Side Street Catering

Great! Sandra is not only a food specialist, she is very reassuring- which was helpful as I planned what was for us, a large party in our home. She provided advice and good ideas about staging the food and bar as well as planning the menu. She and her assistant arrived promptly, as did Adrian, the bartender Sandra recommended. During the party, she was busy making sure the food was presented beautifully at the right time, plus, she was warm and helpful to the guests who sought her out. Adrian provided just the right combination of professional know-how and low-key friendliness. After the party, they packaged the leftovers for us and cleaned everything perfectly. Sandra says she wants to make her clients feel that they are guests at their own party, and she did just that for us.

First, Sandra is a doll - both professional and friendly. She immediately "got" our vision, and made very practical suggestions to help us have a fantastic time, delicious food, and as relaxed planning process as possible. We ended up changing our venue 3 weeks before our wedding due to some unexpected complications, and she shifted gears quickly and smoothly to accommodate the late change in plans. Sandra and her team are AMAZING. She is a master of flow, and made sure we would be comfortable and avoid any bottlenecks or mishaps along the way. On the day of the wedding, I was blissfully unaware of the details, and really got to just show up for cocktail hour and dinner without thinking about one single thing besides having fun and mingling with our friends and family. Sandra made a point of finding me several times throughout the evening to make sure I was eating and that we had what we needed. The food was sublime - every single bite - our guests were commenting on how delicious everything was, and the service...her team was professional, kind and very friendly. Every detail was seen to, the presentation both of the food and how the tables were set up was simply gorgeous, and as the night went on, we realized how lucky we were to have met Sandra and her team; how often does a caterer and their team make you feel like family? I highly recommend that you choose Side Street for any event where you want delicious food, attention to detail, fair pricing and impeccable service. What we ate: Hors d'oeuvres - Thai turkey meatballs (you have to get these!), Thai beef salad in cucumber boats, assorted cheeses Dinner - Salmon & pineapple skewers, Filet mignon with horseradish sauce, Side Street salad, Roasted fingerling potatoes, Roasted zucchini, yellow squash and portobello mushrooms. Sandra also makes desserts, though we have to be gluten-free, so used our favorite GF bakery for dessert. She accommodated our various food allergies and sensitivities with grace and ease. We are still waiting on some of our pictures, but look past the bride and groom to see a little of the food, and a glimpse of Sandra.

It was fabulous! Our guests raved about the food, stating that it was the best 'wedding food' they had ever had. We had 12 people on the waitstaff and two bars with bartenders. The bars were open and hors devours were passed during cocktail hour. For dinner our guests enjoyed Side Street's signature salads individually plated and then their dinners were served as a second course. Side street served grilled filet mignon with a red wine sauce and mashed potatoes, halibut with a white wine sauce and green beans, and a pasta vegetarian dish. We were so impressed with the quality and the quantity of the food, as well as the professionalism of the owner and her staff. Prior to the event Sandra visited our venue and helped us with layout and plans for the flow of our guests. All of the meal selections were correct for our guests and Sandra even prepared a special meal for all of the children. After the wedding reception everything was cleaned up and stored, just the way we needed to return linens and dishes to the rental company. I highly recommend Side Street Catering for any event large or small, casual or very fancy!

Beautifully! Food was wonderful and there was no set up or clean up done by us at all. They took care of everything and we just enjoyed the party and our guests!

The party was wonderful! Several guests approached me and commented on the presentation and flavor of the food. We were very pleased with how fancy Sandra and her employee made the barbecue look, while still having a welcoming and relaxing feel. The service was prompt, there was more than enough food for all of our guests, and the staff was very friendly. You wouldn't even know a party had happened afterward because everything was cleaned and put back in its place. Sandra had many great ideas about menu options, layout for various tables, and gathering areas for our guests. She even plated and served a special cake brought in from a local bakery. We had her excellent smoked barbecue, grilled chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, orzo pasta salad, sangria and lemonade. Side Street Catering really took the party up a notch and I will definitely use them again for future parties. If you are looking to host a party and to be able to really enjoy your guests, this is the way to do it!

This is the second time Sandra has catered an event for us and we couldn't have been happier. We got numerous comments on the food served. We did very little and we're able to enjoy the event! From start to finish Side Street did everything! Our guests were so impressed that quite a few asked for her card. She and her staff get an A+ from us!

It was lovely.   The  food they recommended, using our suggestions, was delicious. The service. was thoughtful

and helpful and everything was  packaged, frozen, cleaned-up before they left.  The owner came earlier in the

week to see us, visualize how to best arrange thing,s and gave us the reassurance that was so important at

a very, difficult, stressful time.

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The best experience I could have ever hoped for. Sandra was a delight to work with. The food was delicious and she provided unexpected extras like decorating my dining room table with linens and risers, placing food title note cards next to each platter, cleaning away empty plates and serving cake to guests after it was cut. Plus she cleaned the entire kitchen afterward so you never would have known there was a party. I highly recommend; I should have used her sooner!

