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An Affair To Remember Catering
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Event Planning & Services Wedding Planning Food Caterers, Wedding Planning, Food
196 Market StSan Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 459-6505
Announcement
Planning a Party of over 100 guests? Come into our San Rafael facility for a free full menu tasting absolutely free!
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
48 reviews for An Affair To Remember Catering
Review Highlights
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"Marcus is super fabulous and perfection to a T." In 35 reviews -
"Our wedding colors were purple and gray." In 20 reviews -
"...surprised with chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered..." In 4 reviews
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48 reviews in English
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Review from David N.
New York, NY
2/8/2012
My wife and I were married in an orchard in Sebastopol. Working with Matt was effortless. He was always available or quick to respond, always had a solution, or found one quickly. Everything was perfectly organized and orchestrated.
But the REALLY impressive things were things like this: We casually mentioned to Matt that we were buying dozens of Christmas light strings to light up the apple orchard - He immediately offered and provided boxes of personal Christmas lights from home to save us some money. Then he looked through the company's supplies and found 3 massive spotlights to light up some of the biggest trees in the orchard. And he gave us all their extra extension chords (even his own from home!)... no charge for any of it.
At the wedding, I was running around making sure everyone was happy, passing out blankets, moving some lights around, etc... Each time Matt would see me doing something he would come over and we'd have an exchange like:
Matt: Hey David, what are you doing?
Me: Just passing out blankets to everyone
Matt: You're the groom, go have fun, let us do it!
Literally every time, he would find me and either do the work himself or ask one of his people to take over for me. It's not like they were wedding planners, there to help with every aspect of the event. He just always went further than expected, never complaining, always making us feel like we were taken care of.
Oh, and one more - After the wedding, the farmer mentioned that a couple of things were missing from his outdoor kitchen; scissors, a spoon, a little knife. All of these are things that myself and my family/friends might have borrowed when we were setting up before the wedding. Matt basically told me not to worry about it and took care of all of it. I have no idea if he bought them new utensils, replaced them, paid them... no idea. All I know is that in that case and in every other moment of the wedding, he took care of anything he could without a complaint, and without having to be asked.
That's it. My suggestion is to request Matt when you're ready to call them. Frankly, I think he's born for this kind of work. He really made a difference that week. He took what was already a pretty wonderful occasion, and made it better, made it easier and made everything run more smoothly.
Thank you Matt! -
Review from Marcy B.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2012
My husband and I used An Affair To Remember to cater our wedding and THEY WERE AMAZING!!! They were very easy to work with and went above and beyond our expectations! The food was amazing, and the service was incredible!! They did an great job of making the food displays beautiful, adding flowers and linens to create a rich feeling to the entire room. They also are FULL service, meaning that they don't just handle the food aspect of your event, they help you with anything additional you need done (i.e decorating, transporting, etc.). We could not have been happier with our wedding reception and we owe it all to them!
Thank you Matt and Marcus!!!! -
Review from Grace L.
12/24/2011
The only good things I can say about An Affair to Remember is that it was great working with Marcus and Matt to plan the party and I got a lot of compliments on the food. I think if you are planning a large fully serviced party where Matt and/or Marcus will attend then you party will probably be great. But if you're planning just a drop-off food buffet without full service then you should think twice about trusting the other worker(s) and plan to have some extra time/people for setup.
Planning the last minute company party (for 65 people) was a breeze with An Affair to Remember. They worked with me to organize the menu, design the buffet table and even worked with me through a stressful week of not knowing the exact date of the party. In the end, I ordered a buffet with a few appetizers, salads, breads, three entree items, chests of ice for my drinks, rented (from them) all of the buffet equipment and also paid extra for them to pick up the rented buffet equipment after the party. So so so easy! I was looking forward for them to show up an hour before the party, prep, setup and make my event beautiful so that I wouldn't have to worry about a single thing. Unfortunately, although the planning was executed wonderfully, the actual event did not go as smoothly and I'm rather disappointed at the level of professionalism.
When the caterer came, it was only one person and it wasn't Matt or Marcus. I don't mind that Matt or Marcus did not come to set up because I understand that my party is a small event compared to a wedding - especially since I only ordered food drop-off/setup and not a fully serviced function. But only sending one person to set up and prep a food buffet for 65 people? That's a little ridiculous. When she came in, she didn't have a cart to transport all of the food so I ended up having to ask a few of my coworkers to help bring all of the equipment and food in. I felt bad that my coworkers had to be taken away from the pre-party event in order to help set up the dinner!
