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Guidelines

Rave! Catering

NC State’s only full-service caterer located in Talley Student Union

Rave! Catering proudly employs experienced, certified chefs and catering professionals to provide you with the highest degree of service possible to ensure successful events.
Rave! Catering caters exquisite prepackaged meal events, buffets and full-service breakfasts, lunch and dinners, as well as the most elaborate receptions and celebrations in the Triangle.

Getting Started with your Event

1. Book your event space

Booking and confirming event space first determines the possibilities and the limitations for your event. You will need to contact the Event Space Coordinator for the building/location you desire.

  • They will confirm the event space is available and guide you through the setup for your event in that location.
  • The Event Space Coordinator will schedule staff to set the room, arrange your electrical and audio-visual needs, ensure housekeeping services for your event, and will arrange for any permitting required for the event space.
  • Once your event space is confirmed, contact Rave! Catering to guide you through planning the food, beverage, and styling for your event. Working together with you and the Event Space Coordinator ensures all aspects of your event are carefully and meticulously planned out – a success in the making!

2. Explore NC State University Event Space Options

There are many picture-perfect event spaces on the NC State campus to host events whether indoors or outdoors. Check out this list of venues to view the possibilities. Contact the Event Space Coordinator associated with the event space and get the ball rolling.

3. Browse our Rave! Catering Menus

Our team of catering professionals, professionally trained chefs, and nutrition experts work together to develop menus that reflect the diverse community of the NC State campus. Our menu selection hosts fresh-made ingredients, artful compositions, and liberal offerings for today’s dietary preferences; such as vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, dairy-free, etc.  Depending upon your event, Rave! Catering can develop custom menus to suit that extra special occasion.

4. Enhance Your Guest’s Experience

A little extra can go a long way to elevate your event and leave them talking. Consider these options when planning your event.

LINENS, CHINA, SILVERWARE

Rave! Catering provides at no additional charge standard linen service, china, silverware, and glassware for all events with full-service buffets and plated meals catered at Talley Student Union. Events catered outside Talley Student Union, an upgrade to linen and china service is available for $5.00 per guest. All reception events include linens for food and beverage tables only. Additional linens may be special ordered and applicable fees applied.

RENTALS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND OUTSIDE VENDORS

Floral arrangements, entertainment, custom lighting, specialty linens, china, silverware, tables, chairs, props, etc., may be arranged to enhance your event. Our Catering Sales Coordinators can assist you in working with our list of reputable vendors to achieve your vision.

5. Review our Catering Guidelines

Look over our guidelines and policies further below to understand your options and responsibilities.

6.  Ready to Book Your Event?

There are several ways to get started booking your event with Rave! Catering. Once you have confirmed the location for your event,

  • Complete the online catering form and a Rave! Catering Sales Coordinator will contact you to get the ball rolling
  • Give us a call at 919-515-RAVE (7283). Office hours are Monday thru Friday from 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
  • Send us an email at rave-catering@ncsu.edu
  • Drop by the Rave! Catering sales office – located in Talley Student Union Suite 5125

Catering Guidelines

Event Guests Minimum

Your catered event is an agreement between you and Rave! Catering. For menus, a guaranteed minimum number of guests must be given to us by noon, three (7) days prior to your event. Once given, the guaranteed minimum number may not be decreased. Billing will be based on your guaranteed number or actual attendance, whichever is higher.

Menu Minimums

Some menu items require a minimum number or guest number to be purchased. Requiring menu minimums helps us to keep our prices competitive.

Deliveries Outside Talley Student Union

We will delivery your order promptly, display it attractively, and pick up all equipment for a $50.00 delivery charge. Events over $250.00 are exempt from delivery fees. A single delivery charge will be applied to any all-day conference or break package events requiring multiple deliveries.

Leftovers Liability

In accordance with North Carolina Heath Department regulations, any leftover consumables (food or beverage) remains the property of Rave! Catering and under law must be disposed of by the caterer and cannot be removed by the customer. No outside food or beverage may be provided by others at your event without our express and written permission.

Allergies and Nutrition

NC State Dining makes every effort to identify ingredients that may cause allergic reactions for those individuals with food allergies. Items marked as gluten friendly (GF) are made with no gluten-containing ingredients. Effort is made to instruct our food production staff on the severity of food allergies. Because the number of meals served and the number of items used each day, along with food production changes from our food vendors, we cannot guarantee that every allergen is identified and labeled.

The possibility that manufacturers of the commercial foods we use could change the formulation at any time and without notice exists. Customers concerned with food allergies much be aware of this risk. NC State Dining cannot assume any liability for adverse reactions to food consumed or items one may come in contact with while eating at any NC State Dining facility or catered event. Guests with life-threatening food allergies who may need to use an EpiPen should carry their own. NC State Dining staff is not trained to administer EpiPens and CANNOT provide or administer them.

Beer and Wine

Beer and wine packages can be purchased for your event through Rave! Catering. We can receive the client’s delivery of alcohol at the Talley Student Center for your event. Rave! Catering will then transport the alcohol to the venue when needed.

Service of alcohol requires a bartender in attendance. A per hour charge per bartender is associated with this service. Please contact our sales office for details. This service is only available to customers with events booked with Rave! Catering.

Leftover donated alcohol must be picked up from the sales office within 48 hours of the event close. Cash bars are not permitted.

Bartending Services

Bartending services are required for all events when alcohol is served. The bartender fee is priced per hour, per bartender and based on a 3-hour minimum. Rave! Catering requires one bartender for every 75 guests.

Changes and Cancellations

We are unable to accommodate changes to your selected menu once the guarantee due date has passed.

In the event, you must cancel your event, Rave! Catering must be notified a minimum of 48 hours in advance in order to avoid any additional charges. Cancellation without 48 hours’ notice will incur a cancellation fee of the total estimated cost.

Rave! Catering is recognized as an essential business and will remain in full operation as long as the University is open. In the event of inclement weather and the University is closed, any scheduled events will be cancelled at no charge to the customer.

Payment and Billing

For NC State University Departments: A University account number will be required upon booking your event. A service contract will be mailed, faxed, or emailed to you for your review prior to the event. Please check the information carefully, sign and return the contract to Rave! Catering. If there are questions or corrections, please contact the sales office at 919-515-RAVE (7283).

If there are no corrections, the charges for your event will be deducted from the university account designated in the contract. Campus departments are exempt from sales tax.

Events have a 2-hour time limit, please check each menu section carefully for specifics regarding service charges for exceeding designated time allowances. Additional staff can be scheduled if your event exceeds the event time limit, applicable charges will apply.

For Non-University Customers: A service contract will be mailed, faxed, or emailed to you for your review prior to your event. Please check the information carefully, then sign and return it to our sales office. If there are questions or corrections, please contact us at 919-515-RAVE (7283)

If you have questions regarding your invoice, please call our accounting office at 919-515-3618. If no questions, please remit payment via check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express.

Event Space Policies and Guidelines

Policies and guidelines for event space can differ from location to location across campus. Your event space coordinator can explain those policies in detail upon confirming your event location.