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5 Best Caterers in Columbia (2026)

Ranked by real Google ratings and review volume · How we chose

Thorne Savarin
By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Updated · 6 min read

We compared 20 caterers in Columbia on Google Maps · 5 listed · How we rank

Some caterers in Columbia are lunch cafes that also cater, while others run their own event halls and cook for the wedding, the banquet and the office party. The caterers below hold more than 1,500 Google reviews between them, with ratings from 4.2 to 5, so the useful question is which kind of caterer fits your event.

Short answer: Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering has the largest review base, at 4.7 from more than 510 Google reviews, followed by Seawells (4.5 from more than 490). Dupre Catering & Events is rated 4.9 and Clarrisa's Kitchen and Catering LLC & JC Legacy Event Center holds a 5.0. No prices are published here.
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Cafe Caterers and Event-Venue Caterers Compared

# Business Rating Reviews Best for
1 Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering 4.7 ★ 519 Cafe lunch and catering View ›
2 Seawells 4.5 ★ 496 Large events with an on-site hall View ›
3 Dupre Catering & Events 4.9 ★ 137 Weddings and venue plus catering View ›
4 Clarrisa's Kitchen and Catering LLC & JC Legacy Event Center 5.0 ★ 105 Weddings and family celebrations View ›
5 Carolina Cafe & Catering Co 4.2 ★ 256 Office and breakfast catering View ›
5 Best Caterers in Columbia (2026)

The caterers, reviewed

Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering logo
#1 Overall🕑 Open 5 days/wk

Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering

4.7519 Google reviews

Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering is a caterer and cafe on Richland Street in Columbia. Its site says it started with catering and has served inventive Southern cuisine since 2008, with a daily board and online ordering. Google lists it as a caterer, cafe and restaurant, open for weekday lunch.

What people praise

  • Reviewers praise fresh, flavorful sandwiches, salads and soups, including a shrimp salad sandwich and a tomato and Brie soup
  • Reviewers single out the deviled eggs, black tea infused pulled chicken and a daily turkey baguette special
  • Customers describe friendly staff and a cozy dining room

Worth knowing

  • Reviews are mainly about dining in for lunch, with one reviewer noting that the cafe also caters, so ask about catering menus directly
  • One reviewer advises arriving when it opens to get street parking and first choice of tables
Reputation scorecardrank in Columbia
Rating4.7 / 5
Review volume519 · 98th
Confidencehigh
Recency9 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown81% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A well-liked lunch spot with a catering side, 4.7 from more than 510 reviews. A good fit for office lunches and small gatherings if you want a cafe kitchen behind your food.

Website Book now+1803-556-2197 Directions

1531 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201

Seawells logo
#2🕑 Open 7 days

Seawells

4.5496 Google reviews

Seawells is a caterer on Rosewood Drive in Columbia. Its site says it is family owned and operated since 1946, and that it handles events from groups of 20 to over a thousand, both in its own 30,000 square foot facility and at off-site locations. It lists weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, office parties, tailgating and trade shows.

What people praise

  • Reviewers call the venue large, with plenty of space and seats for events they attended
  • Customers describe a weekday lunch buffet with meat, sides, salad, dessert and drinks
  • Reviewers describe professional, helpful staff and food like a home-cooked meal

Worth knowing

  • A small share of 1-star and 2-star reviews sit alongside the many 4-star and 5-star ones
Reputation scorecardrank in Columbia
Rating4.5 / 5
Review volume496 · 93rd
Confidencehigh
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown66% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.5 from more than 490 reviews, with a large hall on site for groups. Ask about off-site service if your venue is elsewhere.

Website+1803-771-7385 Directions

1200 Rosewood Dr, Columbia, SC 29201

Dupre Catering & Events logo
#3🕑 Open 5 days/wk↩ Responds to reviews

Dupre Catering & Events

4.9137 Google reviews

Dupre Catering & Events is a caterer and event venue on Senate Street in Columbia. Its site describes a local, family-owned, full-service company that has catered for over three decades, with on-site and off-site catering and a venue campus of three buildings and two wedding gardens. Google also lists it for box lunches and wedding buffets.

What people praise

  • One customer used it for a rehearsal dinner, wedding reception and getting-ready space in one place
  • An event planner praises the food quality and how ready the site was on arrival
  • Reviewers mention flexibility when guest counts changed and easy planning from out of town
  • Reviewers praise the food and the cheerful, kind staff on the day of the event

Worth knowing

  • Reviews focus on its Senate Street venues, so ask separately about food-only catering at your own site
Reputation scorecardrank in Columbia
Rating4.9 / 5
Review volume137 · 78th
Confidencemoderate
Recency2 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown90% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.9 from more than 130 reviews, with every rating 4 or 5 stars. A strong match for weddings and celebrations where you want the venue and the food from the same team.

