Catering Services

University Catering

University Catering is dedicated to providing the highest quality service to the faculty, staff, students, and guests of the University of Connecticut. Our services include served meals, buffet meals, receptions, coffee breaks, picnics and a la carte menu planning. Convenient group tickets for any of our campus dining facilities are also available.

The catering department is supported by a well trained staff of cooks and service personnel under the direction of a professional management team. Our experience, knowledge, and expertise enables us to provide all of the necessary ingredients to ensure the success of your event.

Policies & Procedures

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Planning a Successful Event

Arrangements for catered events can be made through the Catering Office located on the ground level of South Rome Commons. You may contact us at (860)486-5053 or via email: catering@uconn.edu. The office hours are 8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday through Friday. We are closed on selected university holidays.

Advance Notice

When planning your event, keep in mind that larger, more involved events require a significant amount of planning and coordination. We recommend that you place your order as early as possible to ensure a smooth flowing event. For popular dates such as commencement weekend, more advanced planning is advised. Please remember to ask your guests if there are any dietary restrictions. University Catering will do our best to accommodate any needs pertaining to dietary restrictions or preferences if notified at the time of confirmation signing or before. We will do our best to accommodate all orders; however a late notice decreases our ability to provide adequate service and supplies.

Scheduling Your Event

At the time you book your event, the following information will be required:

• Name, email, phone, & fax numbers
• On-site contact name
• Emergency contact name & number for events starting prior to 9:00am or after 4:00pm
• Name of group or department
• U-Box or Address
• Day and date of event
• Beginning and ending time of event
• Estimated number of guests attending the event
• Location & Access info
• Rain Location and/or inclement weather plan (if applicable)
• Method of payment
• FRS number (if applicable)

Event Planning & Guaranteed Attendance

University Catering services may sell out when maximum capacity is reached. Preliminary menu arrangements are recommended as early as possible, but must be made at least fourteen (14) business days in advance in order for our staff to meet your needs and expectations. To ensure appropriate service preparation, all cancellations and/or changes referring to the menu, guest count, and event arrangements must be finalized by twelve noon, three (3) business days prior to your event. The event day is not included in the calculation. Our ability to serve additional guests added after the guest count guarantee deadline (i.e., less than three days before the event) will be determined on a case-by-case basis. Any decrease in the number of guests made after the guarantee deadline will not reduce the quoted cost of the event. If the number of guests exceeds the guarantee, the client will be charged for the actual number attending. If a final guarantee is not submitted, the original contracted guest count will be used for billing purposes.

*if the Monday prior to your event is an observed Holiday, guarantees will be due one day earlier than the above stated.

Pricing, Availability & Service Charges

We reserve the right to re-price any event whose guarantee fluctuates +/- twenty percent (20%) from the original tentative guest count. Menu items and pricing are subject to change without notice. Due to seasonality and vendor ability, certain items may not be available.

Orders placed and confirmed fourteen (14) business days or earlier will receive a fifteen percent (15%) discount on food items. Complete planning including your signed confirmation received by the office, final guarantee, and set-up details are required with no changes thereafter.

As a courtesy to our community, University Catering does not add an industry standard service charge. We also do not charge or expect gratuity.

Event Confirmation

Once the details of your event have been finalized, we will email your confirmation(s). Please carefully review all information for accuracy and completeness. If you have questions or changes, please contact your coordinator immediately. Your signed confirmation must be returned to University Catering ten (10) business days prior to your event. This is an absolute necessity for the success of your event.

Service Hours

The standard hours for all delivery, set-up, clearing, and attendant services are Monday thru Saturday from 7am – 9pm and 8am – 8pm on Sundays.

Services required before or after our standard service hours will incur additional labor charges of $15.00 per attendant per hour. Client is responsible for additional labor fees, per union contract, for events occurring on Easter Sunday, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.

Delivery Fees

• Drop off service (all disposable, deliver, set up with no return for clearing by our staff)
• Complimentary for Events within the Student Union
• Complimentary to Storrs Campus orders with a minimum order of $100.00
• $15.00 if below $100.00
• Standard Delivery (deliver, set up, return for clearing by our staff)
• Complimentary for plasticware for Events within the Student Union that have a minimum order of $50.00
• $15.00 if below $50.00 or on chinaware
• Complimentary to Storrs Campus plasticware orders with a minimum of $150.00
• $25.00 if below $150.00 or on chinaware
• Off Campus Delivery will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on location and logistics

Please establish accurate delivery and pick-up times for your event. Unscheduled returned trips due to late running meetings, locked facilities or rooms, or any other reason our equipment is not available at the specified time will incur an additional fee of $ 25.00.

Late Bookings

The busy catering calendar may not be able to accept late bookings. If we accept them, an additional charge is necessary to cover the expense of last-minute alterations and ordering. Events booked with less than seventy-two (72) hours notice will require a ten percent (10%) increase. Less than forty-eight (48) hours will be twenty percent (20%) additional.

