They may do good food but they are horrific neighbors. They dump rotting food and dirty mop buckets into the alley to drain into the sewer from their back garage. This is illegal in the city of Chicago and many of the neighbors have filed complaints with the city because of this. This attracts rats and the smell is awful on warm days. Hopefully the city shuts this place down. read more

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D'absolute was the caterer for our wedding, and I cannot recommend them enough. They went far above and beyond what I had expected from a caterer--providing advice and help with day of scheduling, even helping to set out some of our decorations. They are a truly professional company that excels at what they do. They anticipated our needs in a truly impressive way, and I could not have asked for more! Beyond logistics, the food was phenomenal. They have a really broad and diverse menu of choices, and we were able to serve our guests a meal that really reflected what we enjoy. We did not go the traditional steak, chicken, or fish route, but rather had a veggie centered family-style meal. We got a ton of compliments from our guests on the food afterwards. It was a super hot day, and our venue was partially outside, so I was extra happy to be serving a light meal. read more

D'absolute Catering - Appetizers - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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UPDATE: For our one year anniversary, we wanted to have the same menu we had at our wedding. I was so excited that Chris made it happen! Not only did we get to have a "little taste" of our special day, but we were able to sit down and truly enjoy the food without having to run around like on our wedding day. We ordered everything from the hors d'oeuvres to the late night snack. The food was just as delicious AND beautifully presented as the tasting and wedding day!! We had a socially distant friendly get together of our immediate families and they were thrilled with our idea to have the same food. Again, we had compliments on compliments. Everyone left full and happy! :) Also, the food was expertly packed into boxes. They had styrofoam boards on the bottom of the box and the top which helped with stable stacking and spillage. Everything was still hot when we received it. Thank you so much, Chris! You and your crew have made another special event successful! We can't wait to use D'Absolute again! read more

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This is the first time I've used D'absolute Catering after tasting their food at a baby shower a few months ago. All I can say is "WOW". From start to finish this is a first-class business. The planning process went smoothly and Mena was invaluable with her suggestions regarding the menu. The food was fresh and hot food arrived hot and cold food arrived nicely chilled. The dinner rolls were soft, the salad dressing was perfect and the portions were extremely generous. My order consisted of spinach & cranberry salad, dinner rolls, chicken piccata, roasted fresh vegetables and oven roasted potatoes along with cheese ravioli accompanied by fresh mushrooms and tomatoes. When people make the moaning "oh-my-goodness-this-is-so-delicious" noise while they are eating, you know the food it a hit. Highly recommended all around. I won't hesitate to use them for our future office party needs. read more

I've worked with Chris (owner) at D'Absolute Catering on two very large scale events over the past few months... Service Staff: FANTASTIC. On time, hard working and great with guests! Food: Well presented, upscales twists on classic fare. Breakdown/Cleanup: Saved my life on 2 occasions by busting things down, and putting things back the way the night started...they take pride in their work, and do not leave until the job is finished. From start to finish, they are a class act. Timely, accommodating, friendly, inventive, energetic and reliable...website is very descriptive and helpful, as well. They do full-service, and also "drop-off" catering (without staff). Reasonably priced. They are my go-to rec for caterers in the city...def worth a call/visit to price things out and build a menu for any private function. read more

D'absolute Catering - Caterers Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Mena and George were a pleasure to work with, and Mena was very patient with my sometimes slow follow up on questions. The food was phenomenal -- we gave them just a couple of guidelines and they developed a menu that was absolutely perfect for our daughter's bat mitzvah party. Everyone at the party was impressed with the food and asked where it came from. The only regret I have about the evening is that I didn't ask to take home the leftovers! More than the food, though, was the incredibly helpful staff -- they helped with set up and break down, and George checked in frequently to ask if he could help with anything. I cannot recommend D'Absolute enough. read more

D'Absolute was great and we are very glad we found them to cater our wedding. Owner, Chris, and coordinator, Mena, were incredible assets for our wedding. From the very first tasting we knew that Chris was the best choice for us. Not only was the food better and more substantial, but it was also more fairly priced than many big name catering companies we met with. Chris and his team were incredibly helpful and supportive throughout the planning process and provided a ton of suggestions and advice that made the process easier and the day of smoother. On the wedding day, Chris and Mena were both there ensuring that everything was perfect. We could feel that they cared about the wedding and we were not just another event in their calendar. Mena was there the entire night handing all the different catering related issues. The food was perfect and plentiful. Everyone loved the food including the passed hor'dourves, appetizers, and main family style meal. Without D'Absolute our wedding would not have been what it was. We both wholeheartedly recommend it. read more