After some of the equipment was setup, I asked where the ice was so I could start getting the drinks ready. The caterer had no idea what I was talking about and said it wasn't on the list. So I had no ice. I already paid for 4 chests of ice so that I could get the drinks cold before the party and now I have nothing. I did not want to ask my coworkers to miss out on the pre-dinner party in order to go out and purchase additional ice so when the caterer offered to pick some up at the nearest store, I agreed. She was VERY kind to go out to purchase ice and even used some of her extra buffet trays as ice chests. But, again, she is only ONE person and time is running short. Since the caterer didn't have a chance to pick up ice until after the food was already set up, we started the party off with lukewarm drinks and towards the end of the party the drinks were finally cold. We were so far behind that we didn't even decorate the table which is a waste of the extra $150 "styling" fee that I paid for because we simply did NOT have enough time to get everything done. 1 hour is just not enough time for ONE person to set up equipment, prep food, style the table, get the food warm, etc. especially without the proper equipment to transport everything. I tried to help out where I could, but I really did not have the time. As a client, I don't want to be running around organizing everything for the caterer. I just wanted to have everything setup and ready to go at the start of the party.
So in the end, our party had lukewarm drinks (not pleasant at all), semi-cold food (not enough time for the food to warm up before the party start time) and a style-less table (just some table clothes, missing the extra pine branches & other decorations).
I was also told by the caterer who dropped off the food that the equipment would be picked up the next day (Friday). But by Friday afternoon, no one had come to pick up the buffet trays, dishes, prep containers, etc. so I called their office and was told that the items would be picked up on Monday which meant that the dirty trays would be sitting around another a few more days. Gross! I had expected that if I pay for equipment pickup that the equipment would have been picked up the next day - this is my fault, I should have gotten this clarified and written in the contract.
On further thinking, I mentioned many times to Marcus that although this party is in December, it was NOT a holiday party and yet the table cloth and decorations in the box were very holiday themed - red, green, gold trumpets, etc. thankfully there were no Santas (as specifically requested). -
Review from Maya D.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2012
We spent a couple weeks talking to them and picking items for our menu. And then right before we were supposed to come in for a tasting they told us that the date we were discussing the whole time is already booked.
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Review from Angela B.
Honolulu County, HI
8/4/2011
I was tasked to host a party for 50 people, in less than 24 hrs so I frantically called several places and no one was able to take the job...except for Marcus...of course he thought I was kidding at first. There's a reason An Affair to Remember has 40+ 5 Star reviews. Marcus is super fabulous and perfection to a T! He literally pulled off my company cocktail reception of 50 in under 24 hours notice. Everything went smoothly, the food was delicious, the decor was beautiful (thank you for the flower arrangement!) and I had everyone praising to me what a great job they did. The staff was very attentive, making sure no dirty plate/glass was left out, and there was always a clean stack of tableware.
Their price wasn't too outrageous, and you definitely pay for what you get. If you want simple food and not so attentive staff, pay cheaper. I definitely got my moneys worth from them.
An Affair to Remember will definitely be our regular caterer for company & personal functions. Marcus rocks! -
Review from Natalia S.
Redwood City, CA
10/17/2011
I contacted an affair to remember 8/5 to caterer my wedding. I answered all the online questions Marcus asked me to do AND spoke in depth with Marcus on the phone. Today is 10/17 and I have STILL NOT recieved any proposal. I have had multiple attempts emailed marcus asking for a proposal all with the answers- "I will get it to your shortly."
I would never recommend this company. I don't understand how Marcus has had so many rave reviews. He was unprofessional to work with. -
Review from Heather R.
El Cerrito, CA
11/28/2011
Wow. What a spread! At a recent event I attended 'An Affair To Remember' created a culinary wonderland. I especially liked the presentation of the individual appetizers with the chopsticks in the little Chinese food take-out-boxes. This company has a clear sense of visual aesthetic as well as a savvy sense of delicious cuisine. All the staff were energized and friendly with a spring in their step. Find out for yourself what a warm-hearted company this is. I highly recommend them!
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Review from Sandra and M.
Oakland, CA
2/6/2011
With An Affair to Remember catering our wedding, we had nothing to worry about. The food, decoration, cake table, bar, guest table, you name it, An Affair to Remember made sure all the details were perfect.
An Affair to Remember goes above and beyond. Our wedding colors were purple and gray. ATR decorated the buffet and cake table match our theme, which they always do. Other caters will charge you a fee or will not decorate the food serving area at all. With ATR, decorations are a MUST.
