Services

Catering Guide

Booking

  • We encourage you to reach out to our sales team at least 15 business days prior to the intended event date. On occasion, dates will book to capacity or our availability may be limited.
  • When confirming a reservation please provide the date, timing, approximate headcount and brief description of event needs. Placeholders are only accommodated for The Center for Tomorrow and the University Club when reserving those spaces.
  • Event details/menus must be submitted no later than 10 days prior to the event. For events of 75 people or more, details/menu must be submitted 2 weeks prior.
  • Events requesting bar service must book and submit a full menu 20 days prior to the date of the event allowing for time to apply for a NYS Liquor License. NYS requires that the menu be submitted as part of the application.
  • Adjustments to details and guest count can be made up until 72 business hours prior to events of less than 75 people. For events of 75 people or more adjustments can be made up until 1 week prior. Requests after the deadline will be accommodated based on our availability. You may not decrease your guest count after the deadline. If the final count is not received, the number indicated on the most up to date order will be considered the guarantee. If the signed contract is not returned prior to the delivery date, your order will not be fulfilled.
  • For events with a choice menu, clients are to provide a place card indicating the meal selection for each guest. We also request a list of guest names and their corresponding meal selections for the manager overseeing your event.
  • Events requested with less than 72 hours notice will only be accommodated based on availability of product, staff and will incur a late booking fee of 20% of the food and beverage bill or $25, whichever is greater.

Service

  • As a standard, we provide tablecloths for food and beverage tables only. Additional linen is available to rent for $7 each.
  • All Drop Off orders will be on high quality disposables. Eco-friendly paper products are included.
  • Drop Off- Pick Up orders are set up, with melamine platters and drink towers and/or urns. A $50 pick up fee will be applied to each order.
  • Delivery fee for North or South Campus locations is $35. Delivery fee for Downtown or other locations is $50. Orders exceeding $200 will have the delivery fee waived.
  • The service staff rate is $25 an hour per attendant, with a four-hour minimum. Events of 50 people or more may require service staff based on menu selections. Service staff is there to maintain your food and beverage stations. Our sales team will work with you on how many service staff members will be required for your event based on menu and guest count.
  • A 10% gratuity will be added to all staffed events.

Payment

  • If you are paying by check, 100% of the payment must be received no less than 7 business days prior to the day of your event.
  • If you are paying by credit card, the card will be processed no less than 2 business days prior to your event.
  • If your event has food or beverage on consumption, or you have requested food or beverage to be refilled during the duration, a card may be kept on file and processed after the event has concluded.

Room Reservations

  • When planning an event at the Center for Tomorrow, please contact our sales team for booking availability and room set up requirements. Room fee information is based on space and duration of your event and can be provided at the time of booking.
  • To book University Club Conference Rooms, you must reserve it using the UB Space Request System. Once confirmation of the room booking has been cleared, our sales team will reach out to confirm your food and beverage details. Conference room A or B carries a room fee of $50 each. When utilizing both A&B, the room fee is $100.
  • When looking to plan an event in the University Club Dining Room, please contact our sales team about availability. This space can only be booked outside of regular business hours, and the space layout cannot be customized.
  • Three Pillars Catering is not responsible for room or table set up in all other venues. Our sales team will notify you of their table requirements for your food and beverage. Please arrange your table and chair needs with your facility coordinator.

Liability

  • Please note, due to New York Health Code regulations concerning proper storage and temperatures of food, food and beverages may not be removed from the premises following a catering event.
  • All stations and buffets may be presented for a maximum of 2 hours.
  • All allergy and dietary restrictions are accommodated when possible. Three Pillars Catering food, as well as products we purchase, are prepared in a kitchen where nuts, dairy, etc. are present, and cross contamination is possible.
  • Any outside food from other vendors or suppliers cannot be served or maintained by our staff.

Bar

  • Alcohol service may not exceed three hours in length. NYS Liquor Licenses are time specific, and bar services can only operate during the time specified on your event order.
  • It is against NYS liquor law to serve guests under the age of 21. All guests must have proper identification. We reserve the right to refuse service to any person for any reason and this is at the discretion of the manager on duty.
  • Substantial food must be provided by Three Pillars Catering at all events where alcohol is being served.
  • Non-alcoholic beverages must be available for all guests during the entirety of the event. Alcohol consumption is limited to the immediate premise of where it is being served.
  • There is a $65 liquor license fee per bar. In order to secure this license, NYS requires a 20-business day notice. Location/venue map and full menu is required for the application submission. Three Pillars Catering will manage the process of applying and obtaining the liquor license for your event.

Late Arrivals & Cancellations

  • All cancellations of food service should be made no less than 72 hours prior to your event in writing to ub-catering@buffalo.edu
  • If a cancellation should occur, the client will be charged for any incurred expenses.
  • Cancellations made within 24 hours will be charged in full.