We chose Santa Barbara to cater our wedding at the Phoenix Art Museum. I contacted them and three other companies on the museum's list of preferred caterers, and they beat the competition. They responded to my request and sent several sample menus with pricing. Their per person cost was higher than Fabulous Food, but the total cost was a good $2,000 lower. That's because they don't add on additional fees for labor, setup, etc.
Lauren was a joy to work with. She responded to all my questions professionally and in a timely manner. She was patient with me through multiple menu changes. They even let us customize the menu with our own recipes. In the final walkthrough, Lauren thought of several details and clearly had a vision of what needed to happen. She helped brainstorm clever ways to keep rental costs down. I felt like she was on our side throughout the whole process.
The tasting we attended was a group tasting at the Tempe Center for the Arts. That meant we didn't get to try the food on our exact menu, but it was a sampling of what they provide. We weren't all that impressed with the tasting--it tasted like pretty standard catering fare--but the food at the actual wedding was amazing. The stuffed chicken breast with spinach and fontina was divine. The presentation was beautiful (see photo of the buffet), and the staff were very accommodating. At the reception my dad and I decided to give the leftovers to Meals on Wheels, and they were happy to make the switch.
I am so glad we chose Santa Barbara Catering and would recommend them in a heartbeat.