Reviews of Fanfares Catering Services (Catering)

Dawn Davis

Amazing customer service and follow up.

Tanya Bennett

As an event planner, I am constantly looking to use black owned and operated businesses. I planned my 20th and 30th year reunion festivities and used Fanfare for both. 10 years between using and they STILL provide TOP NOTCH SERVICES! Al Watson was very accommodating and offered great guidance with regard to options for meals that would also meet our budget. Extremely compassionate and patient. 2 meals were prepped and delivered. The delivery staff was very knowledgeable and the set was SUPERB! Very pleasing to the eye. The banquet dinner...OMG!!! I cannot even do justice trying to describe how delicious the food was, the professionalism shown by the serving staff (food and bar) and yeh presentation of the buffet table. Every single person had nothing but praise to give over the course of the entire weekend. I wish this review would allow more than 5 stars. That's just how phenomenal Fanfare Catering is. Definitely will be using them again more often; as well as referring them.

Alanna Mays

Fanfare catered our Pretty Brown Girl end of the year event. The food was delicious and the presentation was beautiful! We will definitely use Fanfare again in the future!

Raquel F.

We had Fanfare for an event at my job, and the food and catering service was excellent! The guest speakers were so impressed with the food and so were those who attended. We got so many compliments on the food and it was a welcome addition to our program! Great job, Fanfare!

Charlotte Bandele

The quality of the food is always good from Fanfares. I feel very confident when I recommend Fanfares as I've always had good experiences and good food. Bistro in a Bag has also been a lifesaver providing meals for my family when I need help with the cooking :)

Jasmina P

We are a non profit organization based in the South Bronx neighborhood of New York. Our organization has used Fanfares Catering Services twice since we found it through a Google search two months ago. Looking for and booking catering in another state is very difficult, especially when you don't know much about the city/state. But Charisse has offered tremendous amount of help and eased the ordering process. She even accommodated an order for us at such short notice! The food is GREAT and I would highly recommend this to Chicago residents looking for catering services and out of state organizations doing business in Chicago and looking for catering. Charisse and staff at Fanfares Catering, thank you so much for your awesome service and great food. I am looking forward to using you all again for our next meeting

Monica Moss

I love Bistro and Vistro In A Bag because simply put, this service makes my life easier. The meals are delicious, fresh and convenient. I am always pleased by the variety of recipes and I have found the staff to be professional and helpful! Becuase I value feeding my family real, wholesome and nutritious meals, I usually take the time to cook. However on long days when cooking isn't possible or I just need a break from the kitchen, having Bistro in A Bag makes me feel confident that my family still gets a healthy and fulfilling meal. Also, as a plant based eater, I appreciate Vistro in A Bag. They are able to create amazing meals without added oils, salt and sugar. The flavors and variety are fantastic and I know that I am getting healthy meals!!

Jessica Bunn

Al Watson and his team are an absolute delight to work with and they remember me by name. The food is amazing and the service is excellent. I will absolutely use them for another event!

Rhandi C Anderson

Al and his team are not only wonderful, personable, and professional, but the food is amazing! Fanfares catered my organization's event and it was a pleasure working with them. Also check out their meal delivery service Bistro in a Bag--AMAZING!

Marcus Freeman

Absolutely Amazing. The best catering company in the Chicagoland area. My family and I are picky with food, but we haven't had a single thing that wasnt great from them. We had the privilege of tasting some of their delicious Carribean food at Dusable Muesum's Night of 100 stars and we knew we had to use them to cater a small gathering and they did not disappoint!

Chanel Strong

The gumbo is fantastic!! Portions are plentiful and orders are always right on time.

Jermaine Lawrence Anderson

Fanfares Catering provided stellar service for 2,000 people during the Grand Opening of our church, the Apostolic Faith Church Worship Center and Ministry Complex. Not only was the food delicious, the hospitality was impeccable. Fanfares, THANK YOU FOR MAKING US SHINE!!!!

