she doesn't contact me by then then I'll write my review.