Planning food and beverage service for an event is easier when you understand what your venue already provides. At The Arts Ballroom in Center City Philadelphia, our customizable catering packages bring food, beverage service, staffing, dining essentials, and setup into one planning conversation, helping you shape the format that fits your event. From plated dinners to cocktail focused gatherings, this approach gives you a clearer starting point for discussing service needs, guest expectations, room choices, and the overall flow of your celebration.
Customizable catering packages for Philadelphia events combine food, beverage service, staffing, dining essentials, setup, and breakdown into one coordinated plan. Packages can support plated dinners, cocktail receptions, hors d’oeuvres, dessert service, and open bars, with options adjusted around guest count, event format, room selection, and service needs.
Start With What Our Customizable Catering Package Includes
A catering package is about more than selecting food. With us, catering for food and beverage service is one of our venue inclusions, along with tables, chairs, linens, silverware, flatware, and glassware. We also provide full setup and breakdown service. These inclusions give you a practical starting point when planning the dining portion of your event. From there, we can discuss the type of service, guest count, room choice, and other details that fit the occasion. You can review specific package options through our pricing guide and with our venue team.
Look at the Food and Beverage Service Elements We Offer
We offer several service elements that can be part of the catering conversation. These include butlered hors d’oeuvres, attended cocktail stations, plated dinner service with white glove tableside service, a full dessert menu, and a top shelf open bar. Each format creates a different experience for guests. A plated dinner provides a structured dining schedule, while cocktail stations and hors d’oeuvres can support a more social style of gathering. When planning your event, these options can help guide the conversation about the food and beverage format that works for the occasion.
Understand the Staffing Behind Our Service
Food and beverage service also depends on the team supporting the event. Our staffing includes an executive chef, event specialist, maître d’, doormen, catering staff, captain, servers, bartenders, and waiters. We also staff one server per 10 guests and one bartender per 75 guests. These details give you a clearer picture of how we structure service when you are planning dinners, cocktail gatherings, corporate functions, galas, weddings, and social celebrations.
Match Catering Discussions to Your Event Format
Different events call for different approaches to food and beverage service. We host weddings, corporate functions, galas, and social celebrations, so we can shape the catering conversation around the purpose and schedule of your gathering. A corporate luncheon may place more emphasis on structured meal service, while a gala or social celebration may include cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, dinner, or dessert at different points in the event. Starting with the event format helps you discuss catering choices in a way that supports how you want guests to gather and interact.
Consider the Room Alongside the Catering Format
Room selection is another practical part of catering planning. Our Sylvania Room, located next to the Grand Ballroom, accommodates cocktail receptions of up to 300 guests and plated dinners of up to 100. It also features a backlit marble bar, making beverage service part of the room’s established character. Our Grand Ballroom accommodates cocktail events of up to 250 guests. We also offer exclusive use of our customizable 10,000 square foot venue, giving you multiple spaces to consider as you plan dining, drinks, and the overall flow of your Philadelphia event.
Conclusion
Customizable catering gives you a starting point for building food and beverage service around the type of event you are planning. At The Arts Ballroom, that conversation can include meal formats, cocktail service, staffing, dining essentials, room selection, and our other venue services. Request our pricing guide to explore the options available for your event, or book a tour to see our spaces and discuss your plans with our team.
FAQs
Can you support both seated and cocktail style catering formats?
Yes. We offer service elements for both styles, including plated dinner service, butlered hors d’oeuvres, attended cocktail stations, and an open bar. You can discuss the format that fits your event with our team when we review your plans together.
How does the event format affect catering planning?
The schedule and style of your gathering can influence the catering conversation. A formal dinner may focus on seated service, while a reception, gala, or networking event may place more emphasis on cocktails and hors d’oeuvres.
Are dining essentials provided for events at your venue?
Yes. Tables, chairs, linens, silverware, flatware, and glassware are among our venue inclusions. We also provide full setup and breakdown service, giving you several essential event elements accounted for from the beginning.
How can I learn more about your catering packages for my event?
Request our pricing guide for more information about event options. You can also book a tour or view our gallery before speaking with our team about your guest count, catering format, and room preferences.