Latasha Napper-Watkins

Fanfares Catering - Excellent! Bistro in a Bag - Awesome Sauce! Bistro in a Bag makes my family work! As a working mom with 2 kids under 5 and a daily commute time of 3-4 hours, I needed to find a way to get decent meals on the table. I was looking for a heat and eat meal service that could provide healthy and tasty meals. I was too tired, too stretched, and too stressed at the end of the day. So, we all too often opted for a drive thru or a quick service restaurant (which was compromising my waistline). When I experienced Bistro in a Bag I could have kissed the owner! This literally makes our family work. My husband and I simply could not keep pace and cook like we wanted so we have ordered religiously for almost 2 years. The meals are healthy, fresh, and of great variety. We could not be happier clients! In fact, we were so happy that we tried Fanfares Catering for several events. Each time, the customer service has been excellent, the food arrived hot, and the food tasted great (several of our approving guests have now also catered using Fanfares). We will continue to be loyal clients because the food and the service is that good! I have appreciated the lengths to which the owners have gone to ensure our happiness as their clients.

Jocelyn Baux

Bistro in a Bag - The food is so flavorful and healthy and delicious!!!! It is so nice to come home to a delicious, healthy meal after a long day of work. The homemade soups are so good, my husband and I fight over them. You will not regret using this service! !!

Edna Smith

While I was getting my house ready for Thanksgiving, my back went out. It was really bad. Thank goodness I had ordered my dinner through Fanfares. My husband was able to finish up the housework, but there's no way he could have completed a Thanksgiving dinner. So thanks to Fanfares, my dinner was saved! I received many compliments on how tasty the food was. Everyone enjoyed the food so much that there was nothing left for take-home bags. All of the women appreciated being able to relax and not have to bring a dish. And my husband appreciated having the food delivered to our door. Thanks for everything Fanfares!

David Shifrin

Great food. Wonderful man. Had the chicken wings and gumbo. Rib tips were to die for. Ate them in one sitting. Will order again.

Raphael White

Fanfares catered my wedding this past weekend and the food was simply amazing! Charisse the event coordinator was absolutely amazing! She was very kind and understanding throughout the entire process from start to finish, which truly made a huge difference in making my husband and I's day so special. Kim the bartender kept me laughing and smiling throughout the entire night. Upon arrival the staff were professional and prompt ensuring all services were rendered in an exquisite manner. Overall, my experience with this company was pleasant and I would recommend this company for anyone on any budget that is seeking to have a professional event with extensive support, great food, and excellent service.

S Patterson

I love Bistro In A Bag!!! This service has changed my life. As a professional mother of two, preparing meals can be overwhelming. Bistro In a Bag provides tasty, healthy, prepared meals that my whole family loves. In fact my husband prefers that I order food each week. It makes life so much easier - No shopping, cooking or cleaning. In addition, Al and Stacy are great to work with. They take pride in their work and strive for everything to be perfect. I highly recommend Bistro In A Bag!

Tressa Jones

Fanfare provided the best service for us during a 2 day event. The food was great and the service was outstanding. Everything from the presentation to beautiful linens and set up to the professional uniforms. The staff handled everything before we even asked. PS. The greens and herbs baked chicken tasted like it was from Big Mama's kitchen! Thanks Fanfare.

David Clanton

Saturday November 21st, 2015 we had hired Fanfares to cater my Mom's 82nd birthday party at my house. That day coincided with the largest November snowfall in the past 125 years. Fanfares delivered like Micheal Jordan in the fourth quarter and exceeded our expectations. The food was hot and delicious. The presentation was impeccable. And the servers - Lynn & Teresita - were genuinely thoughtful and kind to each and every guest. My Mom - Mrs. Carrie Clanton - said it was the best party she had ever attended. My wife, Pam, said it was the first time she wasn't exhausted hosting an event at our house (she could enjoy herself and not worry about serving or cleaning up). Fanfares worked with the number of people we invited and stayed within our budget. They had enough variety to accommodate vegetarians and fish allergies. Though the weather outside was frightful, Fanfares Catering Services was delightful. Fanfares has made us fans for life; we are already planning for them to cater our next party. Of course, we will check the forecast first. Thanks again, David & Pam.

