About this vendor
The Carter Chicago is a urban chic wedding venue featuring unobstructed views in the main reception room, an outdoor patio perfect for a summer wedding ceremony and cocktail hour, and a foyer that connects the two spaces and also leads upstairs to a private and large getting-ready room with an en-suite bathroom.
Details
Cuisine
- American
- Eastern European
- French
- Greek
- Indian
- Italian
Dietary Options
- Dairy Free
- Gluten Free
- Halal
- Kosher
- Vegan
- Vegetarian
Food & Catering
- Buffet
- Catering Delivery & Setup
- Food Trucks
- Passed Appetizers
- Seated Meal
- Servers
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Reviews
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4.7
out of 5.033 reviews
Review photos
Showing slide number 1 out of 9
We cannot recommend The Carter enough! The venue is an absolutely beautiful, luxurious space, yet it maintains an incredibly welcoming and warm atmosphere. We especially loved how ...
spacious it is, giving us the perfect layout to seamlessly accommodate both an outdoor and indoor setup. Throughout the planning process, Chris and Mena were incredibly flexible and so easy to communicate with, making everything feel completely seamless.
On the day of, Stefan was an absolute standout. His general enthusiasm was infectious, and he was incredibly helpful with our set-up while connecting so well with both of our families. He even went above and beyond by taking extra photos and videos of us during the ceremony, which we will cherish forever. To top it all off, the food was delicious and the cocktails were wonderful—all of our guests absolutely raved about them! Thank you to the entire team for making our day unforgettable.
We are very happy with our decision to host our wedding at the Carter with D’Absolute as their exclusive caterer.
Chris was wonderful to work with and easy to communicate with. We...
were able to create a contract (venue and catering) that fit our needs perfectly and at a price point that stayed within budget. The venue was beautiful, clean, and exactly what we were looking for: open space, exposed brick walls, a black and white dance floor (added into contract), off-street brick parking lot and outside space for the cocktail hour - and bags set of course. The bridal suite was perfect for my large bridal party to get ready (12 + 5 makeup and hair artists + photo and video). It was also a place where the groom and I got to have a moment to ourselves with an exclusive look out over our guests during cocktail hour.
Our contract included a day of coordinator, which made the process of organizing vendors so much easier- especially as we got closer to the wedding! Mena has great attention to detail and did a wonderful job at making us feel secure that our vision will become reality. We had a few special requests for our timeline and she helped us execute each of them without a hitch. She was easy to work with and flexible on when we could connect. She constantly checked in with us during our reception to ensure we were having a good time. A few select family and friends needed to reach out to her on my behalf to iron out a few things, as well and she was wonderful to them as well. She was great at following up with vendors and professional in their interactions as well. I could not have imagined the day or the planning process without her!
Stefan played an important role in our Carter experience, as he was the first of the team we met for the venue tour. He was someone we could lean on every step of the way when it came to accessing the building and venue. We are especially appreciative of him waking up early morning to let the bridal party in to get ready, making sure the champagne was flowing, and helping keep our items safe.
Everyone was responsive, friendly and professional throughout the whole experience. They all worked well together. This team was wonderful to work with and we would highly recommend The Carter!!!
Food:
Our wedding guests shared multiple compliments the food that was served during and even after the wedding. We had a handful of guests with food allergies and the revised dishes were well received. The tasting was delicious.
We loved that even though we were really busy, the team set aside appetizers for us the bride and groom to enjoy and created some space for us to take a moment by ourselves before our reception. I am still dreaming of the lamb appetizers and it’s been months since our wedding.
D’absolute did a wonderful job with the table settings. They know what they are doing!
Special notes: loved the appetizers, chicken, pasta, late night bites (sliders and grilled cheese), cake, gelato, and signature drinks !
To the team: Thank you for helping us throw a perfect night for our loved ones. We are so happy with our decision to work with you!
(Photos: Tethered Stories)
Booking The Carter with D’Absolute Catering was hands-down the best decision we made for our wedding. Chris, the owner, is an absolute class act—professional, thoughtful, and so ge...
nerous with special touches that set him apart. He let us create three custom cocktails, even ordered extra Campari just for my mother-in-law, and was flexible with guest count when last-minute changes came up. Those gestures meant the world to us.
Denisa, our day-of coordinator, was truly the glue of our wedding day. She seamlessly managed vendors and executed every special detail—from our family wedding photo gallery wall to little décor touches we cared so much about—so we could be fully present. Stefan, the venue coordinator, brought such energy and warmth. From every tour to the wedding itself, he made us feel celebrated. One of my favorite memories is seeing him right after our ceremony—he greeted us with our signature cocktails and appetizers in hand, making us feel so cared for.
