Rachel SmithPlanning an event in the Circle City comes with a lot of moving parts, but the food is usually what guests remember most.
A corporate summit at Salesforce Tower and a summer wedding in Broad Ripple may be worlds apart, but both rely on a great menu, and any skilled event planner will tell you it can make or break the day.
Over the years, I’ve spent plenty of time getting to know Indy’s local food scene, and I’ve learned that the difference between a meal people forget and one they rave about often comes down to the crew behind the chafing dishes.
With that in mind, here are five catering standouts in the 317, from scratch-kitchen pros to wood-fired pizza specialists, all known for delivering quality and reliability.
How much does catering cost in Indianapolis?
In the Indianapolis market, your final bill usually mirrors the level of service and menu complexity you choose. It can go as low as $15 per guest to $150+ per person, depending on the type of event, food served, and setup.
For a casual office lunch or a simple drop-off taco bar, expect to pay $15 to $25 per guest.
A standard wedding buffet with two proteins and a few sides generally shifts the price range to $35 to $60 per head. For those dreaming of a high-end, five-course plated gala with white-glove service, costs can easily climb to $110 to $150+ per person.
Always remember to factor in the standard 20% to 25% service fee and local taxes when finalizing your event budget.
1. Nameless Catering
Website: http://www.namelesscatering.com/
Address: 1050 Nelson Ave
Contact: +1 317-344-8449 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
Nameless Catering is a solid pick for hosts who want pricing that’s straightforward and truly all-inclusive, so there aren’t any surprise admin fees popping up later.
Their per-person rate includes the full setup, like plates, cutlery, and serving gear, so you don’t have to chase down every little detail. It’s a big time-saver for busy office managers or stressed brides who don’t want to itemize things like napkins.
I went to a mixer recently that had their Mexicue fusion bar, and it was a total crowd-pleaser. The smoky BBQ paired with classic Mexican sides disappeared fast, and it just worked.
Even better, the team seems to run things smoothly behind the scenes. One of the coordinators told me their staff is great at flipping a room quickly without killing the vibe or interrupting the party.
One thing to consider is that since they handle a high volume of events, they might not be the best fit if you’re looking for super customized, off-menu gourmet plating.
Customer Reviews
Perfect choice for my two day meeting event!
Nameless was the perfect choice for my two day meeting event! Carlie walked me through ordering and made sure I was squared away, and Olivia delivered our lunches on time and with a smile. The food was great (we did a burger and chili bar) and the portions were generous and plenty for my team of 70. Thanks again!
- Abbey Baumer | Google Review
The food itself was amazing
We had our holiday party catered for 80 people. The set up was timely and the presentation of the food was perfect! The food itself was amazing, and everybody was super pleased. We will definitely be using Nameless Catering in the future!
- Erin OBrien | Google Review
2. Sweet and Savory Catering
Website: http://www.sweetsavorycatering.com/
Address: 4340 W. 96th St. Suite #104
Contact: +1 317-802-9004 / [email protected]
Hours: Tuesday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Sweet and Savory Catering is a great fit if you’re into creative, chef-driven food and you care about where the ingredients come from.
They run a true scratch kitchen and lean hard into farm-to-table, sourcing from local Indiana farms and cheesemakers. Because of that, the menu feels personal and thoughtfully put together, not like a standard banquet you’ve had a dozen times.
This attention to detail really shows in how they run an event, too.
I went to a small gallery opening last fall where they were catering, and they actually set aside warm appetizers just for the hosts so they could eat during the busiest part of the night. It sounds small, but it made a big impression.
Flavor-wise, everything tastes bright and fresh, especially their sauces and dressings.
The only catch is they’re not a high-volume operation, so huge last-minute requests can be tough to pull off.
Customer Reviews
Truly exceptional service and flavor!
Sweet & Savory knocked it out of the park. Our guests are still talking about how delicious everything was. The food was beautifully presented, fresh, and perfectly timed. Jade as well as the rest of the team were professional and attentive, and they made the whole catering process feel effortless. Truly exceptional service and flavor! Photo: aspiringeden.
- Alyssa Garelli | Google Review
Sweet & Savory Catering was fantastic!
Sweet & Savory Catering was fantastic! Working with them was a breeze – they are very organized and worked with us to design our wedding day food. The private tasting was a great experience. The food was delicious! And on the wedding day, everything not only tasted amazing, but Sweet & Savory made sure everything looked perfect as well. They even saved some of the appetizers (and kept them warm!) for us after the ceremony.
- Jessie McCormick Fisk | Google Review
3. Indy Fresh Catering
Website: https://indyfreshcatering.com/
Address: 3047 Lafayette Road
Contact: +1 317-605-1200 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Sunday: 6:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Indy Fresh Catering is one of those teams that can flex to fit what you need, since they offer different service levels from simple drop-off to fully staffed, full-service support.