D'absolute catered our wedding at Bridgeport Art Center last week. They did an amazing job. Because the space is large and used for multiple aspects of our day (outdoor space for ceremony then quickly turned into cocktail hour area) we really relied on D'absolute to quickly and smoothly transition spaces, which they did. With Covid19 regulations and ever changing rules the days leading up to our wedding we had cancellations requiring us to do last minute table swaps and it was kind of hectic but communicating all these changes to Mena was easy. Our food tasted amazing and our whole family days later was raving about it and how surprised they were that wedding food could be so delicious. Must recommend for a great wedding caterer. read more

Our wedding reception was at Room 1520 in August of 2015. D'Absolute was on their preferred list along with about 16 others. Through a "Value Based Analytical Hierarchy Process" (a term my Project Manager Groomzilla used when planning for the wedding), we narrowed it down to just three for a tasting. D'Absolute was the first one we on our list so we had no expectations. The 'tasting room' was a small restaurant-like room with a bar. Nothing fancy at all. Chris was the one to great us, offer us a drink, and served us the food. The food was delicious - appetizers, short ribs, the chicken, and even the ravioli. In terms of food, this first tasting set the bar. Although we were already impressed with D'Absolute we still attended the tastings with the other caterers. Their tastings included a decorated table, servers, cute menus, and other extras to try and impress us but their food was just as good as D'Absolute. Our final decision was based on the cost and D'Absolute beat the rest by several thousand dollars. About a month before our wedding we met with Natalie to discuss the final count, the menu, the signature drinks, the table cloth colors, and other important details. She was just as down to earth as Chris and very easy to talk to. On the day of the wedding the place looked amazing; the foyer, the table settings in the main room, and the bar area. Our signature drinks, sangria & mojito, were a hit. More importantly, every one raved about the food. A friend of mine said that she was already full but she couldn't stop eating because it was so good. Statements like that confirmed to us that we made the right choice with D'Absolute. Thank you, Chris & Natalie, for providing us with exceptional service & food! read more

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We used D'Absolute to cater our October 2017 wedding at Room 1520, and couldn't be happier with how everything went. Of all the places we did tastings, not only was D'Absolute's food the tastiest, they were also the friendliest and most accommodating of what we wanted for our big day, so deciding to go with them was a no-brainer. Our wedding was on the small-ish side (70 people) so we didn't want to hire a coordinator if we didn't have to, and Chris at D'Absolute said his crew could take care of everything a coordinator would do (put favors on tables, set up the gift/place card table, put out any signage, etc.), so we happily saved a few bucks not hiring a wedding coordinator. On the big day everything came together perfectly. Chris' brother was our day-of supervisor, and the fact that my husband and I weren't even aware of everything that was going on behind the scenes speaks to how well he orchestrated things. Everything was set up perfectly at the bar and on the tables, the hors d'oeuvres at the cocktail hour were passed around frequently so everyone got some, everyone had plenty to eat at dinner, our dessert table was set up beautifully, and at the end of the night the whole D'Absolute crew worked quickly to clean up, break everything down, and pack up leftover food and booze for us to take. Since the wedding several of our guests have commented on good the food was (get their mac and cheese and thank me later) and how impressed they were with the staff there. When one of our guests told her server about a nut allergy, they brought her out a freshly prepared nut-free salad without hesitation, which is a level of service we didn't necessarily expect, but are very grateful for. From first meeting, to menu planning, to coordinating beforehand, to the actual wedding day, working with D'Absolute was a great experience and we couldn't recommend them more for anyone's catering needs. read more

Chris, Nathalie, Mena, and the rest of your catering staff...thank you so much for providing Ktrice and I such a seamless cocktail reception for our wedding night! For our wedding, I was very specific in what types of food and how we wanted to present the food. During my initial conversation with Chris, on the phone, I explained to him the type of reception I was hoping to have for our wedding, and I wanted to make sure everyone would be full! Culturally, if a guest is still hungry after your wedding, you will never hear the end of it! Secondly, we wanted to make sure the food was not your typical "wedding" food, where guests graze over it, and complain about it being cold, or just not good. Our tasting was amazing! Chris made sure he answered any questions we had, and went through all the details of what we envisioned. He knew exactly what we wanted and executed the plan perfectly. The food was amazing! Guests are still raving about the mac and cheese and corn bread. I had a wedding guest that was allergic to pretty much everything, but Mena, made sure to provide a special plate for her, and also made sure it was personally delivered to her, out of the entire sea of wedding guests. Mena made sure our bridal suite was ready with a cocktail for my husband and I right after the ceremony, and that we had an ample amount of apps ready for us. Everything was set to a tee! I cannot thank you guys enough for everything you did! Thank you! read more