And the food—wow. Having worked in restaurants, I care deeply about a good meal, and our guests are still raving that it was “the best wedding food they’ve ever had.” From the appetizers to the entrées, everything was perfectly executed and beyond delicious.
The Carter and D’Absolute gave us the most beautiful setting, unforgettable service, and a meal that elevated the entire celebration. We are endlessly grateful for this team and could not recommend them more highly.
The venue, the owner, and the staff are all
Absolutely incredible! We loved every second of working with the Carter and their team, they made everything perfect and provided us wi...
th the most magical reception! The Carter is absolutely iconic and I could not imagine a better place to be married in Chicago. No detail was missed and every moment was carefully curated.
Thank you for treating us like family and giving us the most wonderful memories!!
I've never been to a wedding with food as good as ours! And our guests agreed. The appetizers were great and the main course proteins were cooked perfectly - really impressive for ...
any occasion. We were happy that our guests were impressed.
Even better though, Chris and his team were easy to work with and very reasonably priced. I don't know why you'd go with any other caterer when this is Chris's passion and it comes through in every bite of his food!
Chris and his team were super responsive and great to work with. We booked both D'Absolute catering and his venue, the Carter, and everything was flawless. Service was great and w...
e got several compliments on the food!
After reading other reviews, I felt I should mention our experience as well. We had done a final tasting with Chris and paid for our catering with a signed contract to be held at t...
he Newberry Library. In May, Chris contacted us saying he did not feel comfortable catering our event because he thought it might be cancelled. He proceeded to say he would feel much more comfortable if we moved our date and venue to that which his company owned. He said he just didn't think the Newberry would allow us to have our dream wedding. Little did he know, we just had our dream wedding with our amazing caterer, Butter and Vine, we hired after he backed out on our contract.
From day one, our experience with D’Absolute was just absolutely phenomenal! Chris and Mena are an absolute joy and went above and beyond when we had to pivot our wedding plans due...
to COVID-19 and find a new caterer within 4 months of our event. From our first phone conversation with Chris to the tasting at their shop to the execution of the event, they made us feel so calm and took wonderful care of us! They’re incredibly professional and experts in the industry. The food was fantastic, the presentation was beautiful and we got so many compliments from our guests. Sometimes the bride and groom don’t have time to eat, but Mena made sure my husband and I each got a plate full of appetizers and she took care of us all night long. We couldn't have asked for a better experience and we highly recommend booking them!
We would not recommend. After more than a year of working with them and doing a final tasting, D'Absolute cancelled on us 6 weeks prior to our wedding in July 2021. They weren't ev...
en kind enough to reach out by phone. We received and email that they could no longer serve our event. We understand that staffing has been a large issue since the pandemic hit but D'Absolute didn't notify us of this issue when we went for a tasting in March. They should have known that with events coming back that this could be an issue and given us a heads up so we could have a backup plan.
Chris and Mena and the entire D'Absolute team were absolutely fantastic. We began working with D'Absolute prior to the pandemic an after needing to change our plans and date over a...
nd over again, Chris and Mena were as flexible as they could be with us and shifted given our new circumstances, numbers, etc. Mena was the head of our event and everything was absolutely seamless. The food was beyond. There were more than enough appetizers, each more delicious than the next. The entrees were hot, generous portions, and some of the best wedding food I have ever had. The service was impeccable as well. We were just so impressed with D'Absolute and got compliments from countless guests. Thank you Chris and Mena!
I would highly recommend D'Absolute, the catering company is absolutely amazing. They are very attentive to details and will make sure everything runs perfect the day of the event,...
Mena is absolutely great at what she is doing and Chris, the owner is very responsive and puts a lot of soul into his work. I worked with D'Absolute, both Mena and Chris at Stan Mansion, and I only have great things to say. They are one of the most recommended catering companies at Stan Mansion and for a very good reason!
We could not be happier with the service D'Absolute provided during our wedding! Chris and Mena were great to work with and kept us within budget without having to sacrifice qualit...
y. The food and service were 100% top notch! Thanks to them our wedding was AMAZING! I cannot tell you enough how great Mena was day of to make sure we were beyond happy. Thanks guys for doing such an amazing job.