We had 5 appetizers, a fully stocked bar, and the main meal was prime rib and chicken. Everything was delicious and the staff was amazing. I spilled wine on my dress and with in minutes a staff member removed the stain with their tricks of the trade.
We didn't have a wedding planner, and reflecting on the day, it wasn't necessary. Marcus arraigned the cake for us and made sure we stayed on schedule. He reminded us when the next activity was scheduled, such as the dance, toast, or speeches, he made announcements on our behalf and left the event space the exact way it was found.
When the cake knife broke, An Affair to Remember had an extra knife at the table ready for back up. I could tell they have seen it all in their years of experience and were prepared for anything.
Towards the end of the night, our guests were pleasantly surprised with chocolate chip cookies and chocolate covered strawberries. With An Affair to Remember catering your wedding you'll have nothing to worry about. You and your guests will be blown away by their professionalism, attention to detail and eye for perfection.
Our wedding was in August 2010 and I'm still blown away by the service. -
Review from C D.
San Rafael, CA
4/11/2011
Our company and An Affair to Remember have participated in the same community events for years. Not only does Marcus (the owner) happily support his local San Rafael community, he also values relationships with other businesses as much as those with his clients.
I've personally tasted the food at various events, and can say it's always delicious and served beautifully. But it's one thing to be impressed with the amazing service and quality food; it's even better to appreciate that the person you're hiring is also full of integrity and a desire to please. Marcus knows how to get things done, while being respectful and professional at all times, the kind of person who makes things happen so you don't have to stress or worry about it.
For those already considering An Affair to Remember Catering, the knowledge and professionalism displayed by both owner and staff should be added to your list of reasons to hire them. -
Review from Emily W.
Los Altos, CA
7/26/2010
Marcus and An Affair To Remember made our wedding reception SO easy. A relative recommended them as the caterer she's used for the past 20 years, and I see why. The food was delicious, the service impeccable and the price right. Marcus also organized the DJ for us, and the music was great. We live overseas, so we were very hands-off with the planning and basically let the professionals do their jobs, and it was nice to see that we could have such a nice event with so little stress on our part.
My only comment would be that Marcus doesn't always respond to e-mails right away - I think that's something that could be improved, but it didn't impact our ability to organize things or our enjoyment on the day-of. I would definitely work with An Affair to Remember in the future. -
Review from David C.
San Jose, CA
6/29/2011
An Affair to Remember catered for my wedding this last month, and did a very good job! We found the owner Marcus very friendly, accommodating, and helpful with some of the reception planning. He setup a time for us to have a sampling, and that was a great opportunity for us to try many of their delicious food options. Do bring your appetite, it's a lot of food!
We did disagree about some of the details, like how many people can fit comfortably around a 5ft. round table... Yes 10 people will fit, but they will be uncomfortable. We ultimately ended up having 8 at most tables so our guests would be more comfortable, and 9 at a couple tables which worked out well.
Marcus also made some recommendations...
Ron Porter, the beverage vendor from Andy's Market in San Rafael was a great recommendation! He helped us to order the right amount of everything, choose the best wines for the price, and the ingredients for our signature cocktails. They also chilled and delivered everything to us which was great. His prices were very reasonable.
The other recommendation was not so great. We needed a DJ and Marcus recommended DJK Sounds (Dennis Keating) and he was the biggest disappointment at our wedding. I only heard maybe 10% to 15% of the songs I requested, and it seemed he was just playing what he had and wanted to hear for the most part. He is also very 'old school' and only uses CDs, and his music collection is limited due to this. That should have been a red flag for us. My buddy had an iPod and wanted to play a song, but he didn't have a standard 3.5MM connection to his system to plug it in. Most DJs today use a computer and there's a good reason for this. Steer clear of this DJ!
The staff did do a great job setting up the event with the table arrangements and the centerpieces we provided. We did choose to have a bartender from their staff, but unfortunately they did not know how to mix the cocktails. The drinks had way too much alcohol, making them difficult to drink. Myself and some of the guests had to tell the bartenders to tone down the drinks. The drinks did get a little better later on, but I think it was almost too late.
But it's mostly about the food, and that's what they do well! The ahi poke bites and kailua pork(more like pulled pork) at our wedding were especially good! The salmon was a bit dry, but it had a nice flavor. We chose to have a buffet and the staff did a great job with the presentation. Towards the later part of the evening Marcus surprised us with warm chocolate chip cookies and milk in shot glasses, and that was a nice touch that we appreciated.