Wendy L. Cunningham

We contracted with Fanfares Catering for our 2016 Thanksgiving Day dinner for 13 people. The food was very good, fresh, and delicious with a definite home cooked flavor. No one could have known that we had the entire dinner catered unless we told them. Every dish that made up the main course as well as the peach cobbler pie that we had for dessert was quite satisfying. Everyone was very happy with our meal. The food was delivered about 24-hours before the date that we needed within the time frame as promised. Although they forgot to include our ham with our order, they brought it by the next morning well before dinner time. We will definitely be using Fanfares Catering for our future dinner parties and large family gatherings. I highly recommend their services.

Lakeisha Medlock

Thank you Fanfares Catering for another great event! Being that our company headquarters is based out of Atlanta, GA, it is always great to work with your team and employ your services to execute a memorable event. The staff did an excellent job from start to finish and the food was delicious -- especially the Petite Jambalaya Tini!! Everything is always done to perfection and with class. We will be in touch again for future events. S.T.E.P.S. Event Planning Firm, Inc.

Robert Parker

Good employees

Laura Spizzirri

Faye at Fanfares made it easy to plan a great fundraiser for our nonprofit. She knows her business, and handled all the details. She was genuinely enthusiastic, promising to make it an unforgettable event. And she did! The food was not only delicious and plentiful, but beautiful. The artistic presentation just lit up the room, and was served brilliantly by a friendly and competent staff. All at a good price! I look forward to working with her again.

Angie Bingham

Fanfares Catering Services did a wonderful job catering our 30th year high school reunion. Al Watson was my contact person while making arrangements for the menu. We were able to make menu changes with no problem, those with food allergies were accommodated at the last moment, and the service staff was very professional. They even asked if we could use some help decorating our reunion. Everyone enjoyed the food that was served but I also have to add that the presentation of the food was outstanding. The mashed potato martini bar and fried salmon was a hit!!! I will definitely use Fanfares Catering Services for my next event! Don't question if this caterer would be right for your event...call them!! They will not disappoint!! Great job Fanfares!! And thank you again for making our reunion a great success!!

money boy

Terrible pay for work.

Kem McNair

I can't describe enough how thankful I am for Fanfare. I hosted a surprise birthday party for my husband and my original caterer fell through a week before *ouch*. So I looked through my venue's preferred catering list and called Fanfare because they had the most stars. OMG, I should have used Fanfare from the start. The issue was that I had a specific theme and menu in mind, however, it was no problem for Fanfare. Not only did they exceed my expectations but the owner Al Watson suggested some other things that will make the party a hit and it was! His staff was professional, courteous and the food was sooooo delicious!!! I will definitely use Fanfare for all of my events going forward.

Jean Vanier

Fanfares catered my daughters baby shower. The guests were blown away by the beautiful brunch, service and the delicious food. I loved them so much I recommended them to my charitable organization I volunteer for and they catered their October Gala. The room was extraordinary and the food of course wonderful. My group was so impressed with Fanfares that they hired them for next year. Thank you Fanfares...you are truly a professional and wonderful catering company.

Darren Mason

Amazing food and would highly recommend anyone looking for great food and service to hire Fanfares for your next even!!

Hyper Sport77

The food is great I know I work there

Justin Poe

Al is the greatest!!! He knows what to do and how. I would recommend them anytime for anyone. Thanks FANFARE YOU GUYS ARE THE GREATEST!!!

Iliana Gilliland

Great service! Arrived on time, food was delicious, beautiful presentation!! I will use them again and again and again

Diane Washington

Fanfares Catering is and has ALWAYS been fabulous - this catering company is awesome, with professional staff, delicious food, creative planning!!

Jeanette Shorter

I have had the pleasure to work with Al Watson, owner of Fanfares Catering, for two high end events. I must say that I have been well pleased each time!! From the careful menu planning, to the hospitable support staff, to the wait technicians- it is always an enjoyable experience. The set up of the venue it approached with a creativity and flair that is tasteful and elegant. I appreciate how Al works with his staff! I've watched him allow them to initiate and execute their piece toward the execution of a class-act event. I would HIGHLY recommend you to hire them for your next event. I, personally, have my eye on them for my next few!! Way to go Fanfares, you are doing it BIG!!