My event was my own birthday celebration on Sat., June 6, 2015
The planning of the event began months in advance with phone consultation with Sandra DeVaux of Side Street Catering.  Our phone/planning conversations culminated in her visiting my home for a "site visit" to plan the layout and execution of where guests would enjoy the entertainment and how they would smoothly get and enjoy food and drink.
The day of the event the Side Street Catering team arrived early (5PM for an event that began at 7PM) and began to methodically set up the bar and where the food would be prepared and displayed.  What I did not know/expect was how professionally each member of the team was DRESSED.  Presentation is everything and I knew that my guests would see and feel that they were being taken care of in a professional manner.  
Guest have called and sent thank you cards to me after the event letting me know how good the food was.  During the event guest remarked how VISUALLY appealing the food was presented as well as delectable.  Michael, the bartender was extremely gracious to the guests and paid attention to them and when he was not tending bar he went around and cleaned up plates, glasses (I had rented champagne glasses) and other items.  His efforts and those of his team members spoke volumes as to the tone of the party and the attention that my guests received.
What must be remarked here is an aspect of Side Street Catering both before and at the event that I know for a fact is not always the case with caterers.  I am speaking of a high level of attention to detail. For example, upon arrival the team inquired with me what my own thoughts were for how things should be arranged and displayed.  They noticed all aspects of my guests arrival such as the fact that some were bringing gifts and where should they be placed and organized.  I had a four piece professional quartet playing on my patio and for two sets they accompanied me on vocals.  They noted this and asked if it would be good to have certain dishes served after my first vocal set (and I would announce that).  Honestly, I could go on and on but suffice it to say that the Side Street Catering teams commitment to details made a real palpable difference.
It is hard to believe that on that day Side Street Catering catered two OTHER events.  Its hard to believe because I felt as if I was their only customer that day.
If you are reading this review and are looking for a caterer do yourself a big favor. Stop looking and contact Side Street Catering.  You will not regret it.
Thank you,
Sam Jackson

My experience with Sandra at Side Street Catering was above and beyond amazing. Sandra was hands on from day 1 which was six months out from my wedding day. Sandra not only catered my wedding but had wonderful cost saving recommendations including  a DJ and a rental company to rent all wedding venue necessities.  

Just a few things I would like to add about Sandra. She is a perfectionist. She is a kind heart felt woman that knows what to say and when to say it. She was confident and in control at all times most important  the day of the wedding.

I can not say how delicious her food was that evening. I had a party of 90 people that attended and ALL 90 people talked about how GREAT the food taste. The presentation was just beautiful!  I have yet to talk to anyone that could find anything that they didn't like!  The CRABCAKES were to die for! The selection and suggestion on the menu was amazing. Sandra knows what taste well together and is talented beyond words!

The staff of 5 was just amazing!  I would love to remarry next weekend just to have the staff attend. They were all pleasant, professional, and very attentive to all my guest. Thank you!

I can not think of enough positive things to say about Side Street Catering. I do not feel there is another catering company in the Northern VA. Metro area that can compare to her company. A+

Side Street will cater any and all events I ever have in the future! 

Thank you Sandra for EVERYTHING!!!!!

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I like the quality of the food and the preparation.  It was good.

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Sandra was very helpful with menu options. She also made a home visit to go over the staging of the event.  The food was excellent, with everyone going back for multiple helpings!  Her staff was very professional.  I would definitely use Sandra again.  She was a pleasure to work with.

We chose them partly for the availability, because it was a birthday party in December and many of the caterers were busy with holiday parties and then talking to the woman, she seemed upbeat, responsive, fun, and flexible and casual and not as formal as couple of the other companies I spoke with. She was a fun person to have at the party.

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Sandra came up with menu choices targeted to his favorite foods and our budget, worked out the best logistics for the food and bar, provided a first-rate assistant and bartender, adjusted unflappably when the event had to be rescheduled, set up and dismantled everything flawlessly, served amazing food, and left us with delicious leftovers, even though we had ordered conservatively.  With previous caterers, we have had trouble getting guests to move from high-traffic areas to the dining room buffet, but not with Sandra's food!  Even friends who never eat at cocktail parties were raving and asking for Sandra's card.

All the outstanding marks for Side Street Catering are richly deserved.  Sandra DeVaux brings the complete package:  great menus, fabulous food, seasoned expertise, high quality and reasonable prices, and a wonderful personality.   Sandra and Side Street Catering fully deserve their A rating.

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Working with Sandra of Side Street Catering was great from the start. She is professional yet personable, warm and upbeat.  She provided a list of appetizer items from which we selected many of our favorites. From that she put together two menu options at different price points.  We wanted a 70s themed party and she researched and came up with menu options from that decade. We selected a few to work into the other up to date items she suggested.  She was so easy and fun to work with!  She was also very flexible, making suggestions, but not imposing what we had to do.  She suggested we use one of her bartenders and he and his service were a real hit with the guests.  All the food was all so tasty, creative and easy to eat.