The prices are very reasonable, and you can get a discount for confirming early. -
Review from Jessica L.
San Mateo, CA
9/17/2008
These people have done the last 2 company picnics. Their staff is always friendly and upbeat - as well as professional. While there food is nothing exotic it is always very tasty! They also make a killer vegan plate for those who need a special dish.
I don't plan my companies picnic so I can't say much about price! -
Review from Muriel M.
San Francisco, CA
6/19/2011
Marcus, and the staff of An Affair to Remember catered our wedding and they did an amazing job! I would recommend him to any bride, he made our reception absolutely beautiful, kept our guest merry with cheer and delightful food. I really couldn't be any happier.
An Affair to Remember deserves five stars for the following:
1. "Can-do attitude": Marcus is a problem solver. If there any hiccups, he will find a way to get things done.
2. Flexibility and Variety in his Menu: One of the reasons I went with Marcus is that he is capable of making an array of different themed dishes for such a good cost. Other caterers were offering the same boring "pasta" and chicken dishes that a trained monkey could make for an absurd price $35.95 - $40.00 per person. Marcus' food and prices blows everyone out of the water.
3. Prices: They are unbeatable. Do your homework ladies, cause I did. I scouted and requested quotes from 15-20 vendors from the bay area, told them exactly what I wanted and my budget. Marcus was the only one who came close.
4. Customer Service: Marcus goes the extra mile every time. During my wedding we ran out of liquor, and he personally went out to purchase alcohol to keep our bar stocked. When everything was winding down, he treated everyone with warm cookies and a shot of milk.
5. Created a beautiful atmosphere: Our wedding reception was so beautiful, that I still continue to get compliments. Marcus guidance on the decoration and additional touches really made our reception a great memory. -
Review from teray g.
San Francisco, CA
7/8/2011
Oh Marcus, what a joy you were to work with!
Marcus Lee LOVES what he does. It shows in his enthusiasm, his excitement when he helps you plan your menu, and of course, that sparkly suit that matches his personality.
Many times during our wedding planning, I would call him, nervously asking about some detail or other. Like a true pro, he was sensitive to my anxieties, accommodated my last minute requests, and breezily assured me that all would be well.
And it was.
We got lots of compliments on the food (the couple bites I had of the steak were delicious. It was all alcohol from that point forward. But I digress), the staff and of course, the man himself.
I should add that his business partner and chef, Matt, is incredibly warm and responsive as well.
All that for an incredibly reasonable price. I mean, it still ain't cheap, but when you see what other companies are quoting, it can get pretty ridiculous, fast.
Call Marcus, delight your guests, and save your sanity. -
Review from CMF l.
San Francisco, CA
3/28/2010
WOW.....All I can say is....WOW. I wish I could give them SIX stars!!!
Matt and his team were extraordinary. We had a private party at our home last night for 30 people and I am still blown away by how incredible everything was. Every detail was so wonderful, and the food was amazing. Our guests were gushing over the hand-rolled sushi, vietnamese spring rolls and pulled pork sandwiches...and the presentation was beautiful with the linens, candles and flowers.
Matt and team showed up (to the minute of the scheduled time) and set everything up so quickly -- then at the end, they cleaned up even faster! I was able to wake up this morning to a house that looked BETTER than it would on any other Sunday morning, especially not after a big party.
I cannot recommend Affair to Remember enough -- I've never felt like a caterer was so thoughtful and thorough in the planning AND the execution. They made it really really special for us. I want to recommend them to the world!!!! -
Review from Veronica E.
Santa Rosa, CA
5/3/2011
I reccommend this caterer to everyone now. They exceeded all my expectations for my wedding, and the price was so reasonable, I couldn't believe the service and food we received, it was impeccable. Marcus is so easy to work with and he really cares about each event and goes the extra mile. I guarantee it is money well spent and you won't be dissappointed!
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Review from vlad k.
