Carlsbad Caterers - Cabo San Marcos

We used Carlsbad Caterers for our Morning after the Wedding Continental Breakfast. Susan and her staff did a fabulous job. She offered different menu options, always listening to what I wanted. The food was delivered exactly on time. The hot food was hot and the cold food was cold and all was delicious. Thank you so much Susan. We will use you again.

Susan has moved south to the San Diego area and I was so bummed when I learned that after needing a good caterer for an upcoming VIP client shoot. Lucky San Diego! Book her, you won't regret it.

Absolutely delicious! We have tried them all. We have three boys under on 9. The meal prep company does not work for us as we don't have the time. The other companies that come pre-made just feel like a TV dinners. These are fresh, local, and amazing. Give them a try you will not be disappointed. Favorite so far is the meatball sub and chicken stir fry.

Susan, the chef, is amazing and the food is fantastic! My family and I enjoyed the pot roast family meal with perfectly cooked veggies and potatoes and melt in your mouth tender meat. They were accommodating to my son's tree nut allergies as well, which was such a relief. My son loved the meatloaf and their tree nut free pasta with pesto. The meals were delicious, healthy, and a great value. You should do take-out for the family or a keto-based meal for yourself; you won't regret it! I can't wait to try the salmon meals and the shrimp wedge salad next.

I contacted Susan Canastra, the owner of Carlsbad Caterers, based on the Yelp reviews alone, looking for a caterer to provide food for my daughters mini wedding, already postponed twice this year due to COVID. I explained to Susan it would be a small event for 15 immediate family members only. She said she was 'sympathetic ' and quoted me $25 per person, which seemed reasonable. I received the menu choices and chose the food I wanted from the list provided, and then received a proposal via email which had *multiple* additional charges that were never mentioned or discussed previously, despite many phone calls and emails. Included in the proposal was a $350. labor fee never explained , a $450 fee for a server and a chef I specifically told Susan I wanted the food just dropped off, since it was only 15 members of the bride and grooms immediate family we could easily serve ourselves. I have had more than 15 ppl for dinner on a holiday and never required a chef or a server , a $100 fee for chafing dish rental *Tip you can BUY full size chafing dishes at Costco Business for $18 vs renting them from this place for $25 ea , a $150 set up fee when I simply wanted the food dropped off. This brought her $25 pp original estimate to OVER $100 pp for a very simple meal. Susan also originally indicated dessert was included in the $25 pp price, but that was completely left off the proposal. My daughter immediately nixed the idea of using Carlsbad Caterers, due to all the shady add ons that were not wanted and not explained. When I questioned the extraneous charges and need for a server and a chef huh??!! I was told that due to COVID, the server will eliminate the need for guests to handle serving utensils. Pretty lame excuse to pad the bill by $225. when I have already said we are 15 immediate family members. When I asked what the 'chef ' charge was for, I was told that it would take 2 ppl to carry the food in and the chef would insure the food was handled properly. Go figure. The $350 'labor charge ' was never explained. Since I did not get back to Susan right away, she then tried a hard sell tactic by saying her dates were filling up fast and then proceeded to email me a formal contract which boosted the price even more even more shady, unexplained, add on fees, to WELL OVER $125 pp. In addition, her contract contained 20 'provisions ' , some of which I doubt are even legal. BEFORE YOU AGREE TO USE THIS CATERER, I STRONGLY SUGGEST YOU READ THE FINE PRINT ON YOUR CONTRACT. She states she will prepare 5% over the originally contracted food amount AND CHARGE YOU FOR IT. Preparing 5% over on the purchased quantity of food is traditional in the catering and F&B event industry. Charging a client for that is unheard of. She also states if the event is cancelled for any reason Venue closure due to State mandates, Act of God, any reason whatsoever, the client automatically loses between $500 and 50% of the full contract price. Including cancelling 6 MONTHS prior to the event, at which point she will not have spent a dime. She has a provision that IF FOOD PRICES GO UP, AFTER the contract is signed, she WILL CHARGE YOU THE INCREASED PRICE. Isn 't that what a contract is for? To lock in prices and know what you will be paying up front? I asked her if food prices went down after signing the contract and prior to the event, if clients prices went down then and received no answer, of course. She also has a provision that SHE CAN CANCEL THE ENTIRE EVENT, AFTER THE CONTRACT HAS BEEN SIGNED, with ZERO penalty to her, and will refund your 50% deposit within TWO WEEKS!!! For real, people! I have a copy of the contract if anyone wants to message me. So she can cancel your whole pre planned event, despite having a signed contract in place, and will STILL keep your money for an additional two weeks, leaving you in the lurch to find another caterer at the last minute, and using your money as her personal piggy bank while she cancels. Signing her contract as is, you co