Venues for Catered Events in and around San Jose
Not only does Tony cater corporate and private events at venues all over the San Jose and San Francisco region, he is a preferred caterer at numerous Bay area venues:
Tony also runs The Tech Cafe at The Tech Interactive, a fabulously unique spaces for large company and social events.
Know where you’d like to hold your event? Or not sure which venue is right for your event? We can help. Give Tony a call at (408) 263-4366.
Or just tell us about your event right now.
Help me find the best venue for my catered event.Covid Catering
Can you even have a catered event in this “new normal” of the coronavirus pandemic?
Yes! (Of course.) Honestly, it’s much like B.C. – before Covid. Except everyone’s masked unless actively eating or drinking.
You can have a buffet. Plated meal service. Chef-led food stations. Passed trays of party bites.
But Tony knows that not everyone is comfortable with that. So he’s whipping up creative new presentations that let guests enjoy individual meals too. Like a baby shower where everyone gets their own micro-picnic. (Tony loves thinking up these party-food possibilities. Just let him know what kind of event you want to have!)
So do what’ll make you and your guests most comfortable. Want to be outdoors? Choose a gorgeous garden venue such as Ainsley House. Or a clean outdoor event space such as Blanco Urban Venue. You can hold your function indoors too, of course. The only real current limit is 1000 guests. Vaccines aren’t even required, except in buildings owned by the city of San Jose (like the Tech Interactive), where if you plan on having more than 50 attendees, they must show proof of vaccination.
Check the most updated health orders for the local government of the venue you’re thinking about. Here are event-related orders for some areas Tony serves:
- San Jose Vaccination Requirements for Events
- Palo Alto Coronavirus Information
- San Francisco Department of Public Health Coronavirus-Related Orders
- County of Santa Clara Public Health Orders (including face coverings)
- San Mateo County Health Orders and Updates
- Alameda County COVID-19 Information (including masks and face coverings)
- State of California Requirements and Recommendations for Large Events (500+ indoors, 5000+ outdoors)
Whether it’s boxed lunches for 500, or dinner for 60 at your personal or corporate event, Tony and his team are using the highest safety standards.
Indeed, Tony is leading the way! In July 2020, Tony’s team hosted this panel for local venues to learn how best to navigate the stages of reopening — to keep your event safe during COVID-19 while still allowing you to enjoy it in the setting of your choice:
Wondering how to hold a catered event this year?
Contact Tony
How to Choose a Venue for Your Event
Choosing the place for your reception, party, or conference is paramount to the success of the event. Well, that and choosing the caterer, of course!
While there are many factors that play into that decision, we figure these are the big ones:
Venue Date and Availability
You can scratch it right off your list if the space you’re thinking of is not available for the date of your event. Of course if you’re flexible about the day, reserve away!
Budget
What’s your price? Venues come with all sorts of price tags. Does theirs meet yours?
Type of Event
Really this should be called “ambiance” or “setting.” Think about what your event looks like but also what it feels like.
Full of light or darkly lit? Formal or casual? Outside or inside? Turn-of-the-century (think Rengstorff House) or modern (think The Tech Interactive)? Big, open space for all guests or small, cozy spaces for groups
Overall Flow
The celebration you envision might not necessarily work in the venue you love. Tony and his team can share what works for events at some of our signature locations, and best practices for events in whatever other space you fall in love with.
Number of Guests
Under Type of Event should really come Number of Guests too. Will your party fit in the space? Or will it be engulfed by too much space? What is the maximum capacity and will your attendees fall comfortably under that?
The number of people in the room will not only affect the flow of people and conversation but also air flow, so as you contemplate venues, consider your guests’ physical and temperature comfort as well.
Acoustics
The design of the space will also affect the acoustics. Are you going to have a band? Dancing? An emcee? Background music? (Tony can help you arrange all this too, if you’d like.)
Or do you want a quieter space in which conversations at one table can’t be heard two tables over?
Location
Can your guests get to the gala? Maybe you’d like them to be able to spend the night at a nearby hotel. Or just easily stop by after work. Is the venue near what you want it to be near?
How will they arrive and when they get there, will there be parking if necessary?
What about a view? For a stunning view of downtown San Jose, we recommend the rooftop at The Tech Interactive but of course we’re biased.
Maybe the “view” is a thought-provoking installation at the San Jose Institute of Contemporary Art – or just a good line-of-view for the business presentation you plan on showing the corporate executives.
Also will your guests need the place to be wheelchair-accessible or accommodate other special needs?
Kitchen
Tony will take care of this one for you, with or without an on-site kitchen!
Just call Tony now at (408) 263-4366 to help you figure out an appropriate venue where you want him to cater your next event!
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