Website+1803-748-4144 Directions

316 Senate St, Columbia, SC 29201

Clarrisa's Kitchen and Catering LLC & JC Legacy Event Center logo
#4↩ Responds to reviews

Clarrisa's Kitchen and Catering LLC & JC Legacy Event Center

5.0105 Google reviews

Clarrisa's Kitchen and Catering LLC & JC Legacy Event Center is a caterer in Irmo with its own event center, and Google also lists it as an event planner and wedding venue. Its site has pages for wedding and corporate packages, catering services, a holiday dinner menu, brunch and a breakfast-style menu.

What people praise

  • Reviewers describe catering for weddings, graduations, a baptism and a women's retreat
  • Customers say food presentation was matched to a wedding's colors
  • Reviewers describe the event space as elegant and spacious, and a DJ calls the set-up flawless
  • Customers mention quick replies to emails, texts and calls

Worth knowing

  • Google shows no opening hours, so call to confirm availability and tasting arrangements
Reputation scorecardrank in Columbia
Rating5 / 5
Review volume105 · 68th
Confidencemoderate
Recency8 weeks ago
Info completenesssite · phone
Rating breakdown100% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 5.0 from more than 100 reviews, all of them 5-star. A good fit for family and wedding events in the Irmo area; ask for menu details, since a reviewer mentions an island cuisine menu.

Website+1803-741-4985 Directions

7713 St Andrews Rd, Irmo, SC 29063

CA
#5🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Carolina Cafe & Catering Co

4.2256 Google reviews

Carolina Cafe & Catering Co is a bagel and coffee cafe on Sumter Street in Columbia that also caters. Its site says it was founded in 1998 and caters office lunches, meetings, birthdays, family gatherings and graduation parties, with delivery. Google lists it as a caterer, deli, sandwich shop and breakfast restaurant.

What people praise

  • Reviewers praise fresh bagels, breakfast sandwiches and homemade tuna salad
  • Customers describe friendly staff at the register and a welcoming atmosphere
  • Seating is plentiful, according to one reviewer

Worth knowing

  • One reviewer reports wrong or missing items on website pickup orders, and the cafe replied that it had spoken to staff
  • Reviews are mostly about in-cafe breakfast and lunch rather than catered events
  • At 4.2, it has the lowest rating on this page, with a larger share of 1-star ratings
Reputation scorecardrank in Columbia
Rating4.2 / 5
Review volume256 · 88th
Confidencemoderate
Recency7 months ago
Info completenesssite · phone · hours
Rating breakdown67% 5-star
✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A 4.2 from more than 250 reviews. Best suited to breakfast and lunch trays for an office or a small group; ask how larger orders are placed.

Website Book now+1803-799-6676 Directions

925 Sumter St, Columbia, SC 29201

6

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Reading the scorecards

Rating is each caterer’s live Google star average. Review volume is how many customers have rated them. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, and recency shows how recently people are still leaving reviews.

What shapes catering prices in Columbia

No prices are published here. A catering quote depends on guest count, menu style, whether service staff and a venue are included, and whether the food is delivered or served on site. Ask each caterer for a written per-guest breakdown that lists staffing, delivery and rentals separately.

Where these caterers are based

The caterers listed are based in Columbia and Irmo. Seawells and Dupre Catering & Events both say on their sites that they cater off-site, and Carolina Cafe & Catering Co lists delivery for office events. Looking for caterers near me? Each listing shows a phone number and directions, so you can confirm your event address is covered.

What to ask before you book a caterer

  • Is the quote per guest, and what does it include for staff, setup and cleanup?
  • Do you cater at my venue, or only at your own hall?
  • Can we book a tasting before we sign?
  • How do you handle dietary needs and last-minute guest count changes?
  • What are the deposit and cancellation terms?

Frequently asked questions

Which Columbia caterers also have their own event space?

Seawells describes a 30,000 square foot facility, Dupre Catering & Events runs venues on Senate Street, and Clarrisa’s Kitchen and Catering LLC & JC Legacy Event Center has its own event center in Irmo. Ask each about capacity and dates.

Can a cafe cater an office lunch in Columbia?

Carolina Cafe & Catering Co says on its site that it caters office lunches and meetings, and one reviewer notes that Spotted Salamander Cafe And Catering also caters. Ask each about lead time and order size.

Do any of these caterers cook at an off-site location?

Seawells and Dupre Catering & Events both say on their sites that they offer off-site catering. Carolina Cafe & Catering Co lists delivery for office events. For the others, ask about travel and setup.

Is there a weekday lunch option at a caterer?

Reviewers describe a weekday lunch buffet at Seawells, and Spotted Salamander’s Google hours show weekday lunch service. Hours can change, so call before you go.

Picking a caterer

Choose by the kind of event. Seawells, Dupre Catering & Events and Clarrisa’s Kitchen suit weddings and larger gatherings with space, while Spotted Salamander and Carolina Cafe suit lunches and office orders. Get the menu, headcount and total cost in writing before you pay a deposit.

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