Periana Wilson

I used Fanfares Catering for my wedding and the experience was phenomenal all around. Al was very attentive throughout the planning process and worked to create a fun and creative menu that fit the vibe of of my wedding reception: fun, casual, nontraditional, and representative of me and my now husband. We had the macaroni and cheese bar, the sandwich station, a fruit display, and a wing station. While we did not use Fanfares' catering staff (due to budget constraints), the food was delicious and delivered all the way to Lake Forest, IL ON TIME. I highly recommend using Fanfares for your next event; you will not be disappointed!

Jasmine Garcia

Recently was in charge of booking breakfast & lunch catering for an over 100 person commercial crew in Chicago. Fanfares catered for 2 1/2 days of the 5 day shoot, but wish I used them all of the days! Faye, Charisse, and Robert are all very helpful and communicative via call, e-mail, and text! Tell them your budget, tell them your headcount, and give them your trust--they will come up with a menu, that will for sure satisfy whoever you are feeding. They have a lot of meaty options, but if you let them know that you need vegetarian options, they can be very accommodating. I also have to thank them for that 1/2 day, we had another caterer cancel last minute Thursday afternoon for our Friday lunch, but Fanfares was able to swoop in and save the day last minute...which isn't easy to do when you are asking to feed 100+ people. I also really like that Robert and his crew hang out during lunch, to switch out the trays of food when it runs out, because having to keep track of that when you have a million other things to worry about would be very tasking. Thank you guys!

Lisa Leftridge

Fanfares Catering prepared a wonderful brunch for our scholarship recipient's recognition event. Everyone raved about the food and requested information about the caterer. We will definitely use their service again soon.

Jesse McGleughlin

Hello! My name is Jesse and I am so impressed with Fanfare's catering. They provide fresh, excellent food for lunch meetings for over 35 people. At our last meeting in Chicago, several attendees asked where we had gotten the catering from and commented on how fresh and tasty the lasagna was! Moreover, the staff is incredibly professional and generous. They bring all the necessary materials to set up the lunch nicely so that I have nothing to worry about! I would recommend Fanfares to anyone looking for fresh catering and exceptional service!

Amy Wb

FRESH. FAST. INNOVATIVE. And they deliver on the south side! The food is delicious. The staff is very friendly and are flexible and willing to answer questions about ordering. We've ordered from them twice now. The first order was for the New Year's Eve Gumbo. Authentic with fresh seafood! Our second order was from the Fanfares spin-off "Bistro in a Bag". This is a series of meals delivered for the entire week. Refrigerate, heat and eat with 3 varieties to choose from: traditional fare (meat, poultry and seafood), vegetarian and vegan. We ordered traditional for my husband and vegetarian for me. So far, delicious! I would recommend Fanfares Catering for all of your eating needs. And for a single person, or a family who has off-the-charts busy schedules, Bistro is a life saver that you shouldn't live without!

Tracey Williams

My mothers repast celebration was simply awesome thanks to Fanfares! Their food and staff did a fabulous job from start to finish. They are the best caterers in the City of Chicago when it comes to providing the "WoW Effect.........your guest will always remember the caterer that caters to the stars...FANFARES YOU'RE THE BEST!

Danielle Dewalt

Fanfares has been my go to cater for all of my events. The staff (coordinators, servers, delivery driver etc.) are super nice and professional. The prices are very reasonable and the FOOD is WONDERFUL. I also receive great compliments from my colleagues regarding the food served at my events. You will not go wrong with FanFares.

Erma Davis

The food was appetizing, very tasty, delivered on time and the presentation was outstanding. I highly recommend Fanfares Catering Services.

Chloe Barnes

I couldn't have been happier with the service that I received from Fanfares Catering. From the moment I called them with my vision for the corporate event I was planning, I received the utmost attention to detail and care. Our company hosts a lot of different events and NEVER have I heard such rave reviews about the catering than I did from the event that Fanfares assisted with. The food was exceptional, the attention to detail was immaculate, but the customer service is the reason I will continue to use them for both corporate and personal events moving forward!

K B

We've had great experience with Fanfares for both large and small events. We will continue to be a repeat customer.

Marjorie Newman

The food and customer service provided by Fanfares at a recent event I attended was excellent! I have food allergies and sometimes meals for me at catered affairs are plain and repetitive. Fanfares surpassed my expectations by creating a flavorful assortment of dishes for me. I highly recommend Fanfares as a caterer for any event.