In 1982, our founder Jimmy Stevenson began a small company with deep Southern roots and a philosophy that demanded the best. This philosophy continues today and is undoubtedly why Southern Way is now one of the largest, most successful, and most sought-after catering companies in this area. We specialize in off-site catering anywhere in the Southeast with a fully-equipped mobile catering kitchen.
Our talented and experienced team can execute the most challenging catering event or the simplest. Southern Way is proud to be celebrating over 40 years of catering events from intimate dinners, to elegant weddings, to large corporate galas.
Our talented and experienced team can execute the most challenging catering event or the simplest. Southern Way is proud to be celebrating over 40 years of catering events from intimate dinners, to elegant weddings, to large corporate galas.
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Services
No matter where you want to entertain, it's not a problem for Southern Way. We can plan, coordinate and execute the most challenging catering project - or the simplest - anywhere in the Columbia area or in the Southeast. The top venues are exclusive Southern Way venues. The midlands have a wonderful array of places to hold your event, the other venues listed are some we suggest & must be contacted separately!
Orders must be placed 10 days prior to the event date. For orders after this timeframe please call the number listed below for your preferred location. Once your order is placed a member of our sales team will be in touch to confirm order and finalize necessary details for service. Your order must be placed 14 days before your event.
Reviews (15)
Leigh Sloan
Jun 26, 2022
Southern Way catering is truly a southern gem! From the planning to the attention to every small detail of service, they truly "cater" to your every need. The food is amazing, uniquely presented and delicious! Their entire service team was professional and courteous. Most importantly, they listen to your vision and provide suggestions to make sure your dream becomes a reality! "Best wedding food ever, " as one guest put it! Thank you for everything!
David Bayles
May 16, 2022
Wow! Had Southern Way cater a small party for my son's graduation from USC. They were absolutely amazing. The food was outstanding and the staff was equally professional, friendly and attentive. Can't say enough good things. Amanda who helped guide us through the planning was also fantastic. Would most definitely use them again.
Sherri C.
Nov 03, 2021
Sherry Walden
Oct 28, 2021
As a local venue owner, I was beyond excited to work with Southern Way Catering for the first time this past weekend. They did not disappoint either. Food is delicious, well presented and the staff gives unbelievable service. Brittany was amazing as well as her Captain on Friday, Melinda and the Captain on Saturday, Zane. All of the servers took great care of the guests and made sure no one wanted for anything. I highly recommend anyone needing the service of caterers to look no further. They can do it all! Can't wait to have you back!
Tracy F.
Oct 10, 2021
I a world where responsive communication and a quality product are hard to find, Southern Way nails it. SW recently catered an anniversary party for me and they were excellent to work with from first inquiry to eating the delicious food. Not living in Columbia, I had to take a risk and hire a caterer that I had no experience with. SW responded to me quickly and worked with me on the right menu for a small gathering (10 people).
They were so kind in accommodating my need for them to be discreet after arrival, as it was a surprise party, and the food. delicious. Everyone raved about it all evening. It made me feel good as the host and I can for certain recommend SW. I have high expectations that are usually not met by most businesses. SW exceeded them.
They were so kind in accommodating my need for them to be discreet after arrival, as it was a surprise party, and the food. delicious. Everyone raved about it all evening. It made me feel good as the host and I can for certain recommend SW. I have high expectations that are usually not met by most businesses. SW exceeded them.
Roxanne P.
Sep 12, 2021
Southern Way is where I turn every time I need catering. I first used them ~2004 for a company holiday party and was so impressed with the quality of the food and their set-up that Iive gone back to them again and again. The food is beyond fabulous and I've had only superior service from their staff, chef and management. As a former full-time event planner I've been on both sides of the catering kitchen, using them for professional and personal events.
Their staff are well trained to handle all types of events, large and small-- every event and catering detail is addressed. I've never experienced an event where they didn't give 110%.
Their staff are well trained to handle all types of events, large and small-- every event and catering detail is addressed. I've never experienced an event where they didn't give 110%.