D'Absolute Catering is unbelievably good at what they do. From the very first time we met with Chris for the first tasting in planning the catering for our wedding, we knew D'Abso...
lute was a perfect fit. Their food was ridiculously good - nobody else we did a tasting for was even close to their level of quality and presentation. Not only that, but they clearly put such a high emphasis on providing top-notch service. So many people at our wedding had great things to say about the food, the service (for dinner and at the bar), and the level of accommodations that D'Absolute gave. Chris & Mena were also extremely helpful in coordinating with our other vendors to make sure everything went smoothly. We would absolutely recommend them to anyone and everyone.
Thanks again to the D'Absolute crew for creating a wonderful, seamless experience for our wedding day! Mena, you are the best!!
We got married at the Newberry and we were required to work with a small list of caterers. D'Absolute was on the list and from the beginning they were great. We had a bit of a mess...
y timeline and my husband and I were both pretty indecisive, but once we sat down with D'Absolute we knew this was it! The food was amazing, the price was very reasonable and Mena and Chris are a great team. They were very thoughtful about things that we didn't even consider and asked all the questions we didn't. For example, the Newberry has a BYOB policy and for a small fee Chris picked up the alcohol and returned leftovers, BUT he even went beyond that and made really good suggestions on what to get and what not to get. In short, highly recommend!
We were a little nervous at first because D'Absolute was the only caterer our wedding venue works with, but we seriously had nothing to worry about. Chris, Mena, and their staff ar...
e not only incredibly professional, highly experienced, and fantastic at what they do, they also make AMAZING food. Seriously, the little appetizer won ton tacos and the mango chicken were out of this world.
My husband and I are very into food and have been to some of the best restaurants in the city, and I know our guests were expecting a good meal at our wedding. They definitely weren't disappointed. We got so many glowing reviews about all of the food from our friends. We were also so impressed by how thoughtful D'Absolute was about making sure to work with any dietary restrictions our guests had, and literally bringing special individual plates to a couple of our guests who are vegan (the rest of the food was buffet style).
We felt so taken care of not only during the wedding itself but at every step leading up to it. My only regret is not eating more of the food!
The team at D’Absolute was great to work with from the start! We got married at the Bridgeport Art Center, and D’Absolute was one of about twelve caterers on their approved list. A...
fter reaching out to each and every one, we narrowed it down to two. What impressed us with D’Absolute was the quality of their offerings at a relatively affordable price. The tasting sealed the deal, as the food was absolutely delicious and we loved the variety they offered in their passed appetizers! When it got closer to our date, Mena was our main point of contact and she could not have been easier to work with. She was present at our final walkthrough, and was so accessible in the weeks leading up to the event. She’s extremely knowledgeable and professional, I felt so comfortable knowing that she was going to be helping to run the show at our reception. When it came to the day of, everything ran wonderfully. Mena was so attentive to my husband and I, making sure we were served appetizers and champagne while we regrouped in the bridal suite and always being ready and available if we needed anything. We got so many compliments from our guests on how delicious the food was. From start to finish, D’Absolute was the best choice we could have made for our wedding!
We hired D’Absolute for our wedding at Bridgeport Art Center in May and they were wonderful to work with. We knew we wanted to work with them immediately after our tasting. We prev...
iously had tastings with two other caterers and D’absolute effortlessly outshined them both. The food and presentation were excellent. Chris was also honest and direct, no fluff, and we loved that about him. We had many questions leading up to the big day and Chris was easy to reach and very responsive to all of them. When we did our final walk through at the venue, we met Mena who would be our lead on the day of our wedding. She was so wonderful to work with. She made suggestions and asked questions I had never thought of and we really appreciated that. She also shined on the wedding day. She brought us appetizers while we mingled and took photos, making sure we got to actually eat. She made sure we always had a drink. She helped with everything, even things not catering related (like looking for my bouquet) and really just went above and beyond what was expected. She is warm and kind and just a pleasure to be around.
The food at the wedding definitely lived up to what we tried at the tasting. Full disclosure- our eastern European family can be hard to please but they raved about the food. The appetizers were generous in size and delicious. We went with filet mignon and chicken for the main entrees and our guests really enjoyed both. We also brought in a traditional “meat hut” and sweets table from an outside vendor and D’absolute helped set up and man both of these which was so nice of them. The team went above and beyond for our wedding with exceptional quality and service. Thank you for helping make our day perfect ☺
We worked with D'Absolute Catering for our wedding at Ovation. They did an amazing job. Our guests raved about the food which doesn't happen often at weddings. You spend the larges...
t chunk of your wedding budget on catering so you better make sure you hire the best and Chris and Mena at D'Absolute are the best! We would recommend them 100x over!