D'Absolute catered our wedding at Glessner House in June of 2017. We could not have been happier with the quality of service in all areas - linens, glassware, bartenders, servers, and of course the food! We got a lot of compliments on how tasty everything was. Mena supervised the night of our wedding and she was wonderful - great attention to detail and so thoughtful (saving us appetizers when we went offsite for some pictures, and handing us champagne when we finished walking down the aisle!) The night went off without a hitch thanks to her. We highly recommend using D'Absoulte for you event - they are true pros! read more

My husband and I truly could not have been more thankful to have worked with the D'Absolute team for our wedding, primarily Chris. Chris made our entire wedding planning and wedding day experience such a positive one!! While our catering costs rose due to the current inflation situation, Chris was communicative about those changes; he was honest with us, listened to our concerns, and gave us ideas for ways in which we could still save for our wedding. The food that D'Absolute provides is truly outstanding-- high quality, great portions, and variety! We really enjoyed our tasting and could not wait to eat the food again for our wedding. We would love to continue to support D'Absolute by recommending them to anyone in search of catering, but also by ordering from them for any future upcoming events. I am really shocked by any negative reviews written, as we strongly feel that you really will not be disappointed choosing D'Absolute as your wedding caterer! read more

Well, lets see. We went for a tasting, which went extremely well, until the end when we started getting the Hard Sell. The Hard Sell then turned pretty aggressive after I mentioned that he was the first caterer we had gotten a quote/had a tasting with and we wanted to consult with a couple more places. Chris (the owner) insisted that the menu he had worked up was an incredible deal and to pass it up would be nothing more than madness. And to turn the screw even harder on the Hard Sell, he pronounced an expiration date of 5 days after the tasting to honor the pricing. Well, we left then and I got a few follow up emails sort of implying that my "special pricing" was ending and what did I want to do? So I email back saying I would like a quote for everything, all china, furniture, etc. because I wanted to get a full idea of the final cost (and our original quote had been for food only) and suddenly the emails stopped. Then, to add insult to injury, I get another follow up email a few weeks later where he calls me Anna! omg. The food was amazing, don't get me wrong, everything was so delicious, but I didn't appreciate the arm twisting tactic or the presumption that the deal was as good as it was (it really wasn't, and turned out to be the highest of the three quotes after I figured in all the other stuff). I see others have had fantastic experiences with D'absolute, and maybe we just were a bad fit personality-wise, but really, if you cant even get your potential clients name right then I sense a bigger problem here. Even if your lemon chicken was bad-ass. Sincerely- Anna read more

This review is long overdue! We got married in October 2015 and our reception was downtown in the Joffrey Ballet building, which is basically just an empty space with nice views on a busy street. We had no idea how it would all come together, but Chris and Natalie knocked it out of the park!! D'Absolute handled all of the food, drinks, tables, and chairs from top to bottom. They had very short turnaround times and met them all perfectly. There were of course scheduling problems and other snafus that are inevitable in any wedding, but they expertly corrected all of them (e.g., Binny's brought the wrong amount of champagne, a centerpiece got knocked over and spilled wine, tables had to be broken down for dance floor, etc.). We didn't even find out about some issues until the next day, or later--but we never even noticed--that's how professional they are!! Food was outstanding (the private tasting part beforehand was my favorite) and service was unbeatable. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED !!!! 6 out of 5 stars!! read more

This is not a review of the food that Chris provides, rather his catering business. Since the wedding was cancelled, I never got to eat the food, although I am sure it would have been great. This also is not written with any bitterness because the wedding was called off, so please don't misinterpret my comments that way. I am giving a one star based on my experience, which again, did not include trying the food. Initially, I signed a contract with Chris last May and since the second deposit was due in early June, I wrote the check for both the initial deposit and deposit two. Deposit two was $2,500. My name was on the contract and the checks.We called off the wedding about 5 days before the second deposit was due, and I let Chris know immediately that we would be cancelling our contract. Since we had five days to go before the second deposit was due, I thought I would be entitled to a refund of the $2,500 deposit, since it would not be due for another several days. I explained this in an email and Chris replied he would get back to me. Over the next month or two, I emailed Chris twice more asking for a refund and explaining my thoughts on the matter, with no response until the final email where I voiced extreme displeasure with not only not getting a refund, but with his lack of regard for business ethics or common decency.Chris finally responded to me and told me he would not be issuing a refund and that he had discussed the issue with my former fiance, and he was under the impression that it had all been settled. I don't blame her for not knowing the situation, since we were no longer talking.Chris, on the other hand, had received 3 emails from me, all of them explaining my views on the matter. My name was also on the contract and the checks. It is unethical to ignore a former clients emails and discuss my money behind my back with someone whose name was not on the checks and contract.This is the reason for the one star (I wish it could be zero) review. Not only was I not issued a refund for my deposit, I was never explained why this never happened. Chris also ignored my emails for months and discussed the issue with someone else.I am sure he puts on a great party and his food tastes great, and I hope no one has to cancel a contract with him, but this was based on my experience with him, and I have nothing but bad things to say about my experience. I would highly highly recommend going to a true professional instead of Chris. read more

