How to choose a catering company in Tbilisi — 7 questions to ask before you order
Why these questions are worth asking
Catering in Tbilisi has grown far more diverse over the past few years: dozens of kitchens offer packages from daily lunches to large banquets. The choice is wide, but the success of your event still depends on one detail — the right partner. These seven questions will help you find out how professionally a team works before you place an order.
A poorly chosen provider affects more than the taste: a late delivery breaks the schedule of a presentation, and badly calculated portions either leave guests hungry or burn the budget. A few minutes spent on questions will save you mistakes worth thousands of lari.
1. Have you handled events of this scale?
A buffet for fifty guests and a conference for three hundred participants are entirely different logistics: different staffing, transport and equipment. Ask the team for photos or examples of recent events — an experienced partner will share them gladly.
2. How do you calculate portions per guest?
A professional kitchen will give you specific numbers: how many grams of mains, how many pieces of finger food and how many drinks per guest. If the answer to “will it be enough?” is only a vague reassurance, treat it as a red flag.
3. What exactly is included in the price?
A common unpleasant surprise: delivery, serving staff, tableware and post-event cleanup are billed on top of the menu price. Before ordering, request the final price with every component included — in writing.
4. How do you handle dietary restrictions?
Almost every team includes vegetarians, colleagues with allergies or those observing a fast. A good partner asks about restrictions in advance and prepares alternatives at the same quality as the main menu — not on a leftovers basis.
5. How much lead time do you need, and what are the cancellation terms?
A standard catering order takes 2–5 working days; large events need more. Be sure to clarify whether the guest count can change at the last moment and until what point the order can be cancelled without a fee.
6. How do you ensure food safety?
Ask about HACCP standards and transport conditions: cold dishes must arrive cold, hot ones hot. A serious kitchen works with thermo containers and answers this question professionally rather than taking offence.
7. How does billing work?
For a corporate client the essentials are cashless payment, an invoice and clear paperwork. And if what you need is not a one-off event but daily office food delivery, agree the terms of a single monthly invoice up front — see how that works on the office lunch page.
Where to start the search
On Cafeter.io the vetted kitchens of Tbilisi are gathered in one place: packages with prices, ratings and delivery terms are transparent from the start, and answers to all seven questions take minutes to find. Browse catering in Tbilisi and compare offers side by side.