Catering

We offer several menus to serve your various event needs. Our menus can be viewed here or you can request copies to be sent via email.

Please consider the following when planning your event and placing your order:

• Theme or purpose for event
• Size of event
• Special layout needs (reserved seating, tables, linen needs, etc.)
• Style of table service – china or disposable
• Special diet considerations
• Seasonal food availability
• Program details, awards ceremonies, speakers, etc.
• Floral, centerpiece and bar service needs
• Weather (Is an alternative rain site required?)
• VIP guests

If there is something special that you are looking for and you can’t seem to find it on our menus, please reach out to us via email or give us a call. We’d love to help you create a custom menu featuring exactly what you want for your event. We have experts on hand to help create the perfect cuisine just for you.

To better serve our clients and operate in an efficient manner, we have set guest count quantity minimums on all catering packages. If you are considering a package but your guest count is less than the order minimum, please reach out directly to us and we can customize that menu to match your smaller guest count.

While our team has the first right of refusal for all events located on West Chester University’s campus, if your total order is under $250, the client has the right to utilize another vendor without having to inform our team.

If there is an event, where the order is above $250 but you would like to utilize another vendor, you must submit an exception request to our email address: newstreetcatering@wcupa.edu.

Within this email, you must include:

• Date and time of event
• Guest count
• Reason for wanting another vendor

Please allow 72 hours for us to approve or deny your request.

Please let us know as early as possible if any of your guests have dietary restrictions.

We are a nut-free facility and can cater to the below dietary restrictions:

• Vegetarian
• Vegan
• Made without gluten
• Any of the nine major allergens
• Kosher
• Halal

Our talented culinary team will be more than happy to prepare items suitable for any dietary restriction aside from the above list.

Note: For severe allergies with potentially anaphylactic reactions, we cannot guarantee full omission of the offending ingredient. This is due to the physical constraints of our own kitchen and that of our specialist suppliers where the ingredients may be present within the production environment.

Orders can be placed here and using our online system. If your event requires customization, please contact one of our event professionals at (610) 436-3130, or via email at newstreetcatering@wcupa.edu for assistance. Our offices are open Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm.

For all orders we need the following information

• On site contact name & mobile phone number
• Event start and end time
• Where to enter the building, e.g., through the front door, loading dock, etc.
• Are there stairs? Elevators?
• Is a keycard or additional security clearance needed?
• Catered set up information
  • This includes a lay out of the room or information where you’d like your catering set up

We work closely with other teams across campus to assist you with making your event happen. With that, please review: University Event Planning Guide & Policies - WCU of PA to learn which team you need to connect with before placing an order with us. These teams assist with planning the other aspects of creating a successful event such as room reservations, room set up, etc.

• Room space and reservations
• Room set up
• This includes tables for food and beverage and tables for your guest to consume and enjoy your event
• Ensure that food and beverage is allowed in this space
• Security access to the space
• We need access to your event space at least 1 hour before your event and 1 hour after your event for set up and breakdown needs. If you are not able to get this time frame approved, please consider another time and space for your event • If the event is outdoors, please ensure the set up includes the correct equipment such as tents, tables, and chairs for the appropriate weather. For events during the hotter months, tents over the catered area are required for us to safely operate.

In order to provide the highest quality of service, we kindly request that orders be placed 5 business days in advance. This is to ensure that we have the proper staffing to provide you with the best experience. After we have finalized all the details for your event, you will receive an authorization request via email, that needs to be approved and sent back to us. This confirmation will include the exact times, location, estimated attendance and menu choices for your event. Please ensure that all information is correct including the proper payment information.

If you do not receive an authorization request within 72 hours, your event has not been confirmed, and we ask that you please reach out to us.

For orders placed less than 5 business days before your event, we will try our best to accommodate your needs but please note that we cannot guarantee menu selection or any special requests. If we can accommodate your order, a 10% rush fee of your total bill that will be applied. For orders placed less than 3 business days before your event, there is a 15% rush fee of your total bill that will be applied.

If you are looking for an event that needs to be staff attended – the order must be placed within 7 business days before the event.

Please note there are times throughout the year that are deemed "busy times" on campus, in terms of catering. These times of year, as well as holidays, are outlined below and are just guidelines, other dates may be applicable.

During these times of year, we would recommend submitting your orders much earlier than the minimum time frame to ensure that we are able to accommodate your order. If we are unable to accommodate your order due to being fully booked, we will approve your ability to work with an outside vendor.

• The week before the semester starts
• Commencement Week
• Homecoming
• Labor Day Weekend
• Memorial Day Weekend
• 4th of July
• Thanksgiving
• Christmas thru New Years

After the event is approved on your end, you are still able to make changes to your event. All final changes must be approved by our office at least 5 business days before your event.

If you do not contact us with a final guest count within the deadlines, we cannot guarantee our ability to accommodate an increase in guest count. If the group size decreases, we will prepare for the originally estimated attendance and charge accordingly. If you change an event after this deadline, some of the expenses already incurred cannot be absorbed and will have to be billed.

For changes placed in less than 5 business days before your event, there is a 10% rush fee of your total bill that will be applied. For changes placed less than 3 business days before your event, there is a 15% rush fee of your total bill that will be applied

All cancellations must take place at least 72 hours before your function. If you cancel an event after this deadline, some of the expenses already incurred cannot be absorbed and will have to be billed. We will notify you of these charges prior to billing. Below is a further breakdown of the cancellation policy:

• Within 48 hours of the event, the client is responsible for 100% of the order
• Within 72 hours before the event, the client is responsible for 50% of the order
• Earlier than 72 hours of the event, no cancellation charge

All outdoor events must have an inclement weather plan to be booked. To cancel your event, please email us at newstreetcatering@wcupa.edu

Business hours are Monday-Friday from 7a-7p. Deliveries beyond these parameters (weekends, after hours or major holidays) will incur a 10% service fee.