When I was planning for my August 2013 wedding with the Glessner House museum, I learned that D'absolute Catering is the exclusive caterer for the location, due to their knowledge of the space and respect for the somewhat regimented guidelines of the museum space. My fiance and I were originally a bit concerned to not have a choice in the matter, but after reviewing the menu, chatting with Chris and Nathalie, and enjoying the most comprehensive "tasting" ever, we were hooked! Chris and Nathalie not only deliver on exquisite food, they will work with you on your menu personally and help identify the best options for your budget. Plus, they are lovely to work with! They try to help make the process as easy as possible - one example was when my sister was shipping some alcohol for the wedding (Glessner museum allows you to bring in your own, a real cost saver!), but it needed to be shipped somewhere with a liquor license. Chris helped take care of that, which took another worry off of our plates. At the reception itself, Nathalie was very hands on with her staff to ensure the service - and their brand - lived up to what we expected. A lovely touch was her putting aside some appetizers for me, since the bride is running around a lot! We were wholly pleased with the service and the food, and would highly recommend D'absolute for any and all of your special occasions. read more

Chris and Natalie catered our wedding on 6/21/2014. I can't even begin to express the gratitude I have to Chris and Natalie for all they did to make our wedding day happen. They went so, so far beyond just being our 'caterer.' First of all, we initially chose D'absolute based on their food and their hospitality. We had visited several other caterers, including some who would be considered more high-end, but after a few cold main courses and one bout of sudden illness, we stepped into D'absolute's tasting room and knew instantly they were the best choice for our wedding. The food was delicious, Chris was professional but still down to earth, and it was an overall great experience. ( Chris also got along swimmingly with my Mom, which may have had something to do with it :) I'm STILL thanking my lucky stars that we made the D'absolute decision, because I'm not sure I would have been able to handle all of the problems that we encountered later, without them: After 14 months of planning, we found out that our venue had closed it's doors and we had nowhere to host our wedding. Chris instantly jumped in to help, being my main source for info on where to look and who to contact, and maybe even acting as a therapist during the tougher times... He contacted people for us, negotiated for us, and changed the ENTIRE plan around just a mere 5 weeks before the wedding. He took meetings and phone calls at all hours of the day (and night). He was brutally honest when he needed to be, and saved me from making an epically terrible venue decision based on pure exhaustion. And, he did all of this while dealing with a bunch of other brides who were going through the exact same thing. (In fact if I recall, he found one couple a new venue in 3 days, because that's how much notice they got) The day of ended up being absolutely beautiful. Again, because of the last-minute wedding planning chaos, D'absolute stepped in to help with things that I don't think a typical caterer would even consider. I honestly think it turned out better than it would have if our original venue had just stayed open. Oh and the food? Guests were telling us it was the best wedding food they'd ever had. So, to sum it all up... D'absolute is a company run by good people, who are in the business because they love what they do, care about the people they do it for, and wouldn't do it for any other reason. The result is exceptional food and exceptional service, that your guests will remember for years (and you'll remember forever). read more

