Restaurant Catering Software: Tool for Culinary Excellence

Running a restaurant is no easy feat. Between juggling orders, managing staff, and keeping customers happy, it often feels like you're spinning plates – literally. Restaurant catering software promises to streamline operations and make life easier, but is it really worth it?

If you've been in the restaurant business for a while, you might hesitate to add another software solution to your plate. However, the right restaurant catering software can be a game-changer. It can help you manage bookings, organize menus, schedule deliveries, handle invoices, and tackle all those behind-the-scenes tasks that eat up valuable time.

Table of Contents:

• List of Restaurant Catering Management Software
  • Curate
  • Better Cater
  • Total Party Planner
  • Flex Catering
  • Caterease
  • FoodStorm Catering
  • CaterZen
  • Planning Pod
  • HoneyBook
  • Tripleseat
  • ReServe Interactive (Infor)
• What Exactly is Restaurant Catering Software?
• Why Should You Even Care About Restaurant Catering Software?
• What to Look For When Choosing Restaurant Catering Software
  • Ease of Use
  • Features that Fit
  • Scalability
• FAQs about restaurant catering software
  • What is the best software for catering?
  • What is the best software for restaurants?
  • What is catering software?
  • What types of software are used in a restaurant?
• Conclusion
  
  

List of Restaurant Catering Management Software

Curate

Curate is an advanced restaurant catering platform that is specifically equipped with features needed to automate and streamline your business operations. It features a centralized client database, a custom proposal builder with e-signature capabilities, project management tools, reporting & analytics, among others.

Unlike any software, Curate is a platform that is specifically designed for the unique needs of restaurant business owners and caterers. It is a very easy-to-use CRM that provides all the tools you need in the catering industry and more importantly, makes your business a lot easier to manage. Another item that makes Curate unique is that caterers who have rentals and design arms of their business can also take advantage of features to make these areas efficient.

Curate is the only tool that has integrations for both Nowsta and Galley.

Top Features

• Pipeline management
• Customized proposals
• Event Calendar
• Reporting and analytics
• Integration
• SAVE 9 HOURS A WEEK!

Better Cater

Better Cater is a game-changer for those in the restaurant industry. This simple yet powerful software streamlines your entire restaurant and catering operation, from online ordering to payment processing. Keep track of upcoming events using their built-in calendar that also lets you sync your Google calendar for maximum efficiency.

Better Cater is also a cloud-based software that enables you to view order histories and manage your customer database practically everywhere.

Top Features

• Calendar management
• Customer database
• Planning and scheduling automation
• Invoice management

Total Party Planner (Acquired in 2021)

Total Party Planner is an all-in-one catering and event management platform that helps you streamline your operations from start to finish. With features like client management, an event calendar, and a centralized online payment solution, it's a comprehensive solution for busy caterers.

Another standout feature of Total Party Planner is its customizable templates for proposals and 3rd party app integration. These tools save you time and ensure consistency across your events.

Top Features

• Client management
• Event calendar
• Integration
• Reporting

Flex Catering

Flex Catering is a user-friendly catering management software with built-in CRM tools. It streamlines the entire process of your catering services with essential features like event management and scheduling, delivery tracker, and more.

Flex Catering also offers a client portal where customers can view their order history, make payments, and even place new orders online. This self-service feature can greatly reduce your administrative workload.

Top Features

• Event manager
• Client Portal
• Custom website
• Delivery Tracker

Caterease

Caterease is a comprehensive software solution suited for caterers and event planners that offers a plethora of necessary tools including booking management, a flexible reporting system, and integrated payment processing.

Caterease also provides a robust events calendar that gives you greater control over your catering operations.

Top Features

• Booking management
• Payment processing
• Event Calendar
• Flexible reporting

FoodStorm Catering

FoodStorm is an all-in-one catering software that combines CRM tools, order management, and production planning. Its intuitive interface makes it easy to access customer information and manage orders. Online ordering is also possible via their custom e-commerce platform.

Other notable features of FoodStorm include POS integration, reports to keep you updated on how your business is doing, and a robust communication system that enhances the client experience by giving customers updates on their orders via email. 

Top Features

• Order management
• E-commerce platform
• Marketing tools
• Integration

CaterZen

CaterZen is a catering management software that simplifies your entire restaurant management process. With features like kitchen production reports and delivery manager, it will streamline your workflow from start to finish.

Additionally, CaterZen's CRM capabilities allow you to store customer information, track interactions, and manage menu items. Its reporting tools provide valuable insights into your sales trends and customer behavior.

Top Features

• Delivery manager
• Kitchen production reporting
• Contact management
• Customer Relationship Management

Planning Pod

Planning Pod is a cloud-based software that offers a suite of tools for catering businesses, including a robust CRM system. With Planning Pod, you have access to essential features that let you manage clients and files, and process payments in this all-in-one business software.