Aaron Moore
May 26, 2021
Love Southern Way! We work with them professionally, and they are just a joy. Having the chance to work with them personally was also such a great experience. They are detailed, responsive, and offer great suggestions and creativity in their food and presentation. The food is always delicious and the experience feels intentional and curated just for you.
Abby Broughton
Jan 18, 2021
Kelsey and Zane and the whole team from Southern Way were incredible to work with, start to finish! Throughout the planning process with my clients (I am a wedding planner), Kelsey made excellent suggestions, was always very responsive, super flexible (when I asked to switch a number of rental items around last minute!), and truly guided my couple through this process with care.
On the day of the wedding, she and the Event Manager, Zane, were fantastic! Zane was one of the best Event Managers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. So kind, and easy-going and going above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of for my couple, their guests, and their vendors. And of course the food was incredible! I would absolutely recommend this team!
On the day of the wedding, she and the Event Manager, Zane, were fantastic! Zane was one of the best Event Managers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. So kind, and easy-going and going above and beyond to make sure everything was taken care of for my couple, their guests, and their vendors. And of course the food was incredible! I would absolutely recommend this team!
Tina Jackson
Nov 06, 2020
I just want to shout out to Columbia that this catering company is first class. From the food choices and planners and their professionalism, I just can't say enough. We had our big event planned and of course Covid kicked us all. Long story short, we got hit hard with no money back from our deposits. However, this company helped me plan a shortened event and created a to go menu for us.
They are the only part of our event that considered all the money we put down.photographer, venue, event planner, and DJ were all a wash. I don't think businesses look at the whole picture when refusing to help compensate our loss during a pandemic. But Southern Way Catering is by far, our light in all of this. We were so sad to have to cancel our event, but their encouragement, help and professional courtesy is beyond what I could imagine!
They are the only part of our event that considered all the money we put down.photographer, venue, event planner, and DJ were all a wash. I don't think businesses look at the whole picture when refusing to help compensate our loss during a pandemic. But Southern Way Catering is by far, our light in all of this. We were so sad to have to cancel our event, but their encouragement, help and professional courtesy is beyond what I could imagine!
Annie Dobbins
May 11, 2020
Southern Way is the best! I worked with Kelsey for our wedding at Wavering Place and she was phenomenal. She was so easy to work with and handled all my wedding back and forth and ups and downs with ease and grace. Kelsey accommodated us in every way she could and made it look easy, I cannot praise her enough. We experienced unexpected rain from a tropical storm and Kelsey and her team pulled out all the stops for make sure we were covered for our outdoor wedding.
On top of the exceptional service, Southern Way's food is outstanding. We received many compliments from our guests that the food was the best wedding food they have ever had. Thank you Kelsey and Southern Way for the most amazing night of my life (regardless of rain)!
On top of the exceptional service, Southern Way's food is outstanding. We received many compliments from our guests that the food was the best wedding food they have ever had. Thank you Kelsey and Southern Way for the most amazing night of my life (regardless of rain)!
Ester Haymond
Mar 09, 2020
Edwin C.
Jan 24, 2020
We worked with Southern Way to handle my only daughter's wedding. I wish all business relationships were as easy and professionally managed as this one. I was referred to SW via my brother's daughter's wedding experience with them which was exceptional. The consulting was valuable, helpful and made decisions easy. Our unique and specific requests were delivered above expectations.
The service before, during and after was superior. Now the food. Being father of the bride, my wife and I were quite busy all evening and had little time to eat. Every other conversation we had with our guests started with a raving and positive compliment regarding the food. The presentation was perfect, the delivery to our guests was on point. If you're wondering, did we ever eat?
The team that worked our event knew what it was like to be the host. Every time I turned around the manager was there to provide food and drink for my wife and me. They made sure to have food ready for the bride and groom. And made sure they ate before the party. Bartending was excellent. Courteous, professional and fast. Bottom line is this. SW delivered as promised and exceeded expectations in EVERY category. It is with pleasure and from personal experience that I recommend them.
The service before, during and after was superior. Now the food. Being father of the bride, my wife and I were quite busy all evening and had little time to eat. Every other conversation we had with our guests started with a raving and positive compliment regarding the food. The presentation was perfect, the delivery to our guests was on point. If you're wondering, did we ever eat?