Chris, Nathalie and D'Absolute did an amazing job catering our Dec. 20, 2013 wedding at the Newberry Library. They are a husband and wife team whose care and concern for doing an exceptional job is evident from the start. From designing a distinct and seasonally appropriate menu to ensuring our guests were well-served with food and drink to acting as a day-of coordinator, D'Absolute is a full service caterer who will make your wedding day truly memorable. We loved that they are a smaller company who add personal touches throughout the whole experience. A few specific comments: Food. It was important to us that the food was not typical wedding day chicken with white sauce and green beans. You will see none of that with D'Absolute. Chris and Nathalie designed a delicious menu and per our request offered three different entrees (filet, salmon and vegetarian) to make sure our guests had several choices. The appetizers they prepared were delicious and creative and seasonally appropriate--not easy for winter in Chicago! There were both healthy and more hearty options (including late night snacks) which made all of our guests happy. We received so many compliments on how delicious the food was. Drinks. Chris gave us some ideas for signature drinks and helped us choose the appropriate amount and mixture of drinks. One of the reasons we chose the Newberry is they allow you to purchase your own alcohol (at least in 2013), so making sure our guests had the right mixture of booze was very important to us. Chris helped make sure we purchased the appropriate amount and mix, and he provided all of the glassware for each of our cocktail options. When we told him we liked bourbon, he offered to provide a "bourbon barrel" where we could offer tastings to our like-minded friends. This was a fun and different touch. Service. The service was elegant, efficient and very professional. All of the staff were very friendly and seemed enthusiastic about their work. D'Absolute provided beautiful linens and glassware -- everything you need for the evening. Day of Coordination. We designed a timeline for the night and presented it to Nathalie during the walk through and she made sure each and every detail was taken care of. For the cocktails and reception, you really do not need a day of coordinator if you have D'Absolute on your side. They will take care of everything, from place cards to menus to seating to linens and glassware, as long as you give them everything in advance. We did not have to worry about any of this. Pricing and Contract. For people who are busy, Chris made it very easy to see exactly what we would be charged. Navigating through catering pricing can be tricky and stressful, and Chris cut through all of that by indicating exactly what we would be charged per person, and whether there were any "extras" or gratuity. If he says you will not be charged extra for mixers or garnishes or what not, you will not be. And for what you receive, the price is definitely reasonable. Special Touches. We will never forget this special touch--after the ceremony we retired upstairs to take a breather before the night began, and Nathalie found us and offered us a plate of appetizers and a drink. I cannot emphasize how meaningful this was for us, as even after all of the planning, you as the bride and groom will have very little time to eat or drink too much until well into the night. It was just the moment we needed to remember the meaning of all of the planning and to take in the quiet excitement we felt. This special touch differentiated D'Absolute from other experiences. For those who are planning for an elegant, unforgettable event at an unconventional space, I highly recommend Chris, Nathalie and the D'Absolute team! read more

Chris is amazing. I challenge you to try to find a caterer who knows more about throwing an awesome event than Chris. With him, it's not just about food (even though his food is awesome and we've had numerous people say it's the best wedding food they've had all year) but about making the right decisions to make your event go as smoothly as possible. Chris told us at one point that if we hired him, we wouldn't need a wedding planner, and he was right. He advised us on everything from our booze selection to our table layout to the timing of our reception--he even talked us out of ordering late-night food and extra dessert because he didn't think we needed it. That would have been money in his pocket, but he didn't care. He was just being real. He met with us several times, including at our venue to talk us through where to put tables. The presentation of his food and his staff was also fantastic, and my husband and I are total food snobs. We looked at some caterers that promised hyper-local, sustainable eats that sounded fancier than Chris' food, and it took forever to get quotes and they charged way more for rentals and staff. And when it comes down to it, I bet Chris' food is just as good. It's food everyone recognizes but done well. It's a fabulous value for what you get. In some way, we're sad our wedding is over, because now we don't have an excuse to see Chris. He's the kind of person we'd be proud to be friends with. I really can't say enough good things about him. read more

There are so many catering companies in Chicago, sometimes it's hard to decide on which one to use. D'absolute Catering had so many rave reviews on Yelp that I wanted to give them a try. On the contract, I specifically said that the food had to be set up by 5:00 PM for a 5:30 corporate meeting start. By 4:30 the food had already not arrived and I was worried. Bottom line is the food was not completely ready to go until 5:45. The guys setting up were busting their asses to get it set up though, which I appreciated. Being MLK Day, the building's dock closed early and held up the guys for about half an hour, but if the owner had dispatched the crew to set up the food at the appropriate time with time to spare instead of waiting until the last minute because of the "cold temperatures that would make the food cold," then we would have had time to work around the building closing the dock unexpectedly. I think the owner or the crew should have done more to get around the dock being closed, or should have gone to the front to talk to security instead of waiting downstairs for 30 minutes for something to happen. While I'm setting up for my event, I don't have the time to worry about whether or not the dock is open or how the food will get up--- that's the responsibility of the catering company. What I expect from catering companies that I use is the foresight to overcome unexpected obstacles so that everything is set up on time, as specified on the contract. If you're looking for a reliable catering company, best to go with another company. Blue Plate has never failed me. read more

