Catering FAQs

  • Can Vimala’s provide cakes and other desserts?

    We can provide some cakes and other desserts; however, we do not make large, multilayer wedding cakes. You may also bring your own cakes or pies to the event, and we will be happy to cut and serve them to your guests.

  • Does Vimala’s provide staffing for catered events?

    We can staff any event with servers and bartenders. A bartender costs a flat $300 for the event. Servers cost $30per hour each and 1 crew leader $35 with their time starting 2 hours before the event and finishing 1 hour after. Depending on the complexity of the event one server is needed for approximately every 25 guests.

  • Will Vimala’s help us with rentals and other aspects of the event?

    We are happy to make recommendations about rentals, flowers and many other event needs. If you like we will order and coordinate all rental deliveries for you.

  • Other than the price of the food, what costs can we expect for a catered event?

    For a major event that requires staffing, we charge a service fee of $500 or 25% of the food and rental cost, whichever is greater. This covers delivery, set up, food labels with dietary information, logistics and coordination of rentals and other deliveries. Wait staff and bartender wages are in addition to this.

  • Can Vimala’s provide all the meals for conferences that last for several days?

    We can provide food and staffing for any number of meals throughout the course of your conference. A typical conference menu includes a light breakfast, coffee, tea and beverages throughout the day, snacks during breaks, lunch and receptions or dinner if you need them. We vary the menus from one day to the next, so for example we may serve Indian food one lunch, Mediterranean cuisine the next day and a Mexican taco bar the final day. We work with the planners to craft a menu that works for your event.

  • What kind of payment arrangements do we need to make?

    Once a menu is decided upon, we ask for a $500 to $1000 deposit to hold the date. Then, 2 weeks before the event, when we get the final headcount, we will prepare the final invoice. At that point, the numbers can go up, but not down. Also, at that point, 50% of the final bill is due. The balance must be paid a day or 2 prior to the event. We prefer these payments to be made by check.

  • Does Vimala’s have menu packages we can choose from?

    We can provide you with a number of sample menus with pricing, but every event is a custom menu in the sense that we are not at all limited to one certain cuisine. While we are an Indian restaurant, when we cater large events, we can prepare just about anything. We have catered Southern food, Mediterranean food, Korean food, Mexican food and many others. We ask you to think about your dream menu; and somewhere between your dream and your budget, we will find a menu that will make your event memorable for everyone involved.

  • How are alcoholic beverages handled?

    Setting up an event bar requires quite a bit of equipment: decorative tubs for chilling bottles, a portable CO2 powered beer tap if kegs are being served, cold beverage dispensers, mountains of ice, lots of glassware and other special equipment if cocktails are being served. Bar setup can cost anywhere from $300 to $1000 depending on the size of the event and the complexity of the drink menu. The average bar event set up with wine, kegs of beer and some non-alcoholic beverage selections costs $500.
    We are happy to provide wine, beer, nonalcoholic beverages and mixers, however if cocktails are being served you will need to purchase the liquor. Because North Carolina laws require us to purchase wine and beer from licensed distributors, you will save money buying wine and bottled beer yourself. That works for us if you choose to do so. If you want kegs of beer, we will supply those. Kegs are heavy and require special handling and special equipment.