San Francisco, CA
4/8/2010
We had An Affair To Remember do the catering for our wedding and they did a fantastic job. i'll be honest, the first thing that drew us to them was the price. compared to some of these caterers that charged *insane* amounts for food and then threw in hidden fees everywhere, an Affair to Remember was very reasonably priced. plus, the quote that we got from them was very detailed so we knew exactly what we were paying for, and included discount after discount! also, the food at the tasting was super good! i highly recommend the mushroom soup shots... they were absolutely delicious!
the one thing that seemed a little hit an miss was the level of communication back and forth. at times, they answered emails quickly and attentively... however there were some times where the replies were not very prompt and sometimes not very thorough either. especially when it's only *2 weeks* until the wedding, the last thing you want is to be stressing about why you haven't heard back from your caterer for a few days. also, on the day of the wedding, there was a little confusion on some of the things we had discussed before, like what to do w/ the place cards etc.
other than those few small things, Marcus *really* came through. for instance, when we asked if we needed to get a "day of coordinator", he said not to bother cause he would take care of it all... and he did. on the day of the wedding marcus organized everything and had things running smoothly from one thing to the next. we didnt have to worry about schedules, when it was time for cocktail hour, who would announce us... or really pretty much anything.. marcus took care of it all. whenever something needed to happen, marcus would take care of it. marcus would always be cheery and personable, and also he was very reassuring whenever we would stress about anything at all. also, the rest of his staff was very professional and did a great job as well.
the food was really good! actually, we had lots of people come up and tell us that too. did i mention the mushroom soup shots? man, those were good! oh, the fish was cold... i guess that would be my one complaint about the food. however, i have to point out that the kitchen that they had to work in was a preserved antique kitchen from the 1800s (literally) and the place didnt allow sterno flames which probably made it pretty hard to keep things hot.
Anyways, i would definitely recommend An Affair to Remember! From great food, to great service, to great pricing... they are the complete package! and honestly, i really dont know how we would have gotten through the wedding day without marcus keeping things running according to plan... it really let us spend our wedding day enjoying ourselves and having a good time instead of worrying about details and taking care of stuff. phew! -
Review from Ken M.
Kentfield, CA
3/16/2007
Marcus Lee is one of the best caterers in the Bay Area. If you just take as a given the fact that his food is excellent and they can prepare any type of cuisine... let's get to what really separates Marcus... SERVICE.
Marcus is gonna kill you with service. He takes care of every detail that you've missed... he sweet talks the facilities guys, cops, fire fighteres... I don't know... whoever you've pissed off or not gotten a permit or permission... he'll take care of it.
Anyhow, back to the food. I've seen Marcus in action twice now. One time was a Creole themed party, the other was Mexican food, both for large corporate events. You'd have to give him a 10 out of 10 for both events in food... and 20/10 for service.
You can't go wrong here. -
Review from Dani B.
Alameda, CA
9/12/2008
wow - when I was looking for caters last year there was only 1 review for AATR. Now there are tons and they are all 5s. I'm glad since this was one of the best decisions I made for the wedding.
We got married Aug 31, 2008. Thank you to Marcus and his crew for the delicious food and excellent service. Best prices around and I know this for a fact since I went to 5 different caters for tasting and quotes. (Yes, my fiance went along with all that - what a guy!!) Total professionalism with Marcus - he was quick to respond, always positive, and very accommodating to all our questions/changes. We had significantly less people attend than estimated but he didn't charge us more. At the end of the wedding, he took care of everything (helping bring gifts/presents to dad's car, taking down decorations, ensuring venue was left in great shape so we got our deposit check back from them, etc) so we really didn't have to worry about anything.
I had guests commenting on the yummy food and the fact that Marcus took the time to explain the menu to each table when he was inviting tables to go to the buffet. Also, the milk & fresh baked cookies were a total surprise and guests loved it. I was so relaxed and happy on my wedding day - they definitely exceeded my expectations (sounds cliche but true!).
I am happy to recommend them. Feel free to email me for any specific questions. -
Review from Danny D.
Petaluma, CA
6/29/2009
Let me continue Marcus's unblemished record by contributing five more well earned stars. They will have your guests raving about the food for weeks. They will conform to any concept while ensuring that there is plenty of food to go around. No more waiting for another waiter with an empty serving tray, these guys are the real deal.
Just ask for the guy in the sparkly suit. -
Review from Deborah C.
Oakland, CA
10/5/2010
Marcus and An Affair to Remember did a great job catering our wedding this past September. We were impressed from the get-go: based on their initial proposal -- which entailed exactly the type of food we were looking for (Mediterranean) with some nice surprises and at a great price. The extra little touches kept on coming and made us feel like they truly care about their clients and how the food looks AND tastes.
Marcus was also helpful securing rental chairs for us at a competitive price.
On the day of our wedding, we and our guests were really pleased with the food and service AATR delivered. They also have a great relationship with Bev Mo in San Rafael, so the process of having all our food and alcohol needs taken care of was pretty easy. We love pie and had a "pie table" (instead of a wedding cake) which was really fun and tasty!