Could not say enough about how fantastic Chris, Mena, and the D'Absolute team are. From our first outreach to them, Mena and Chris were incredible responsive, organized, and helpfu...
l in every step of our planning. Our initial tasting felt like we were sitting down to dinner with our family. They make you feel like you've known them forever! They are extremely reasonable with their prices especially with all you receive. The day of, both Chris and Mena were there to supervise the event and keep everything on track. Each appetizer, main course, and late night snack came out fresh, hot, and absolutely delicious. My wedding coordinator commented that this was truly the BEST catering service she had worked with and would be recommending them to all of her clients. Thank you so much for giving us such a memorable day!!
D’Absolute was great and we are very glad we found them to cater our wedding.
Owner, Chris, and coordinator, Mena, were incredible assets for our wedding. From the very first tas...
ting we knew that Chris was the best choice for us. Not only was the food better and more substantial, but it was also more fairly priced than many big name catering companies we met with. Chris and his team were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the planning process and provided a ton of suggestions and advice that made the process easier and the day of smoother.
On the wedding day, Chris and Mena were both there ensuring that everything was perfect. We could feel that they cared about the wedding and we were not just another event in their calendar. Mena was there the entire night handing all the different catering related issues. The food was perfect and plentiful. Everyone loved the food including the passed hor’dourves, appetizers, and main family style meal.
Without D’Absolute our wedding would not have been what it was. We both wholeheartedly recommend it.
I come from an Italian family and food is a big deal for us. So, finding a caterer with an incredible menu was important. We wanted someone who's food was not only delicious to eat...
, but fun and creative, too - nothing cookie cutter like many caterers often provide. I'm beyond happy that we went with D'Absolute as our caterer of choice. From the first call I had with Chris, all the way to our wedding day - he was a wonderful to work with - listening to all of my ideas and questions to make our wedding feel like 'us.' All of the food was phenomenal and the presentation of every hors d'oeuvre, salad and entree - even our late night snack was perfect. Additionally, the staff was professional and attentive - making sure every transition felt fluid and never awkward. Above all - Chris was accommodating and smart in the way worked with our budget. He never pressured me into making decisions that would have unnecessarily pushed the final line, but rather was creative to ensure we invested in most appropriate details, meals and dining decor. There are so many reasons why I'm happy we went with D'Absolute, and I will always recommend them!
We were very happy with our choice of D'Absolute Catering for our wedding reception. Providing a good dinner experience for our guests was particularly important to us, and we chos...
e D'Absolute simply because their food tasted the best and we trusted them to provide professional service. In particular, we wanted to reflect the groom’s Macedonian roots, and D’Absolute was able to provide a number of simple yet satisfying Balkan dishes. Their versions were just like we had flown to see extended family. Additionally, their service was excellent (staff was professionally dressed, friendly, and worked quickly). We only heard positive remarks from our guests -- one guest commented it was the best food he had since arriving in Chicago. From the logistical perspective, Mena and Chris were prompt and professional. They worked with us to change the menu such that we could arrive at a price point we were comfortable with. We opted not to serve champagne, as it didn't really matter to us and the glassware would have been extra. We also rented our linens separately due to cost at the recommendation of our coordinator, but D'Absolute's prices were not significantly higher. Even though we weren't the only wedding that D'Absolute catered that night, it certainly felt like we were.
We had a wonderful experience with D'Absolute Catering and especially Chris Constantine. From the beginning he was very accommodating of ever request and made special arrangements...
even though I was out of town to meet with my husband and I during early hours of Saturdays and Sundays before the wedding. Our wedding planner at our venue left early and we were left with no one to coordinate between our vendors and Chris Constantine stepped up and coordinated between the different vendors all night even though we did not ask him. He did above and beyond what we expected and even though it is almost two years past our wedding we are so grateful and appreciative of how he made our wedding that much more special. Thank you!!
We wanted two things at our wedding: good food and good music. We nailed both of them. People raved about the food at our wedding. The salmon was perfectly cooked. Chris and Mena w...
orked with us to accommodate our vegetarian and kosher dietary restrictions. It is so rare to have good wedding food; we are grateful to have worked with them.
Wedding food is usually only memorable if it's terrible or exceptional. And everyone remembered the food D'Absolute served at our wedding — because it was exceptional. (People are ...
still coming up to us, months later, to talk about the brisket. And usually they don't have much to say, just "That brisket!" And then the face that people make when they remember a really good brisket.)
