Catering

Swarthmore College Catering is committed to excellent food and service. We offer fresh local ingredients and catering staff who are happy to assist you with everything you need to make your event a success.

We look forward to helping you personalize events to fit your budget and taste; please contact our catering office at 610- 328-8624 or email catering@swarthmore.edu to discuss your needs. You may also explore our menus and book our services through our online catering tool, CaterTrax.

Catering Policy

Please be sure to review the College Catering Policy before placing your order.

Placing An Order

To provide you with the best service and quality possible, we require a minimum of two weeks notice for events of fifty people or more as well as for all evening events. We require that you place all breakfast and lunch orders at least five business days prior to the date of your event. We understand that meetings can be scheduled at the last minute and will make every effort to accommodate your needs.

To place an order, please call us as soon as you are aware of an upcoming event in order for us to secure your reservation. You may also place an order directly through our online catering ordering tool, CaterTrax.

Minimum Orders

For current menu and pricing information, please see CaterTrax or reach out to us at catering@swarthmore.edu.

In order to continue to offer a high quality menu and professional service, we require a minimum order for catering requests. Breakfast orders require a 10 person minimum, lunch orders require a 10-15 person minimum depending on the menu selected (lunch box orders of less than 10 can be placed for pick up, not delivery, service), and hors d’ourves and meeting munchies require a 10 person minimum. Dinner orders require a 25 person minimum for buffets, and a $25 per person minimum for plated meals. For delivery orders that do not include wait-service, a $100 minimum order is required for complimentary delivery.

Guest Count Guarantee

For most events, including breakfasts, sit-down and buffet meals, we will need your final guest count four business days prior to your event. Any decrease in the number of guests after the guarantee date will be charged at the full guarantee number. Our ability to serve additional guests will be determined on a case-by-case basis.

Service

Time and length of service will be defined at the time the reservation is made. The Catering Manager should be made aware of any meetings, speakers, or other activity you have planned before, during, or after the time catering is requested, to help determine how it may impact food service.

Event Staffing

The Catering Manager will help determine staffing needs based on the size of your group, menu, style of service, and logistics of the space. The rate for attendants is $40-$60/hour/person, depending on service needs.

Equipment

Most prices in our menus include linen for the buffet table and compostable napkins, plates, cups, and service-ware. Additional table linens and napkins may be requested when placing an order, for an additional fee: upscale palm-ware is available for an additional $2.00 per person; china service is available upon request at a minimum additional cost of $7 per person. This cost may vary based on the complexity of your event.

Equipment delivered to a function not attended by a dining staff member (drop-off event) must be left secured in the same room to which it was delivered. It should not be moved to another room or area without notifying the Catering Manager. If equipment is missing at the time of pick up, the client will be charged for replacement costs. College Catering is not responsible for clean-up of spaces used for drop-off events.

Delivery

Deliveries are available only to Swarthmore College Campus, on weekdays between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A $100 minimum order is required for complimentary delivery. Weekend or after 5:00 pm, deliveries may incur an additional $25.00 delivery fee. Functions for which we are providing wait service will not incur an additional delivery charge.

If you have placed an order for delivery, you are responsible for ensuring that our staff have access to the room in which the delivery will be dropped off at least an hour prior to the event start time; we strongly recommend that you arrange to meet our staff at the time of delivery. Delivery staff will leave immediately after dropping off your order and are not responsible for the security of delivered items. College Catering is not responsible for the clean-up of spaces used for drop-off events.

Cancellations

Cancellations must be made at least four business days prior to the event date to ensure that no charges will be necessary to cover the cost of your event.

Payment

Payment may be made by Swarthmore College account code or by cash or check. If you are a group from outside Swarthmore College, we require a 50% deposit with the remaining 50% due by the day of the event. 6% Pennsylvania sales tax will be added to all invoices for off-campus groups who do not provide a tax exempt sales certificate.