On-premises deliveries minimum food and beverage order total is $250 and deliveries to off-campus locations for a minimum of $350 and a 10% delivery fee.

For all deliveries, the client is responsible for ensuring that the catering team has access to the appropriate venue and available tables for the catered order to be set at least 1 hour before the event begins. Without access to the venue or tables to place the order, we are unable to set up for your event.

Any orders scheduled for pick up may be picked up from the hallway of the Catering kitchen which is located on the first floor of 155 University Avenue, West Chester, PA 19383, SECC

When placing your order, you are to select the style of service that you are looking for. Our standard service is: set up and leave.

Dining options descriptions:

• Staff Attended Buffet: this option is for when you are requesting a server, bartender or chef attendant for an event. While this service is in your order, this option must still be selected when you are submitting your order
• Set Up and Leave: this is the standard option. We will set up and break down your event but a team member is not staying during the duration of your eventIf you have any questions or issues, please reach out to us via call or email so we can take care of you
• Staff Attended Plated: this option is for when you are requesting a server, bartender or chef attendant for a sit-down plated event. While the staff request is in your order, this option must still be selected when you are submitting your order along with the request for full china service
• Set Up and Leave Plated: this option is for a plated event where we only set up and breakdown. With this option, you must also request for full china service

If you would like bartenders, chefs and/or service attendants to serve at your event (e.g., passed hors d’oeuvres, carving action station, passing drinks, maintaining the cleanliness of the event area, etc.), we are more than happy to provide them at the below additional fees.

Staffing rates are as follows:

• Service Attendant
  • $25 per hour
  • 1-hour minimum
• Bartender
  • $100 per hour
  • 1-hour minimum
• Chef Attendant - Plated Dinners
  • $35 per hour
  • 1-hour minimum
• Chef Attendant – Action Station
  • $150 per hour
  • 2-hour minimum

We will recommend the staffing needs below based on the style, service level, location and timing of your event. The recommendation is a general guideline, and we may recommend another option depending on your event’s needs:

• 1 server per 50 guests on buffets
• 1 server per 25 guests for china service
• 1 server per passed hors d’oeuvres
• 1 bartender per 50 guests

Events come in all shapes and sizes, each with different goals and purposes. In order to provide the most appropriate services for your event, we offer a range of service levels, styles and options. The prices shown in our menus include buffet linen, equipment for set up, appropriate silverware/plateware/cups, delivery on campus, set up and breakdown labor.

If you would prefer china service, table linens, etc. we are happy to provide those at an additional fee.

For all china service options, we will always set up the event, breakdown the event, and provide all appropriate equipment for your event. Below are the descriptions of each of china service option:

• Disposable event: we will set up the event in disposable equipment and the client is responsible for breaking down the event. The equipment provided is all able to be thrown in the trash or recycling bins. This is the only option where we do not return to breakdown/clean after the event. Disposable linens are not included in this and are an additional fee
• Standard Eco Plates & Cutlery: this is our standard set up where we use eco plateware and cutlery that can be thrown out but all other equipment is our standard polished equipment
• Upgraded Reflection Plates & Cutlery: this option is the same as our standard set up, however instead of our eco plates we use upgraded disposable plateware and cutlery. This option is $3.99 per person
• Full China Service: we use our fine china plateware, cutlery and linen napkins. This option is $7.99 per person
  • We have in-house china for groups under 50 guests.
  • For any parties over 50 guests, the appropriate equipment for your event would have to be rented from one our trusted vendors, which we would coordinate. This pricing will vary based on the needs of the event but the minimum rental order is $600

If you have any questions about which china and dining service is best for your event, please do not hesitate to ask – we would love to help plan your event with you

When placing your order, please supply us with the appropriate university account code, as well as any required authorizations, to use for billing. Payment may also be made via credit card (Visa or Mastercard) or check, SSI, and SAP. Orders that do not have payment attached prior to the event date are subject to cancelation.

If you are paying via any of the above methods aside from a check, the client has 3 business days before the event to provide the appropriate method of payment.

If you are paying via check, you have up to 7 days after the event to deliver the check directly to our office or mail it to:

Aramark/Catering

155 University Avenue

West Chester, PA, 19383

Due to state health regulations, it is the policy of WCU Catering that unused food portions from your event cannot be removed from the event site. Any perishable foods are not to be served to guests after four hours. Any items purchased for pick up should be properly stored prior to the event, removed and disposed of by the host of the event. For disposable/drop off events, the above regulations must be followed by the client. It is the understanding of the customer for drop off and pickup services that liability is not extended on these services.

For this reason, take-out containers are not provided.

Meal tickets for Commons dining hall may be purchased through New Street Catering. We act as a billing agent only for meal tickets, any questions in regards to food and service must be directed to the Residential Dining Directors, contact information can be found on the WCU Dining website. Please note if you have any unused meal tickets, you must let us know within 24 hours of the lunch for us to reimburse you. If you do not let us know within the 24 hour time frame, we are not able to reimburse you for the unused tickets. All unused meal tickets must be returned.

Tickets can be picked up directly from the register at Commons dining hall located in SECC.

While we have included a lot of information about our business practices above, there are several other enhancements available to personalize your event. Please do not hesitate to ask us about other linens, florals, décor, equipment or services that might be of interest to you and your guests! Please always allow us at least 24 hours during business hours to respond back to any and all inquires.