Birchtree Catering

ntil we finally had our perfect day on May 7, 2022. Spencer was absolutely the best! He was there to answer questions, find solutions, offer guidance and excellent suggestions, you would think he was our personal full time wedding planner! Birchtree is SO MUCH MORE than just a caterer with amazing food and elegant presentation. They’re there for you every step of the way from start to finish so that you can actually enjoy your own wedding as opposed to feeling like you’ll either miss out on food and drinks during cocktail hour, or have to set something up day-of in your wedding dress. The only thing you have to worry about on your big day is having fun and enjoying your guests and your spouse and your party! Allegra was there on the day to make sure everything ran perfectly (and it did). Keenan (who’s now an honorary member of our family) was there to make sure our glasses and plates were always full (and they were!) and everyone on their staff was kind, helpful, professional and created a wedding beyond what I could have imagined. Did I happen to mention how delicious the food was?! They even put the remainder of the dill popcorn (bar snack) in a ziplock bag for me and we finished it over the weekend. It was SO good. The freshly made polenta was the BEST I had ever tasted. The hen of the woods tarts were INCREDIBLE, our signature cocktail- the Green Mule (their spin on a moscow mule with cucumber) was SOOOOOOO incredible. We loved every aspect of working with Birchtree and we could not have asked for a better wedding!

team were the reason that our wedding was a smash hit! We had a difficult time with our wedding arrangements from the start (our first venue dropped our contract, and Birchtree helped us to find a second venue within two weeks – then the whole pandemic reschedule nightmare of 2020…). The only reason we felt comfortable that things would work out when they got difficult was the optimistic, above-and-beyond support that we received from this team. As we also had a pandemic baby before our wedding reception, we truly couldn’t have done it without Spencer, who was able to help us plan all of the little details that we didn’t have the brain power to think about in the new-baby haze. And I haven’t even gotten to the food – I got so many compliments on the thoughtful touches, the delicious apps, the cheese board, and the dinner: the family-style dining was a huge hit, and the pumpkin gnocchi and roasted chicken were the best I’ve ever had. You truly cannot go wrong with this team, and I credit them with our wedding being a completely stress-free party where everyone had a fantastic time (and as the bride and groom, they ensured that we got to eat our fill!). If I could give 50 stars, this team earned them!

e the process easy. The food was delicious, the signature cocktail options were creative, and Allegra and Spencer were clear in their communication so we knew what was happening every step of the way. I would definitely recommend people hire Birchtree to cater their event.

ely understood our vision and made me feel supported in all of my decisions, while simultaneously providing expert guidance which made the event so much better than I could have imagined. Communication was prompt, clear, and thorough throughout the entire planning process. On the wedding day itself, their team (shout out to Nicole!) truly went above and beyond. We had a classic Philadelphia deluge 5 minutes before the ceremony was to begin, and Nicole did a PHENOMENAL job of assuaging my anxieties, helping us to make the right game-time decisions, and making the ceremony work just as smoothly as it would have outside. The Birchtree team then worked their butts off to reset the (soaked) tables, clean off the (soaked) chairs, and generally make the outdoor reception look gorgeous and perfect and as if it hadn't just poured buckets half an hour beforehand. The food was fantastic and very beautifully presented and their servers were so kind and enthusiastic and present. I've planned larger events before and have experienced that a moment where something goes wrong and I find myself getting called in to problem solve, but not when working Birchtree; they really handled every hiccough with professionalism and grace and allowed me to enjoy the day fully - I can't imagine what it would have been like to put on a wedding without their help and support. We felt thoroughly and genuinely cared for throughout the entire event. I would absolutely choose Birchtree again and recommend their services to anyone who wants to have a fantastic, delicious, effortless wedding.

ents as much as possible, and the fact that they’re a local woman-owned business. Chef Rasa guided us through our tasting herself, and she is so down to earth and clearly knowledgeable about her craft. She took careful notes on what we liked and didn’t like, and incorporated our venue (a winery) into her ideas to come up with some seasonal options that would pair well with the wine. Over the course of several months, we worked with Rasa to fine-tune our menu and came up with something that we were SO excited to eat. Rasa also ensured that my grandfather’s gluten allergies were accommodating, as I wanted to make sure he could eat whatever he wanted. People say you don’t get to eat at your wedding, but we made sure to take the time to savor the food! For a small additional cost, Birchtree gave us the option to have a “sample plate” where we could both have a plate with a sampling of each of the three entrée options (it would have been impossible to pick!). The day of the wedding, Birchtree exceeded expectations. Our day-of coordinator made sure that, when we came aside to sign our marriage certificate and take it all in, we had a tray of appetizers and drinks ready to go – because we didn’t get to have any during the mingling that followed! The staff also took note that appetizers were getting snatched up right at the point-of-entry for our cocktail hour, and started coming in from another direction to get to more people. The food service was exactly how it should be for the wedding couple – so smooth and efficient that we didn’t even notice them! Even after the wedding, Birchtree continues to be a part of our life! We’re always keeping an eye out for their supper clubs, and took a pasta making class in February that was fun, educational, and delicious!