The team that worked our event knew what it was like to be the host. Every time I turned around the manager was there to provide food and drink for my wife and me. They made sure to have food ready for the bride and groom. And made sure they ate before the party. Bartending was excellent. Courteous, professional and fast. Bottom line is this. SW delivered as promised and exceeded expectations in EVERY category. It is with pleasure and from personal experience that I recommend them.
Shelley Moxley
Dec 11, 2019
Kelsey and her team at Southern Way did an amazing job catering my wedding. The food was delicious and they made it so easy to plan a menu, coordinate rentals, and hire a bar service. We worked with her almost the entire time we were engaged and experienced service that was high quality and professional. Not only did the process go smoothly, with a lot of communication, but the final product was perfectly executed. We could not be happier with how our wedding turned out!
Gina B.
Nov 29, 2019
We ordered Thanksgiving dinner from Southern Way and picked it up the day before. All I had to do is heat and serve. The staff was so helpful and responsive. The food was delicious. Everything tasted homemade. Everyone at the table raved about the food. They provided everything down to the pie cutters. Prices were as expected and I could not have fixed everything I ordered for less than what they charged. I just didn't have to do all the shopping and the cooking. Great time saver and very nice folks to do business with. Now to plan Christmas lunch with them!
Kimberly N.
May 23, 2011
They catered a company event I attended in mid May 2011. Food was great. That being said, the reason I am giving them a below average score is because, for their price, they are on par food-wise with other price-comparable caterers (i.e. average quality for their price range), but their service was horrible, which knocked them down to "poor." The two women working the bar were slow, they made nasty faces and rolled their eyes when some of my coworkers made complicated or massive drinks orders (like shots all around, which apparently took up too much counter space and deserved an eye-roll).
They also started closing our bar at 10:30 PM, when the party wasn't supposed to end until 12. Apparently, it takes them 1.5 hours to clean up, and when you sign a contract with them for 5 hours, you get 3.5 hours of service and 1.5 hours to stare longingly at the Bud and vodka as it's packed away into a cooler. Anyway, it's a lot of semantics and contract mumbo jumbo, but they were just plain nasty about it and treated a lot of us like children when we were being perfectly civil (the level of inebriation was certainly too low to be closing the open bar).
Our party planners were also very specific in stating that we would be "partying" until midnight, so that would mean to most reasonable caterers that you plan to work until midnight, give a quote for 5 full hours of service and then maybe your standard 1.5 hours of clean up, and try to avoid any miscommunication. They did not clearly state this policy knowing we would be expecting a party (with food, drinks, and everything) until midnight.
You should be polite and know how to smile, no matter how annoyed you are, if you work in the service industry, especially when your patrons are being perfectly civil. I wouldn't recommend them. Go with Capital City Catering instead.their brisket sandwiches and shrimp and grits are WAY better anyway, and they're just NICE people
They also started closing our bar at 10:30 PM, when the party wasn't supposed to end until 12. Apparently, it takes them 1.5 hours to clean up, and when you sign a contract with them for 5 hours, you get 3.5 hours of service and 1.5 hours to stare longingly at the Bud and vodka as it's packed away into a cooler. Anyway, it's a lot of semantics and contract mumbo jumbo, but they were just plain nasty about it and treated a lot of us like children when we were being perfectly civil (the level of inebriation was certainly too low to be closing the open bar).
Our party planners were also very specific in stating that we would be "partying" until midnight, so that would mean to most reasonable caterers that you plan to work until midnight, give a quote for 5 full hours of service and then maybe your standard 1.5 hours of clean up, and try to avoid any miscommunication. They did not clearly state this policy knowing we would be expecting a party (with food, drinks, and everything) until midnight.
You should be polite and know how to smile, no matter how annoyed you are, if you work in the service industry, especially when your patrons are being perfectly civil. I wouldn't recommend them. Go with Capital City Catering instead.their brisket sandwiches and shrimp and grits are WAY better anyway, and they're just NICE people