Cancellations

Events or menu items cancelled or changed after receipt of a signed confirmation will be subject to the following charges:

• Cancellation or change within three business days of event – thirty-three percent (33%) of total cost of cancelled or changed items.
• Cancellation or change within two business days of event – fifty percent (50%) of total cost of cancelled or changed items.
• Cancellation or change after twelve (12) noon the day prior to event – one hundred percent (100%) of total cost of orders.

Events cancelled due to extreme inclement weather resulting in an official University closing will not incur any fees. For events cancelled due to inclement weather without an official University closing, the customer will be responsible for any special ordered items and costs that cannot be absorbed into normal production.

Deposits, Billing and Payment

University Departments paying by the University financial reporting system (FRS) are required to provide, at time of booking or upon confirmation, the FRS number that is to be charged following the event. It is your responsibility to ensure we have the correct FRS number. Your FRS Account will be charged the actual number of guests or the guarantee, whichever is higher at the conclusion of your event. For University affiliated groups paying by cash or check, payment is expected within seven business days following the event. Final invoices will only be sent for alcohol consumption or upon request.

Full payment prior to your event is required for non-university affiliated groups. An invoice for alcohol and any additional fees will be sent after the event. You will be billed for the actual number of guests or the guarantee, whichever is higher. Payment by cash, check, or money order is expected within seven business days of receipt. University Catering currently does not accept credit cards.

Open Flames and Sterno

For your guest’s safety, University Catering requires an attendant to be available at all events that require open flames or sterno. An additional $15.00 per attendant per hour may apply.

Leftovers

Due to health regulations, food not consumed may not be taken from catered events. We enforce this policy for the safety of our guests.

Alcohol Beverage Requirements and Bar Services

University Requirements for Serving Alcohol

• Alcohol may not be served unless non-alcoholic beverages (in addition to water) and food also are served. Food and non-alcoholic beverages must be available to the consumer without cost to the attendee if alcohol can be consumed at no cost.
• Alcohol served at university sponsored events at no cost to the attendees may only be funded by Foundation accounts.
• It is the responsibility of those in charge of an event to ensure that no one who is underage is served any alcoholic beverages. No service will be provided unless clear evidence of legal age is presented. The burden of proof for showing legal age is on the alcohol consumer.
• Alcohol may not be consumed or carried in open containers in the commons or public areas (as defined by law and university regulations) of any building or grounds, except for group activities or events where liquor (if required) has been obtained and the building proctor or scheduling has approved the event.
• Alcohol sales revenue may not be used for fund-raising on campus.
• All alcohol sales on university property must be provided by the Department of Dining Services. Event sponsors must have prior approval for the service of alcoholic beverages at special events. Event sponsors also must contact University Catering at (860) 486-5053 to make arrangements for alcohol service with a minimum of two weeks notice.
• Each group must have an assigned person in charge who is 21 or over. Someone must assume responsibility for supervising the event and should be present at all times through completion of event. Connecticut law states that persons under 21 years of age not be furnished, served, or given alcoholic beverages. The age of attendees will significantly influence what procedures and additional fees will be required to ensure compliance with the law.

Bar Services Available

University Catering offers multiple bar packages to meet your budget needs. Packages include non-alcoholic beverages, mixers, bar snacks, and plastic cups. Beer & Wine Bar Packages are $2.00 per person. Full Bar Packages are $2.50 per person. Add $1.00 per person for glassware.

Bartender Fees

• A Bartender fee of $25.00 per hour per bartender, minimum two hours or length of your event will be charged for Cash or Hosted “Husky” Beer & Wine and ALL Full Bars.
• A Bartender fee of $18.00 per hour per bartender, minimum two hours or length of your event will be charged for Cash or Hosted House & Premium Beer & Wine Bars.

Standard Bar Staffing

• One (1) Bartender per seventy-five (75) guests for Beer & Wine Bar
• One (1) Bartender per fifty (50) guests for Full Bar

Additional Bartenders added per client request will be charged accordingly.

Bar Packages & Fees

• Full Bar Packages:
• Standard Full with House Beer & Wine
• Standard Full with Premium Beer & Wine
• Standard Full “Husky” Beer & Wine

Standard Full Bar Liquor includes:

Vodka, Gin, Rum, Scotch, Whiskey, Bourbon, Triple Sec, Sweet & Dry Vermouths with House or Premium Beer & Wine or make it “Husky” with both House & Premium Beer & Wine

• "Husky" Full Bar
  Add Lemon & Raspberry Vodkas, Tequila, Kahlua, Schnapps, Spiced Rum, House, & Premium Beer & Wine

Hosted Liquor Pricing

Consumption Charger Per tenth (.10th) bottle

Beer & Wine Bar Packages:

• House
  House Wine: $20.00 per bottle
  House Beer: $3.75 per bottle
• Premium
  Premium Wine: $25.00 per bottle
  Premium Beer: $4.25 per bottle
  
• “Husky”
  Includes Both House & Premium Selection

6% Sales Tax not included on Hosted Bars

– Priced per drink, 6% sales tax included

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