The menu and service they provided contributed to the warm, happy, family-party feeling we wanted to create. And Chris & Mena did so much more than feed the people we love most. They created a completely gluten & nut free menu for all the allergies in our family (including me), which made everyone feel comfortable and cared for. They were collaborative and supportive and listened and were really just wonderful. Thank you, Chris & Mena for all you did!
From the very start when we completed our tastings from multiple different caterers, we knew D'Absolute was going to make our wedding day even more amazing. Chris is so profession...
al and so friendly and accommodating - we immediately felt comfortable with him. We had some dietary restrictions to work around and Chris didn't struggle with this at all - he adjusted the menu multiple times until we found something perfect for everyone. We wanted to add in unique flares to our food and Chris helped us come up with great ideas and stunning ways to present the food. We got engaged in Paris and wanted to have a Parisian touch to the night so Chris added a crepe station where his staff created different crepes on the spot! Our guests loved this unique touch! Chris and his team take catering to the next level. The food is delicious, the presentation is incredible, and the staff are professional and so friendly - they even danced onto the dance floor to serve our late night snack! :) We highly recommend D'Absolute - they helped to make our wedding the best day ever!!
Our experience with D’Absolute Catering for our wedding was nothing short of perfect. Prices were extremely reasonable compared to other Chicago caterers, without falling short at ...
all on the quality. The food was amazing, and we received tons of compliments on the food. The food was inventive, well-prepared, and well-presented. What sets D’Absolute apart from the rest is their involvement in our planning process. Mena at D’Absolute helped us with determining how to stage our cocktail hour, where guests should enter/exit, event timing, everything down to the smallest detail. They even helped us out with handling the table and chair rental with another vendor. We did not have a day of coordinator, and Mena made us feel so much more comfortable that the day would go smoothly. We even had some special requests for bar service and dessert that were handled very well. Their communication throughout the entire process was excellent. They responded in a timely manner and are great people to work with. We can’t recommend D’Absolute enough for any wedding, or any event for that matter.
Chris and Mena and the rest of the team were amazing the day of our wedding and during the planning process. Even when things when wrong (because of another vendor, not D'Absolute)...
Mena did what needed to be done to make sure things still went smoothly. Truly went above and beyond! Also, the food was amazing, wedding guests have been raving for 2 months now on how good everything was! You guys helped us have the best wedding ever!
We used D'Absolute Events & Catering for our wedding at the Glessner House Museum. The food was absolutely incredible! All of our guests raved that their meals were delicious and w...
e couldn't have been happier. Chris and Mena are amazing people who go above and beyond to make sure that you are happy and taken care of. We will always be grateful to D'absolute for providing excellent service and helping us have the wedding of our dreams! We would highly recommend D'Absolute for your wedding or event catering. Thank you Chris & Mena! -Haley & Joey
HIRE THEM NOW!!! Every single detail of our event was absolutely wonderful, from the tables, to the service and THE FOOD! We have had so many people tell us how wonderful the food...
was. A co-worker even said that they wished there was a to-go box for what she couldn't fninsh.
Mena was absolutely amazing and the staff was wonderful and professional. The bar staff was efficient and friendly, no one ever had to wait for a drink. The food during dinner was incredible, everyone was served quickly, and each server was personable and friendly.
Anyone in Chicago should use D'Absolute. They put our mind at ease and paid attention to every single detail that we wouldn't have thought of. We loved D'Absolute!
We worked with D'Absolute for our wedding last month and overall were really pleased. First, the food is excellent and they're very flexible in developing a menu that works for you...
. Our wedding was entirely vegetarian and that was never an issue. They do lots of local events so the staff is full of useful information and helps guide you in the right direction. Prices are competitive with other local options. We worked with Natalie for most of the process and she's diligent and professional. Things got hectic in the final week and there were some issues with what they were delivering for the big event, but they corrected the issues and everything turned out well. Catering is a big decision so make sure they're right for you and stay on top of them, but D'Absolute is a solid option.
Chris and Nathalie not only serve up a great attitude and helping hand in planning your catering but they dish out some seriously good food as well! We had 200 people at our weddin...
g and the food they served that night was just as amazing as what we got at our tasting. They are creative in helping you select a menu and take care of all the small details. I was so impressed with how their staff mingled with apps during cocktails and late night snacks and everyone was extremely polite and helpful towards our guests. I still have people raving about the short ribs and if I had to do it all again I would hire them in a heartbeat.
Contact
1948 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, IL
THE CARTER - Fulton Market