What a shame! In the midst of a global pandemic, my fiance and I were forced to cancel our dream wedding due to the ongoing health issues, limitations of the number of persons allowed in an enclosed space, and the significant impact on our financial situation. D'absolute would not budge in giving our $2,000 deposit back, claiming they had performed in excess of the amount of the deposit by the tasting (which they do for free to anyone), "holding the chef for that date" and holding our date and not taking on any other clients for our wedding day. There is no holding a date that cannot legally be booked - in the middle of pandemic! Needless to say, we are very disappointed in how things turned out. read more

We couldn't have asked for a better caterer for our wedding!! Chris and his team went above and beyond to make sure our wedding reception went smoothly. My fiancee and I planned our wedding from out of town, and Chris was so responsive whenever we had any questions. They are probably the best caterer for an affordable price and they even allowed us to bring in outside food since my fiancee and I wanted to make sure our Korean and Chinese backgrounds were also reflected in the food. On the day of the wedding, during cocktail hour and dinner, they were always bringing out food and drinks promptly, and Chris himself made sure we were comfortable throughout the reception. Chris was so open to our vision of what we wanted our signature cocktails and food to be, and so easy to work with. D'absolute was one of the best decisions of our wedding!! read more

I called Chris to get a proposal and he responded very quickly and was on par with my budget. He offered us a special cash only incentive if we signed with him within 2 weeks for a discount. I didn't think it was quiet worth it because we were still waiting to hear back from others and based on a previous discussion it seems his "flexibility" may come off sketchy... Say what? When we talked about deposits to secure the date and stuff he basically said that there is no deposit and the payment plans are flexible....um...are you going to show up on my wedding day?!?!?!?! Although this may work for some people, I wasn't comfortable going forward. One cool thing I really liked about Chris was talking to him about the cake- he really encouraged me to bring in pictures of cakes I liked and wanted and would try his best to make something similar. I will have to say that he was very easy to talk to and work with. He went to my venue website and took a look around as he talked to me, but he hadn't work there before so I opted to go with someone familiar with the venue. read more

D'absolute was ABSOLUTELY phenomenal! Our wedding guests are still sending us notes that this was the best catered meal they've had. Everything was hot, super fresh, delicious, and portions were generous. Perhaps more importantly, the staff took INCREDIBLE care of both of us, bride and groom, and each of our guests. Appetizers, bar service and drinks, everything exceeded our expectations. I would recommend this company to anyone! Mena, our event supervisor, went above and beyond to find us throughout the night and make sure we had everything we wanted...she brought drinks and apps to us while we were away from guests and truly was so kind and generous. She was also a HUGE help all along the way in the planning process answering any of our questions accurately, in detail, and so quickly. Chris was also a wonderful host at our tasting. BEST EVER, thank you D'absolute!! read more

Chris and Nathalie catered our wedding on August 1st, 2014. They were absolutely wonderful to work with! From the beginning of the planning process to the day of the event their communication and attention to detail was perfect. They listened to exactly what we wanted and completely exceeded our expectations. The food was amazing and our guests kept mentioning how kind and attentive their staff was. They also were willing to work with our budget and our vision of the day. Thank you again for making our day so special! I would recommend D'Absolute to anyone planning a wedding in the Chicagoland area!! read more

LOVED this caterer! I can't recommend them more highly. Chris and Natalie were so easy to work with and helped us plan our day. Not only did they help us with the food, which was delicious, but they gave us suggestions about what would work and what wouldn't work in other aspects of the wedding. We didn't have a wedding planner but you wouldn't have known that based on how they kept the day organized. Mena was the coordinator from D'Absolute on the day of the wedding and she was fantastic. Overall, they were very receptive to any changes or additions that we needed to make. The food really was delicious and our guests told us later it was some of the best wedding food they ever had. read more

D'Absolute provided the staffing services for my wedding at the Stan Mansion and did an excellent job overall. Working with Chris (the owner) before the event was very easy. He was up front about all of his costs, provided lots of input on what would make the most sense, and coordinated the food deliveries for us. We chose D'Absolute because they had the best prices overall, and they definitely did not disappoint. I noticed that someone complained that Chris was pushy, but I did not share this experience at all. He let his professionalism, organization, and prices do the talking for him. And he was very patient while waiting for us to make a decision. I should note that we did not order food from D'Absolute so I have no insight on that arm of their business. The day of the event his staff was very hard working and polite. They worked quickly and even helped with things they weren't contracted to do. The bar staff were efficient and courteous, and the cleanup after the event was swift and thorough. Chris obviously has great command over his work staff and it made for a very smooth event. I would recommend D'Absolute to anyone looking for staffing services for an event. read more