On top of that, they run a solid scratch kitchen and have a mobile wood-fired pizza truck, which instantly makes outdoor events feel more fun and interactive.
Their mix of quality and convenience is a big reason they’re so popular with law firms and corporate offices. Their online ordering portal is also quick and easy, so placing an order doesn’t turn into a whole back-and-forth.
I actually tried their pizza truck at a local festival, and it totally delivered. The crust had that perfect wood-fired char, and it’s such a great way to skip the usual buffet feel and keep things more relaxed.
They’re also really good about dietary restrictions, so gluten-free or vegan guests don’t have to feel like an afterthought.
The only thing to keep in mind is that if you go with delivery-only, you’ll need to handle the serving setup yourself unless you upgrade to a staffed package.
Customer Reviews
The entire team was super easy to work with
We had Indy Fresh cater our wedding and went with the pizza oven! I’m so glad we decided to go with a more unconventional meal because our guests loved it! Everyone raved about the pizza and loved the idea of something different! The entire team was super easy to work with and responded quickly to any emails or questions that I had. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a caterer!
- Megan Ponce | Google Review
The food was outstanding
We used Indy Fresh Catering for a company event for around 50 people. They were on time and the food was outstanding. Special shout out to the Mac and cheese as well as the bread with herbed butter! Everyone raved about how great the food tasted and we will be sure to keep them in mind for future events.
- Maggie McLean | Google Review
4. Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering
Website: https://jacquies.net/
Address: 4306 W 96th St, Indianapolis, IN 46268
Contact: +1 317-283-2776 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Saturday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Jacquie’s Gourmet Catering brings a little European flair to the Midwest, thanks to Chef Jacquie’s refined culinary background. They are known for a five-star service standard combined with sophisticated dishes like Brie-stuffed chicken and beef short ribs in Herbs de Provence.
Because of this, it’s no surprise they’re a preferred vendor at a lot of Indy’s most prestigious venues. They’re especially strong when it comes to handling complicated logistics, and they make it look easy.
What really stands out, though, is how thorough they are during the planning process. I know someone who worked with their coordinator, Kris, and she made allergy-friendly menu changes feel easy and stress-free.
Then on event day, the staff was also just as impressive. They’re incredibly professional and often walk around hand-serving appetizers, which keeps things moving and helps guests avoid crowding around a buffet line.
That said, if your event is more laid-back and you just want a casual comfort-food spread, this level of gourmet service might feel like a bit more than you need.
Customer Reviews
We recently used Jacquie’s for my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary, and everything was absolutely incredible. The food was outstanding ~ beautifully prepared and delicious ~ and the professionalism of Jacquie and her team made the entire evening stress-free. They went above and beyond to make the celebration special, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Highly recommend.
- Katie M | Google Review
Jacquie’s was great to work with! We used their wedding bar package and they answered all our questions quickly and made edits to our contract several times when we requested to do so. Their team even pre-set drinks for the bridal party and bride/groom so that we didn’t have to wait in line for our first drinks before dinner. Their team worked quickly and professionally the entire night!
- Megan Suhr | Google Review
5. Kahn’s Catering
Website: https://www.kahnscatering.com/
Address: 8580 Allison Pointe Blvd
Contact: + 317-577-3663 / [email protected]
Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Kahn’s Catering is a big operation, but it still feels surprisingly personal. They’re the exclusive caterer for places like the Indiana State Museum, and they come fully stocked with fine china and even a Chef’s Garden for fresh garnishes.
Even with all that scale, they still keep things grounded in quality. They stick to a scratch-kitchen standard, so even the stocks and sauces are made from the ground up.
This attention to detail really shows on event day. I was at an event at the Montage recently, and everything ran so smoothly that there was never a line at the bar or the buffet.
On top of that, their all-inclusive packages can be a lifesaver. They often bundle the open bar, the meal, and even a custom wedding cake into one price, which makes planning a lot easier.
The main thing to watch for is the minimums. They’re excellent for large events, but their food and beverage requirements can be too steep for a smaller gathering on a tighter budget.
Customer Reviews
They were very accommodating to our needs
I recently held a work event at the Eiteljorg Museum and was partnered with Kahn’s Catering for our service. They were so helpful as I was planning this event for the very first time since 2019. The hot cocoa bar was a huge hit with all our guests! They were very accommodating to our needs. I look forward to hosting another event here soon and working with Kahn’s!
- Jenni Zentz | Google Review
The entire team was professional, friendly and attentive
We recently used Kahn’s Catering for our 20th Anniversary celebration at the Indiana State Museum. The entire team was professional, friendly and attentive to our needs every step of the way. We could not have been more impressed with the quality of service and quality of food. Our guests couldn’t stop talking about how delicious the food was. Thank you to the team at Kahn’s!
- Sagamore Institute | Google Review