ly female staffed company. We aren’t happy to support local female owned business!

out of charcuterie, this plate was gone in 5 minutes even though we had spoken to Birchtree and they had assured us multiple times that 1 board would be enough. The biggest issue of the night was the entree portion, Birchtree ran an hour late in the service of the food. I the groom went down and spoke to the manager on sight twice and the staff had no motivation to work and looked like lost puppy dogs. Not only was the service an hour late but all the salmon and some of the other entree plates were cold in the middle and were not pleasing to eat. One of my guests didn't even get an entree plate after she had asked the staff multiple times for one. The manager on sight knew that me and my bride were very disappointed with their service, we went down to talk to her to see what happened during the night and the head server from Birchtree stated that she had left for the evening. I think that is extremely unprofessional as the manager knew that we were extremely dissatisfied by their service and she decided leaving was the best action instead of making sure that we the bride and groom were okay. After the wedding day we have spoken to the owner, I have been told the service was late due to back of the house issues. I have been a catering supervisor in my career and even though there were issues, an hour late is just unacceptable! We never will know what truly happened that night with the caterer as the owner will not admit that they dropped the ball, but do yourself a favor and stay far away from Birchtree catering.

nd the food was equally AMAZING. Did I mention they also have a wedding coordinator who is so detailed and attentive, there is little worry than your day won't go perfect. Because it will. I keep telling people that in the future I will just make up events just to have them cater.

sure our day ran as smoothly as it could, and we truly would have been lost without her. I understand and appreciate that not every wedding vendor experience is like this, but Birchtree from the start was so professional and helpful and let nothing go unnoticed. As far as the food itself, let me start by saying that my husband and I LOVE food above all else—it's our shared hobby and passion. We were weary since most wedding food tends to be bland or forgettable, but the Birchtree food was outstanding, truly, and we lost count of the amount of people who told us how delicious it was during and after the wedding. We have so much love for Birchtree and are SO thankful we chose them for our big day.

m from out of town based on past reviews and awards; also loved the fact that they are woman-owned as well as their commitment to sustainability. After a year of planning and tweaking, our dinner was spot on. It was arranged beautifully, was plentiful and absolutely delicious. The format, set in a two-story venue, included cocktails and appetizer board on the main floor prior to dinner, then dinner buffet upstairs with bridal party and family, then dessert buffet back in original main floor space with all the additional out of town guests joining the fun after the dinner hour. It flowed perfectly and desserts were just as delicious as the rest. All rave reviews from our guests. Allegra and Rasa provided supportive and creative planning, integrated all of our ideas (which was not easy with multiple visions and dietary needs), and created a unique and amazing event for us. They were communicative and responsive from the beginning of our planning to the very end of our event. Hated it to end. And I would almost love to plan another Philly wedding JUST to be able to use them. Love, love, love this business!

, when they hosted myself, my (now) husband, my parents, and in-laws for a tasting at their super cool event space in Philadelphia, Chef Rasa took great care of us and treated us to some truly wonderful food. During the tasting the Chef asked what everyone liked, didn't like, favorite comfort foods, etc. and built a spectacular custom brunch menu for our afternoon wedding that took into account the preferences of everyone at the tasting (my parents and in-laws were truly bowled over by the experience). We love to eat, so the food was one of the most important parts of the wedding to us, and let me tell you the tasty delights Chef Rasa and her truly fantastic team made for us and our guests was some of the best we've had anywhere (other weddings/events, upscale restaurants, you name it). I am not a person who had a dream wedding in mind, so when we decided to get married, I was definitely at a loss for a great many of the details that go into planning one. I would not have made it without Birchtree's Weddings Manager Nicole. She really listened to everything we had to say about what we would want and be comfortable with for our wedding and she came up with the most beautiful event plan that captured us perfectly. She coordinated with the tent and furniture rental vendors and made us feel completely at ease. Even when the forecast was looking a little grim for our outdoor wedding, Nicole stayed in constant touch and she and the Birchtree team came up with several back up plans for the ceremony and reception before I even had a chance to be worried about it. She also kept everything running smoothly throughout the entire event, to the point where we didn't have to worry about anything except having a great time with our guests. And we definitely did! Even though we were a relatively small/simple event attendance-wise (90 guest brunch wedding at my parent's home) the team at Birchtree never once made us feel like we weren't a priority. Every single member of the staff that made our event possible was a delight to have be a part of our wedding. Their detailed focus on sustainability (ingredients sourced from local farms, paper straws, bamboo flat wear among many other things) did not go unnoticed by our guests and a week later we're still getting notes from our guests who truly appreciated it. If you are having your wedding in the greater Philadelphia area, I can't recommend Birchtree enough, it was definitely more than we could have ever hoped for in a wedding experience. <3

