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Boka has a catering arm.

Chicago Restaurants That Will Cater Your Wedding, 2016 Edition

Foods to soothe the burliest bridezilla

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Updated Sep 14, 2016, 2:00pm CDT

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Boka has a catering arm.

| Boka

by Ashok Selvam@Shokdiesel Updated Sep 14, 2016, 2:00pm CDT

When guests recall your special day years down the road, they'll remember a few choice moments. They'll remember the first glimpse of the bride during the ceremony. They'll remember the awkward silence after a wedding speaker bombs. They may remember who was crying. But forget all of those cursory and sentimental aspects: It's all about the food. Check out the list of Chicago-area restaurants that cater weddings. It's a diverse list that will satisfy even the burliest bridezilla or the grumpiest groom.

These caterers will work with your wedding venue and ensure proper delivery, set up and in some cases offer action stations where food is prepared on site or inside the venue's own kitchen. Listed in alphabetical order.

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90 Miles Cuban Cafe

This Cuban powerhouse has three locations, including its newest in suburban Lincolnwood. They can prepare almost anything from their massive menu, including their signature sandwiches.

2540 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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Big Guys Sausage Stand

Big Guys in suburban Berwyn offers delivery and on-site catering full of Chicago classics. They need reservations in at least a week in advance and also provide barbecue service .

7021 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402

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Big Star

Big Star's food truck is a popular late-night add on for wedding receptions, providing that pick me up after a long night of revelry. There's also a taco bar option.

1531 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

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Boka Catering Group

Boka Group has its own catering arm and can serve an all-star custom menu from their family of restaurants that include GT Fish & Oyster and others. They offer action stations and passed items, as well. Email them to see if they're the right fit for your event.

1729 N Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60614

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Bolat African Cuisine

Bolat offers plated, buffet and family-style options. Bolat, in Lakeview, serves a variety of sub-Saharan African dishes, including meat pies and piri-piri shrimp.

3346 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60657

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Buona

If Chicago street food is your thing, find one of Buona's many locations. They'll even bring linen and flatware if needed through their Beyond Events arm.

6745 Roosevelt Rd, Berwyn, IL 60402

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Chicago Q

Over in the Gold Coast, Chicago q serves elevated barbecue, and now employs Art Smith at its pitmaster. They also offer staff to work the event if needed.

1160 N Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60610

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Chuck's Southern Comforts Cafe

A more affordable option, Chuck's offers its famous Wagonload Buffet with a variety of barbecue favorites.

6501 W 79th St, Burbank, IL 60459

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Dia De Los Tamales

Dia De Los Tamales offers all their standard menu items. Their catering division, Get Off The Couch, offers breakfast, sliders, dips and even veggie Sloppy Joes.

939 W 18th St, Chicago, IL 60608

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Friendship Chinese Restaurant

One of Chicago's finest Chinese restaurants in Logan Square will create custom menus for your wedding, satisfying meat-eaters and vegetarians. Anything from a light meal to a full-course dinner full of egg rolls, noodles and more.

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2830 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618

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Frontera Grill

Rick Bayless' team promises to "send a team of chefs to your venue and cook everything on the spot." They'll even provide a Mariachi band, if that's what the couple wants. But they'll only cater if the venue has an onsite kitchen.

445 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60654

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Greek Islands

Whole lamb and pig are some of the options, because that big, fat Greek wedding will have some hungry guests.

200 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60661

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Harry Caray's Italian Steakhouse

Harry Caray's provides a Chicago touch with a selection of local favorites from the restaurants menu. The team gets extra praise from online reviewers for how they work with the venue.

33 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

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Heaven On Seven

Though Heaven on Seven is known for Cajun food, their catering services go beyond that, and they also offer breakfast catering. They also offer a variety of appetizers for cocktail parties.

111 N Wabash Ave, Chicago, IL 60602

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India House Restaurant

India House has been providing a variety of food options for weddings, including Indo-Chinese and Jain (vegetarian), for more than two decades.

59 W Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60610

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Irazu

Costa Rican food is veggie friendly, and Irazu in Bucktown serves some of the best in town. They offer a variety of hot bar packages, as well as options like a taco bar.

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1865 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

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Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

Find the Lou's closest to the venue and have them bring in deep-dish pizzas, pastas and Italian beef.

439 N Wells St, Chicago, IL 60610

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Lula Café

Lula aims to bring an artisanal, local experience to every wedding with on-site chefs and custom menus.

2537 N Kedzie Blvd, Chicago, IL 60647

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Marcellos Father & Son Restaurant

Father & Son have really come along way from their humble pizza beginnings. Find a good, old fashioned Chicago carving station and pasta, plus an assortment of sliders.

645 W North Ave, Chicago, IL 60610

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Mercadito

Mercadito offers totally customizable food and drink menus. Tacos and other small bites are available.

108 W Kinzie St, Chicago, IL 60654

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Milt's Barbecue for the Perplexed

Milt's offers several packages filled with smoked brisket, chicken, ribs, and even smoked seitan. And they're also Kosher.

3411 N Broadway St, Chicago, IL 60657

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Nacional 27

Passed tapas, cerviche, cocktails and other items from 27 Latin American countries are available thanks to Nacional 27. They can even add Lettuce Entertain You's M Burger as a late-night snack.

325 W Huron St, Chicago, IL 60654

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Pearl's Place

If you are ever in need of hand-cleaned chitterlings, Pearl's Place is your spot. If the chitterlings aren't your thing, there's also pot roast, sweet potato pie and more.

3901 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60653

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Publican Quality Meats

PQM, the off-shoot of One Off Hospitality's Publican, provides food for a variety of ocassions. Giant seafood towers and entrees like glazed pork belly are available. [Photo: Marc Much]

825 W Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607

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Reza's

This Iranian/Persian restaurant in Andersonville has been serving up kebobs for years. Choose from seven different packages.

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5255 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60640

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Ruth's Chris Steak House

This celebrated steakhouse chain will visit the venue and provide full service for weddings.

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431 North Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60654

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Seven Lions

Alpana Singh's Downtown dynamo offers and assortment of options, and can even come up with some special dishes after consultation.

130 S Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60603

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Smoque BBQ

Yes, there are dangers to a bride wearing white eating barbecue. But when diners have the chance to eat Smoque's chopped brisket or ribs, the risk is well worth it. Priorities.

3800 N Pulaski Rd, Chicago, IL 60641

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The Halal Guys Chicago

Now with three Chicagoland locations, The Halal Guys can give weddings a splash of spice with their red sauce that covers their gyros plates.

49 W Division St, Chicago, IL 60610

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The Purple Pig

The Purple Pig's milk-braised pork shoulder, a popular dish off Michigan Avenue, is among the dishes available through the Pig's catering services. The items come in reheatable containers.

500 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611

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The Tamale Spaceship

These luchadores are really superheroes thanks to the face that The Tamale Spaceship in Bucktown also offers drink packages. They'll will mix up Mexican cocktail to go along with their unique tamales.

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1341 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Wishbone Restaurant

Plated dinners and buffets are part of the deal over at Wishbone and their West Loop and North Center locations. Southern comfort food also comes with cocktail packages.

1001 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607

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90 Miles Cuban Cafe

2540 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

This Cuban powerhouse has three locations, including its newest in suburban Lincolnwood. They can prepare almost anything from their massive menu, including their signature sandwiches.

2540 W Armitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60647

Visit Website