Chris and his team were incredible for my wedding. He was able to take the vision my wife and I had, and put together an amazing menu. Between the passed dishes during cocktail hour and the buffet style sides/entrees, everything was delicious, and those who attended made that very clear. Leading into the wedding date, if we had the idea to add or change something, he was very accommodating. He and his team are true professionals. Chris was also very helpful with staying in contact with various vendors to make sure everything would run smoothly, which it did. Thank you so much D'Absolute read more

D'Absolute was on the list of preferred caterers for our wedding venue. We emailed every caterer and based on their quotes, narrowed them down to two based mainly on price, but also on reviews. The D'Absolute quote was no-nonsense, clearly broken down, and had a great looking menu. I called Chris several times and he answered all of my questions, taking time to make sure I understood all of my options. We went to a tasting with D'Absolute and the tasting room was simple, but was all that we needed it to be. The service was very well presented, and we discussed every dish and different ways in which they may be prepared. The presentation of each dish was very artistic. We also discussed all of our table cover and table style options and Chris was respectful of our budget. Honestly, he beat most vendors by $$$ for the same amount of food and service. We had our second tasting with another vendor, and since the menu was nearly exact, and since they were able to throw in some extras while coming in just under the quote for D'Absolute, we went with someone else. However, I would highly recommend the service and D'Absolute based on our experience with them. We plan to keep them in mind as we move forward in life and plan parties in our future. read more

We hired D'Absolute for our wedding at Bridgeport Art Center in May and they were wonderful to work with. We knew we wanted to work with them immediately after our tasting. We previously had tastings with two other caterers and D'absolute effortlessly outshine them both. The food and presentation were excellent. Chris was also honest and direct, no fluff, and we loved that about him. We had many questions leading up to the big day and Chris was easy to reach and very responsive to all of them. When we did our final walk through at the venue, we met Mena who would be our lead on the day of our wedding. She was so wonderful to work with. She made suggestions and asked questions I had never thought of and we really appreciated that. She also shined on the wedding day. She brought us appetizers while we mingled and took photos, making sure we got to actually eat. She made sure we always had a drink. She helped with everything, even things not catering related (like looking for my bouquet) and really just went above and beyond what was expected. She is warm and kind and just a pleasure to be around. The food at the wedding definitely lived up to what we tried at the tasting. Full disclosure- our eastern European family can be hard to please but they raved about the food. The appetizers were generous in size and delicious. We went with filet mignon and chicken for the main entrees and our guests really enjoyed both. We also brought in a traditional "meat hut" and sweets table from an outside vendor and D'absolute helped set up and man both of these which was so nice of them. The team went above and beyond for our wedding with exceptional quality and service. Thank you for helping make our day perfect read more

Chris catered our wedding in April of this year and absolutely knocked it out of the park. We wanted to do something tapas-style and he couldn't have done it better -- paella, bacon-wrapped dates, potatas bravas, the whole shot. The guests raved about the food and deservedly so; it was great. Chris was really flexible in menu choices and working with us on what we wanted. We didn't feel limited at all in our choices. In addition, the wait staff was fantastic. They were friendly and fun and gave great service. When the father of the bride remarks on how great the servers were, you KNOW they were good. I'd never have a doubt hiring Chris and his folks again. Fantastic job. read more

D'Absolute catered my Oct. 3 wedding at Ignite Glass Studios. Chris and Natalie were so fantastic and we couldn't be happier with how the food turned out!! I don't remember how I found D'Absolute while researching caterers but from the minute we contacted them for an intial proposal, to the tasting, to the menu adjustments, and final wedding day - they were so easy to work with an very communicative. They were mindful of our budget and we ended up coming in under our catering budget. On the wedding day there was a minor hiccup with uncooperative weather. We were supposed to have our ceremony on the roof top. All 200 chairs were set on the roof and then high winds and uncharacteristically cold temps that day made us want to bring the ceremony inside. About an hour and a half before the ceremony was meant to start my sweet hubby told Chris we wanted it brought inside...I'm sure not an ideal circumstance for the caterer! They made it happen though and pushed all reception tables to the sides of the space so we could fit 200 chairs in there for our ceremony. It was top notch service and we truly appreciated them working with our last minute change so efficiently. Everyone had only good things to say about the food! We had the yummiest passed apps: goat cheese crositini, baby lamps chops, bacon wrapped dates, and ahi tuna tacos. Dinner was beef tenderloin, chicken, or grilled veggies and tofu...all with potato and green bean sides. The bar service was great too! They were able to manage a wedding of heavy drinkers and keep the drinks flowing!! I would definitely recommend D'Absolute to anyone. read more