natural reaction when we searched for wedding caterers was to get quotes from the celebrity chefs (Garces, Starr, etc.) first. Then, after we had been sufficiently sticker-shocked and underwhelmed by the proposals we received, our wedding venue, Philadelphia Distilling, referred us to Birchtree. From the first call we had with them, we were sold. They really "got us" and understood what we wanted. They were also very transparent about what we could expect and what the pricing was - no surprises, no games, just true professionals. Over the next few months we custom designed our menu with Chef Rasa (this is how they do it). She was a master at listening to our crazy food requests and converting them into a menu that a group of 70 picky eaters and foodies could all enjoy. On the day of our wedding, everything went down in unimaginable perfection. They didn't skip a beat. Our guests were Instagramming the appetizers, and when they finished eating them, nobody had to wait longer than a minute to dispose of any toothpicks and napkins they were holding. To put it simply, the food and service exceeded even our own high expectations. The food became a focal point of the wedding – which is what we wanted – and our guests are still commenting on it today. Birchtree was a fantastic partner for us. I say partner because we really felt like they were there to help us figure it out and make things easier, which is what you really need when you're planning a wedding. I can't recommend Birchtree enough. They are the kind of caterer that can flex to accommodate any vision you have (ours just happened to include pork belly jelly donuts, but that's just our style).

nd appeared to operate smoothly and glitch-free. One of my friends, who is a real stickler for details, told me that she really appreciated the signs — especially the ones on the popsicle trays that were passed around on the dance floor, since she couldn’t have heard the description over the music. Alexandria and all of the Birchtree staff seemed very well coordinated, and were friendly and helpful. I also really appreciated how well the Birchtree operation worked with the other vendors. For me, it meant a very care-free mother-of-the-bride experience, and it sure seemed like my daughter got the fun, moving party they had envisioned. I’m so glad they decided to use Birchtree for their wedding. I’m still glowing from the experience.

and Chef Rasa are total professionals. Super process oriented, great communicators and super responsive. They blend creativity, fun and experience so well, you wouldn't imagine! Cannot recommend them more highly. Worth every single cent!

very professional. My wedding day ran so smoothly mainly due to Birchtree's efforts. I recommend them highly to anyone looking for a caterer!

Rasa was amazing. She listened to what we wanted and was able to change some dishes based on our preferences. Then Nicole, the wedding manager, is absolutely amazing. Since we are not from Pennsylvania our main form of conversation was by phone or e-mail. She was so responsive and would spend the time with us on the phone until we felt comfortable. I’m going to be honest; I didn’t know all the ins and outs of a wedding. But Nicole was there to guide my husband and me. She made my husband feel and me comfortable. Leading up to the wedding, we had some confusion with our venue (not Birchtree’s faults at all!). But Nicole was amazing and she took control and got things figured out. She seriously wins wedding planner of the year. On the day of everything was absolutely perfect. Birchtree put out my centerpieces and decorations. They did a great job. The Birchtree staff was amazing. While we were doing our photographs, they came out with drinks and food while also serving our guests at a different location. The waiting staff was very professional and friendly. Now lets talk about the food… it is probably hands down the best food I have had! Everything was cooked on site. Which is something they always do! This is one of the first catering experiences where they cook on site. It really makes a difference. The food was fresh and warm. Birchtree was such an important part in making my day so special.

unfulfilled by Birchtree staff. Absolutely everyone we invited had a fantastic time at our wedding, but Birchtree was unable to properly coordinate the event and maintain fidelity to our established timeline. To start, we worked with three different event planners over the course of our planning process. We were unimpressed by all of them, and perplexed as to their inattention to detail. We were not informed until after the fact that our first planner had departed and then Birchtree replaced our event planner with an inexperienced / unwilling planner who was not up to task. We ended up working with our third and final wedding planner, at which point all of our timeline and wedding plans had to be explained for a third time. Each and every detail of our wedding timeline and party info was passed onto our third planner. We were met with glowing affirmations that each and every detail would be attended to. We had a map drawn of where to place rented furniture, where to place the photo booth, where to hang decorations, where to place flower arrangements. Each and every detail was explained via email, met with affirmations, and subsequently disregarded by Birchtree staff on the day of our wedding. Dozens of emails were sent to finalize what alcohol would be served. My wife and I selected three wines, three beers, and a specialty cocktail for the wedding. Despite numerous affirmations that labels would be placed on these alcohol options, Birchtree did not label anything, and our guests were walking around our wedding having no idea what they were drinking, what their options were. Birchtree also ran out of drink ingredients for our specialty drink. Finally, the most egregious error made by Birchtree involved our 'cutting of the cake' ceremony, which was agreed to several times by both email and in-person meetings. Our event coordinator was not on site during dessert serving time, and my wife and I were aghast when dessert and coffee began being served without any coordination or announcement. We realized then that we would not be able to serve one another cake and deliver the once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunity for our family and photo books. I cannot overstate our sense of hurt for having missed that opportunity. While these errors may seem slight, keep in mind that we paid Birchtree nearly $30,000 for their services. We requested and obtained a refund from Birchtree for our planning time wasted, and their continuity errors and lack of fidelity to our established timeline and agreements. We still feel that Birchtree made too much money off of their sub par service. My wife and I emphatically warn against contracting Birchtree to cater your wedding.