Marcus and AATR are professional and savvy, and I would hire them again. You have to stay on them when it comes to email correspondence and payments, but Marcus always comes through. -
Review from L A.
San Rafael, CA
6/24/2011
Affair to Remember catered our wedding 9 years ago. Their food was by far the best we tasted in sample meals, and they really delivered at the event. Their presentation was spectacular. Marcus was charming and easy to work with.
There were some minor snafus as with any big event, but the only downside worth mentioning is that I had purchased some lovely Indian silks to dress the tables, and intended to make them into pillows as mementos later. We never got these back even though I had specifically asked for them (and purchased them myself). I was told the caterer "had them in their warehouse somewhere," but they never re-appeared.
In the greater scheme of things, this is NOT a huge deal. But I wanted to explain why not 5 stars. The food was memorable and wonderful and many folks still tell us to this day what a great wedding it was.
Prices were competitive and I would definitely use them again. -
Review from J H.
Lagunitas, CA
4/28/2011
These guys just keep getting it right. Every time AATRC does a event for me they 'make it happen' - no matter what obstacles with a CAN-DO attitude. When you love what you do, it shows in your work. The team are experts at bringing DRAMA & beauty to even a business meeting deli platter to make everyone go "yum" and clean their plates. I won't hire anyone else.
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Review from Pedro M.
Davis, CA
6/16/2010
My college graduation party would not have been the same!
They did a phenomenal job decorating the place and providing an outstanding presentation to the party. The food was just delicious!
Thank you!
Highly recommend it.
-Pedro -
Review from Diva's D.
Corte Madera, CA
5/19/2011
Absolutely incredible.
We literally just relocated to Corte Madera, Ca. We had a meet and greet house warming, inviting our new wonderfull neighbors, and my husband's
new staff and design team.
Although we had given short notice, they asked questions to get a feel for what we wanted to serve our guests and came to the house so they could envision how to set things up. I wanted a casual elegant feel.
With lots of great appetizers and tapas, served with tasteful elegant style.
The tablescapes and lighting and music and everything was beyond expectations. The food , superb. I have never been so proud to be a hostess, and my husband's work folk think I'm some fabulous domestic goddess.
Just superb! Marcus, the owner bends over backwards! -
Review from Julie Q.
San Anselmo, CA
11/6/2011
Marcus Lee is more than a caterer - he's an event planning consultant who answered endless questions from the start and was critical in helping me pull off a wonderful fundraising event. He overcame every obstacle, including having to work from his truck in the parking lot of the venue during substantial rain and cold weather. Inside, no one knew the challenges he and his staff were facing. The food was delicious, beautifully presented and the event would never have come off as well without him. He's truly a professional, full-service caterer and my only regret is that I can't give him ten stars or more. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Marcus.
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Review from Kieran h.
San Francisco, CA
7/13/2010
Marcus and his staff are brilliant.
My (now) wife and I tried a couple caterers before tasting "An Affair to Remember" and were very impressed by Marcus' food and showmanship. He took careful note of our vision for the wedding, which represented our Asian and European-American background. The tasting was impeccably presented, complete with a great bottle of wine: an assortment of dim sum, creamy risotto, and of course, the roast pork (a must-have at Asian weddings).
Anyone who's worked with the Green Room knows their many restrictions and regulations, but Marcus and his team were able to help us sort through the logistics and made our wedding seamless. The day of our wedding, they converted the Green Room from church-style pews to a dinning hall in 20 minutes; the GR managers had insisted he'd need 90. The guests were slack-jawed with surprise to see the makeover!
During dinner, Marcus personally introduced the dishes to every table. His staff made sure every glass was filled with wine, and since the bride couldn't drink alcohol, they made sure she had Martinelli's apple cider in her champagne flute. Plus a sweet surprise at the end of the night: warm chocolate chip cookies with a shot of cold milk! Our guests kept coming up to us to compliment the food and service. Thank you, Marcus and the team at "An Affair to Remember" for making our wedding day the most memorable day of ours', and our guests', lives. -
Review from MISA M.
Concord, CA
8/4/2008
Marcus & his wonderful crew catered my wedding this past weekend and we couldn't have been happier! From the time I met Marcus, he was so confident and cool that I knew I was in good hands. He listened to my ideas and took them beyond my greatest expectations. The food was delicious, and their service was outstanding. Marcus not only acted as our caterer but also as my event manager which was a big relief to a busy bride in planning. I highly recommend you call 'An Affair to Remember' first before you look elsewhere. EVERYONE at the wedding said it was the best wedding and best wedding food they have ever had...