What sets Planning Pod apart is its user-friendly interface that works well even on mobile devices and extensive customization options. You can tailor the software to fit your unique workflows and branding.

Top Features

• Guest management
• File management
• Event timelines
• Payment processing

HoneyBook

HoneyBook is more than just a catering CRM - it's a complete business management solution. This software helps you streamline your entire workflow, from lead capture to invoicing. One of the standout features of HoneyBook is its robust CRM system. You can easily manage all your catering clients in one place, with tools for storing contact information, tracking communication, and even sending automated follow-ups. 

But HoneyBook's real power lies in its project management capabilities. You can customize templates, automate workflows, and collaborate with your team - all within the platform.

Top Features

• Client management
• Project management
• Automation
• Catering templates customization

Tripleseat

Tripleseat was built specifically for restaurants and restaurant floor layouts which means less of an emphasis on off-site caterers. However, with Tripleseat's CRM features, you can capture leads, track client communication, and manage contracts, making it a very reliable and one of the best catering and event management software platforms.

The software also includes built-in tools for event reporting and analytics which should allow you to gain valuable insights into your business.

Top Features

• Lead capture system
• Calendar management
• Custom branding
• Reporting

ReServe Interactive (Infor)

Reserve Interactive, now known simply as Infor, which acquired the former in April 2019, is a comprehensive catering and event management solution that includes powerful CRM capabilities. It features a reliable lead management system that tracks the entire sales process, from initial inquiry to post-event follow-up.

One notable aspect of Reserve Interactive is its advanced reporting and analytics. It allows you to generate detailed analysis reports to gain valuable insights into your business performance.

Top Features

• Lead management
• Inventory management
• Reporting and analytics
• Marketing tools

What Exactly is Restaurant Catering Software?

Restaurant catering software (also goes by catering management system or catering management solution, among others) is like having a personal assistant for your catering operations. It helps restaurants manage the organizational challenges of a restaurant or catering business and provide a better customer experience. This type of software helps with tasks such as managing bookings, event planning on an online calendar, creating custom menus, and sending bills to customers.

Why Should You Even Care About Restaurant Catering Software?

Who couldn't use more time and less stress? Imagine no more late-night spreadsheet sessions tracking orders, missed deadlines due to miscommunication, or invoicing nightmares. Restaurant catering software can increase sales, eliminate those headaches, and improve payment processing for catering businesses.

What to Look For When Choosing Restaurant Catering Software

With so many catering software options, finding one that fits your restaurant’s needs is important. Look for software with useful tools and features like customizable proposal templates, online ordering, email marketing tools, and automated systems designed for drop-off catering, full-service catering, and venue management.

Ease of Use

The most important feature is ease of use. User-friendly software with excellent customer support will increase your catering business's productivity. Choose a platform that you and your team can easily learn and use.

Features that Fit

Consider the kind of catering you do most. Make a list of your must-have features. Do you need to manage complex menus and dietary restrictions? If so, prioritize a robust menu management system with menu items to choose from. Is scheduling inventory a challenge? A comprehensive scheduling and calendar management system with software features is essential. Don't forget about integrations. Ensure the software works seamlessly with your existing POS system or accounting software for a streamlined workflow.

Scalability

Think about the future of your business. Can your chosen software grow with you? Look for a solution that can handle future growth without needing a complete system overhaul. Restaurant catering software should be scalable to customize solutions based on the size of a business and its needs. 

FAQs about restaurant catering software

What is the best software for catering?

There's no single “best” catering software because everyone has different needs. The best software for you depends on your restaurant’s specific requirements, such as event types, the size of your operations, and your budget.

Consider these factors when comparing options. Read user reviews and use the free trials to see which is right for your business. 

What is the best software for restaurants?

The best restaurant software for you depends on what you want to improve. Restaurant software goes beyond just catering. It improves the operational efficiency of how you do business. Research to find the software that best fits your restaurant's specific needs.

What is catering software?

Catering software is like a command center for your catering operations. It has all the catering features you need in one place, helping you manage every aspect of your business and removing the daunting task of doing manual work.

This software has many benefits for catering companies, including sending proposals/quotes, workflow automation, allowing customers to place orders, creating unlimited BEO templates for any event, and generating reports to understand how to increase profits. Whether you’re new to the catering industry or a seasoned veteran, catering software can streamline your operations and help your business succeed.

What types of software are used in a restaurant?

Restaurants use various software programs, such as Point of Sale (POS) systems for processing transactions, inventory management systems to reduce waste, reservation management platforms, staff scheduling applications, and customer relationship management (CRM) systems. Don’t be afraid to explore different options to discover the tools and software features that will most benefit your business. 

Conclusion

Ditch those spreadsheets and embrace restaurant catering software to transform your business. The right platform can help you manage orders seamlessly, streamline communication, improve client relationships, and maybe even give you a little more sleep. Take the time to find the software that meets your needs to take your catering operation from frazzled to fantastic.