D'Absolute is a fantastic caterer, with incredibly flexible service! I know this company mostly in the context of film production (although I did have my 21st Birthday at their lounge) and they are clearly one of the best-kept Chicago secrets. They always have a completely balanced meal for our crew, and have worked with specific requests (gluten-free, vegan, etc) to ensure that everyone on the production is happy. I have utilized their services roughly a dozen times, and have never heard a complaint about them. There have been times where we've needed hot breakfasts served at 5am, and they were early (and hot) every time. In terms of social events, D'Absolute has a very classy and intimate atmosphere at their Irving Park location. As I mentioned, this was where I had my birthday, however, I have been there for other parties as well. The juxtaposition between minimalist dance lighting and tea candles is incredible, their DJ's are always unique, and the cocktails are reasonably priced. If you have catering from D'Absolute, be sure to try the Tomato-Creme Pasta with Italian Sausage, and for appetizers get the Meatballs! They also sponsor The Midwest Independent Film Festival, and regularly have samples of their food available to try... read more

We had a wonderful experience with D'Absolute Catering and especially Chris Constantine. From the beginning he was very accommodating of ever request and made special arrangements even though I was out of town to meet with my husband and I during early hours of Saturdays and Sundays before the wedding. Our wedding planner at our venue left early and we were left with no one to coordinate between our vendors and Chris Constantine stepped up and coordinated between the different vendors all night even though we did not ask him. He did above and beyond what we expected and even though it is almost two years past our wedding we are so grateful and appreciative of how he made our wedding that much more special. Thank you!! read more

Five stars is not enough for D'absolute. Chris was always a pleasure to deal with before the wedding and Mena was a gift from heaven during the event. We have received so many compliments from guests; some even said it was the best wedding food they have ever had. The professionalism of the staff put my wife and I both at ease during the entire day. Mena and several servers would seek us out and ensure we were doing okay for the entirety of the reception. Considering the reasonable price and the quality of the food/service, we definitely have ZERO regrets and would recommend D'absolute to anyone for ANY event. read more

The apple salad with Pecans, spinach and berries was delicious as were the grilled veggies. Great ending with Chocolate covered strawberries. All in all, a very yummy lunch! read more

I hired D'Absolute for my wedding at the National Hellenic Museum in Chicago this past June. They were amazing to work with. Chris and Mena were great and always got back to me quickly with any questions that I had. Everyone at the wedding loved the food. Portion size was spot on. For the passed hors d'oeuvres we had the ahi tuna tacos, crab cakes, arancini, and Korean style bulgogi chicken. Absolutely delicious! For our plated dinner we had a mixed green salad, French cut chicken, filet mignon, and gnocchi served with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. All of my family and friends thought the food was amazing. Mena coordinated all of our tables, linens, etc the day of the wedding. She made sure everything was perfect. She also had plenty of hors d'oeuvres ready for the bridal party when we arrived. She also made sure all alcohol arrived and was set up at the bar. I would highly recommend them. They are very organized, caring, and do an excellent job with events especially weddings! read more

It was nice enough doing business with this company in the beginning, but when we decided that we needed to change the course of our wedding to save money after experiencing an unfortunate string of financial luck, things took a turn for the worse. In this company's defense, their contract alludes to them being able to retain your deposit if you cancel a reservation with them. However, I thought they might show some compassion for a couple having to cancel their wedding plans for financial reasons by throwing us some kind of bone. I never expected to get my entire deposit back, but a little bit of the deposit being returned to me would have gone a long way. Instead, I was met with a terse "no" and very little compassion for our situation. My advice to any potential customers is to make absolutely sure that you're all in before booking this company. read more

We had a horrible experience with D'Absolute Catering. We booked them for our wedding at the Newberry Library based upon the Newberry coordinators recommendation without a tasting due to Covid restrictions. When those restrictions lifted, my fiancé flew in and had a great experience with Chris and everything seemed set for our September wedding. However, in late April, Chris emailed us to say that there would be issues with our wedding and instead suggested reserving his own venue for a different date in September. When we stated we wished to keep our contracted date and venue, Chris emailed us that he would have to break his contractual agreement due to "uncertainty", despite his willingness to sell us on his own venue in the same city at an earlier date. Not only did he go behind the Newberry's back and try to sell us on his own venue, when questioned on the phone he admitted that he had booked another wedding on our date, despite us paying a hefty deposit. This was an extremely unprofessional experience, especially due to his patronizing attitude on the phone, acting as if he had done us a favor by breaking his own contract. If your wedding is at the Newberry I would highly suggest looking elsewhere for catering services unless you wish to be scrambling for a replacement when you thought everything was booked. read more