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Review from J H.
Oakland, CA
12/11/2008
Marcus, you are awesome.
You went above and beyond, exceeding expectations.
For the food tasting when we first met you was unbelievable, we didn't expect an entire dinner, we expected just little appetizers.
You went out of your way and recommended Monica and she was just amazing, you double agent.
You even baked fresh cookies at the end of our wedding, which we didn't ask for. It was delicious to have cookies right out the oven and it also helped sober up some of our guests, thank you very much.
Our guests and ourselves loved your food, your great personality, everything about you.
Our experience with you has been amazing.
Thank you for everything, Marcus. -
Review from Bouncy D.
Oakland, CA
1/21/2008
An Affair to Remember catered our wedding 3 years ago, and we can't recommend them highly enough! We got comments on the "great food" for a couple years after the wedding. Who remembers wedding food?! yes, it was that good.
We threw in some challenges at AtoR:
1) 150 people, ranging from carnivores, vegans, to picky children
2) the groom wanting to bring in a couple specialty items from his favorite restaurant (and they graciously helped make this happen)
and the kicker:
3) the kitchen at the space we were using was under construction and not completed in time for the wedding, so they had to prep e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g in their mobile kitchen.
Marcus + Ken did a FABULOUS job, were pleasant to work with, created really unique attractive presentations, and thought of/took care of things we never would have. And they have a great team of servers and bartenders.
We'd recommend them for any event you might have coming up - corporate or personal. Great service, fantastic food. Thanks, Affair to Remember! -
Review from Brianne O.
San Francisco, CA
8/4/2008
I work in recruiting and I use An Affair to Remember for all of my dinner parties. The food is delicious, the setup is impeccable and Marcus and Matt are an absolute pleasure to work with. They can create any concept or menu you'd like, work with you on your budget, create a beautiful presentation and make you want to take all of the leftovers home. I trust them for even my highest profile parties because they never disappoint me and always keep me laughing. I highly recommend you try their catering!
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Review from Les F.
San Francisco, CA
12/30/2008
An Affair to Remember catered my recent birthday party at the Log Cabin in the Presidio - it was a big one - Cincuentañera. Marcus Lee was a blast to work with, and TOTALLY got my Mexican pin-up girls theme - plus, he had an inate sense of what to let me do and what he should take care of. I've thrown a lot of parties, but never on this scale. Everything went off seamlessly, the food was fantastic, the servers were professional AND fun, and the displays and tables looked beautiful. Marcus kept an eye on everything - even helped my gogo girls, the Devil-Ettes, find the venue. The band called to thank ME the next day because they had such a good time! Perfecto!
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Review from Dana T.
San Francisco, CA
12/16/2009
Marcus and his team are amazing, his food is delicious, and his decor is spectacular....and in addition, he is the kindest and most thoughtful and generous caterer I've ever worked with. His love for cooking and entertaining is apparent in everything he does! For three years, Marcus has catered the annual Development Executives Roundtable Holiday Party -- a gathering of about 200 nonprofit executives and fundraisers. From the first day of planning, he is enthusiastic and ready to help make the event as fantastic as possible. At the event itself, he takes care to warmly greet guests to the beautiful buffet spread and personally explain what he is serving. He even went the extra mile to provide us with a couple of special touches we hadn't been able to afford on our low-budget and gave us a very generous nonprofit discount. After the event, he even gave those of us still there a take-home box of delicious food to enjoy later!
All in all, Marcus is not just the caterer of the event. Over these last three years he has become a vital member of the team as well as a very special guest to have in attendance. Thank you Marcus! Our celebratory toast at the end of the event was well deserved! -
Review from Chris N.
San Francisco, CA
10/26/2008
Marcus and Co. are great! They catered our wedding reception, which was at a bowling alley. We wanted bowling-themed food, and gave several caterers sample menu items. An Affair to Remember was the only caterer that actually worked with our menu theme - for some reason, the other companies thought bowling food consisted of chicken and fish (they probably just copy the same menu for every wedding reception!). The food was delicious - everyone at the reception raved about it. And the service was top notch. Best of all, An Affair to Remember was the most reasonably-priced bid we received. I would recommend them without a single reservation.
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Review from John P.