ere that kind of caterer. FOOD: The food was incredible. We are big foodies, and we didn't want the regular "chicken or steak" options. Chef Rasa is so talented and creative, we were able to pick out our perfect menu. And they were completely open to customizing things based on our tastes. Our guests raved about the food (we devoured our entrees) and we heard that the kids ate up all of their pizza (yes, they have great kid-friendly options as well). An added bonus - after we recessed from the ceremony, they have a sampling of all the passed appetizers for us so that we could get a bite to eat alone with each other. Just a small yet important detail. EVENT COORDINATOR: We started off with a coordinator who eventually left the company, and eventually transferred to Nicole. The transition was completely seamless. Nicole put me at complete ease during our final walkthrough, and gave me total confidence that she and Birchtree had everything under control. She is SO mindful of everything that you are going through, and she really does take every step to make things easier for you. I remember feeling so thankful that anytime I needed her (I can't find my bouquet! Why is my family not here yet for portraits?), Nicole always seemed to be right behind me already on her way to fix/fetch anything I needed. She is an absolute pro and I am indebted to her for ensuring our wedding ran smoothly. WEDDING DAY SET-UP: Bircthree did an amazing job setting up our ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. I had specific instructions about where I wanted certain things, and everything was in its right place. I couldn't help but beam when I would enter a room that I had been imaging for months and it was exactly how I pictured it. Thank you Birchtree!

nd a calming presence on the day-of AND leading up to the wedding. Every time I turned around, another server was handing me champagne. Can't recommend Birchtree enough!

catering companies and they were so far above their competition. Chef Rasa has such a calm demeanor and that is so helpful with the crazy wedding process. I had so much confidence in them from the start and they just really made the process smooth. They catered our 185 person outdoor wedding and it was seamless and people are still raving about the food. They use a lot of local and seasonally sourced ingredients and they help tailor your menu to your liking or give great suggestions if your are not sure what you want. It is not your typical boring wedding food. They will also work with your other vendors and come up with a timeline for the day and also be your day of coordinators to help the day go smooth. We cannot wait to figure out what else we can use them for in the future!

very first contact, Rasa took the time to learn about us and engage in our story and in response crafted an incredible menu inspired by the foods and ingredients that we’ve shared in our relationship. They aced the tasting and then executed perfectly at the wedding. The beautifully presented family style dishes elicited loads of compliments and even more clean plates. Every element, from the signature cocktails down to the bar snacks, were coordinated to create an experience that was uniquely “us”. Birchtree’s design services allowed us the freedom to DIY when we wanted to and delegate when we didn’t. Jenna created a proposal that captured the mood and style we were looking for and organized all of the little details to make it perfect. She arranged antique furniture pieces and decor that we provided to create beautiful tablescapes and an intimate outdoor patio, and created custom signage for every component of the event styled to match the save-the-dates and invitations that we had created ourselves. She beautifully organized our homemade marmalade favors, and even provided all of the bouquets and boutonnieres for the bridal party! In the weeks leading up to the event, the Birchtree team accommodated last minute requests and made sure everything was organized and coordinated so that we felt confident and relaxed on our wedding day. Our day of coordinator Alexandra made sure that our other vendors were organized and took charge of the timing of the ceremony in support of our first-time officiant. She even made sure we had some food and drinks set up in the back room that we briefly retreated to immediately after the ceremony. The folks at Birchtree are creative and professional, and inspired confidence at every step along the way. It’s obvious that they take immense pride in what they do, and we’re so thrilled to have had them at our wedding!

location and keep our dream wedding alive. Chef Rasa's food is delicious and beautiful, her ingredients are locally sourced, and her menus are innovative and specifically tailored to your wishes and budget. I have nothing but THE BEST to say about these guys! Wedding: 11/15/2014