Sandra and her team arrived two hours ahead of the party and began heating up the food. She decorated the table, served the food, kept everything moving, served the birthday cake and at the end, and cleaned up everything after the party finished. I felt like Cinderella, and didn't want my glass slippers to come off! 

I would definitely hire Sandra and team from Side Street Caterers next time we throw a party - just as she said, once you have a catered party, you never want to go back to doing it all yourself. She allowed my husband and I to really enjoy our party and our guests. Cannot say how very special she made this evening for us!

The guests arrived about 10 minutes earlier than noon and the buffet was not prepared.  Therefore, some of the guests left to return to work without having lunch.  The food and service was great.  The food was delicious.  However, there was a ton of food left over which had to be carted home.  Since I did not have enough room in my home refrigerator for all that food, I had to find a homeless shelter that would take some of the leftover food.  If is impossible to guess the number of funeral guests that will stay afterwards to have a meal with family, so it was my fault for the guesstimate of such a large number of guests.  Sandra also provided a separate menu for the children. She prepared chicken fingers and bagel bites with apple juice for the kids.  This was a wonderful idea to satisfy their picky tastes.  The only fault with the food was the desserts.  They were all store bought and unappealing in looks and taste.  For that reason I was very dissatisfied with the overall cost.  The total was more than one thousand dollars over budget.  I don't think I would have been dissatisfied with the cost if the buffet had been ready when the guests arrived, and the desserts were of a better variety and quality. Overall, Sandra's catering service was excellent.  And if I am in need of any catering service again, I would definitely work with her and her staff.

I reached out to this company because of all its great reviews on Angie's list.  It completely met and exceeded my expectations.
I heard back from Sandra shortly after I left a voice mail inquiring about availability and a proposal.  She asked a lot of smart questions about my event and my space and my budget.  She immediately sent her master menu and asked for me to pick favorites.  From that, she tailored two menus to suit my needs.  She came a few days before for a site visit and made a lot of helpful, strategic recommendations about furniture placement, flow and decor.
In addition to preparing seven sensational homemade hors d'oeuvres, Sandra also provided a dedicated bartender (Matthew) at a reasonable cost of $25/hour.  She and her team arrived more than two hours before the event and had EVERYTHING under control.  When I asked how I could help, she sent me off to have a cocktail and relax.  Now THAT is how to get ready for a party!
She and her team arranged everything beautifully, even including signage so our guests could easily identify her treats.  Throughout the evening, dirty plates, glasses and cutlery magically disappeared.  At the end of the night, she wrapped up the few remaining leftovers and put them in our refrigerator, cleaned counters, swept the floor and returned all furnishings to their original positions.  I have to say that she left the place even nicer than she found it.
We truly were able to enjoy visiting with all of our guests without the hassle of cooking, arranging, refilling glasses and cleaning up.  All of our guests raved about the quality and variety of the food and the amazing service.  We never want to have another party without Sandra and Matthew!!

I found Side Street Catering on Angie's List and contacted Sandra about 5 weeks before the event to schedule catering.  She got back to me within a day and provided a large list of sample dishes to get an idea what we were looking for.  We got married the day before the event.  The event was an informal wedding reception to celebrate our marriage with friends and family. We were aiming for an outdoor garden party/barbecue feel for our wedding reception in our backyard.  From our food choices, Sandra provided two menus to select from.  She was truly excellent about customizing the menu, making changes as plans changed, and sticking to our budget.  Through Side Street Catering, we also hired a server to help out and a bartender to serve alcohol we purchased.  
The day of the event, Sandra, Nancy, and Matthew arrived punctually and got right to work, putting the food together, setting up the areas for serving, the tables, and the bar area.  The food was fantastic and everything just ran smoothly.  I'll say it again...everything ran smoothly, and much of the credit goes to Side Street.  They did their job, did it very well, and we got to enjoy our wedding reception. The party was a success, much thanks to Side Street!
Our guests loved the bartender, Matthew and all of the drinks he made.  He had everything was ready for the champagne toast when we did it.  The tables and party areas stayed clean and stocked thanks to Nancy, Our kitchen was clean after the party, and excess supplies were easy to find.  Sandra looked after us throughout the party and (thankfully) made sure we got food first.  Otherwise we probably wouldn't have gotten any because we were so busy going around the party and talking to everyone.  
All in all, highly recommend Side Street Catering for your next party.  Thank you Sandra, Matthew and Nancy!

Sandra responded very quickly to my first inquiry.  Given the gathering was related to a death in my family, there was short notice.  Sandra was responsive and kind.  She handled all of the set up and service and she was completely inconspicuous.  The food was excellent, and exactly as expected.