San Francisco, CA
9/24/2009
I wish that I could give 6 stars! Marcus and Matt were fantastic. From the delicious and elegant tasting they prepared to the delicious spread that we served at our wedding their work is top notch! Marcus runs a tight ship and really showed professionalism and elegance at our wedding! Their food is delicious, and they were very flexible in preparing exactly what we had envisioned. Their customer services goes above and beyond the call of duty! Fantastic!
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Review from Stephanie T.
San Rafael, CA
10/14/2009
Marcus was a huge help to my husband in planing a surprise 40th birthday party for me. Marcus is the master when it comes to figuring out how much food you are really going to need for your event. I can't tell you what my favorite dish is because it was all so fabulous! The presentation of the food and the great variety of dishes were superb! If you want Italian they have it. if you want an Asian flare they have it. I don't think there is anything Marcus can't do. Just keep on doing it you guys!!! Thank you for making my birthday a night I'll never forget!!
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Review from bonnie b.
San Francisco, CA
5/11/2011
I booked An Affair To Remember to cater an impossible situation for my company event. I had no idea of how many people would attend (somewhere between 10 and 2000), didn't have a clear budget and basically had no idea what I was doing. Marcus worked his magic, held my hand throughout the entire process and made the event a great success. The food was delicious, the table settings were elegant (live orchids), he even thought to bring umbrellas for the outside tables in case of direct sunlight (a detail I never would have thought of). I honestly don't know what I would have done without Marcus. He served as my caterer, my best friend and my therapist all at the same time. I also very much appreciate his flexibility for contingency planning - as we did not know what to expect we had to have a plan for every possible outcome. It was a perfect day, a perfect event, and I owe a big part of this success to An Affair to Remember.
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Review from Melanie W.
Fremont, CA
6/22/2011
Simply Amazing!! Marcus and his staff catered the Jr/Sr Prom that I planned for our high school. I could not have asked for better service. Marcus presented us with a great "kid friendly", but still elegant menu. The students raved about the food. He was great in helping out with the venue, and really made me feel like I was his number one priority leading up to the event. We will definitely use him again for future proms!
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Review from A F.
San Francisco, CA
4/18/2008
3 Great Events. Different arrangements. Each time I was overwhelmed with the quality of service. This organization cares about the experience you have putting together your event from the planning stage through completion. They take your ideas and can make things happen with menus that are fun delicious and just plain spectacular while coaxing you to try the most fabulous things you would ever imagine. And work within your budget. Even the proposals are fun to read!
I first found An Affair to Remember when putting a client appreciation event together for a few hundred at the old Fire House at Fort Mason in 2003. I was so pleased with the service, decor, fabulous Tables of San Francisco Small Plates - appetizer tables we had done. I contacted Marcus Lee again to ask An Affair To Remember to put something together on a Back to School Dinner and Dance for 450 at Saint Vincent de Paul School in 2004. It was a very tight budget but Marcus worked closely with me to find a menu exciting for the children and a menu that was fabulous for the adults. The tables were spectacular and our Under the Sea theme was a hit.
When I was called upon this year in 2008 to help out at a SVDP Father/Daughter catered event- A Night Before the Oscars, I called on Marcus again. He went beyond the call of duty to assist in finding ways to work with our tight budgets. He brought us ice, lent us buckets, other things that a school would need in big events out of the kindness of his heart saving us costs. Marcus never complains and always has a sense of humor about the joy of what the event is all about and allowed us volunteers to work with him and Corey the night of the event. We wanted menus we couldn't afford but he found us the most beautiful and delicious multiple course dinner buffets. Again the tables that night were spectacular.
Always smiling and working hard to please, An Affair to Remember found ways to solve many problems I would run into along the way to making my event day happen. They are the greatest listeners and a good resource too, with suggestions, and for people or vendors to contact. Love this group!
Sum it up into a few words; Care, Service, Quality, Humor, Enjoy Life, Respect, Work Hard, Team Players
An Affair to Remember is a joy to work with! -
Review from Vivien D.
San Rafael, CA
11/3/2009
Marcus+Co did an amazing job for the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership's 2009 Marin Nonprofit Conference. Feedback from the attendees stated that they loved the food selection and quality. Marcus's enthusiasm was infectious. The flowers they provided were sparkling and were later donated to another dinner for Whistlestop. His team worked efficiently and effectively to get all 300+ guests served and his flexibility was greatly appreciated as we adjusted to fit the needs of the guests!
Thanks again for all your hardwork!!
-from the CVNL Programs Department
