Outside Catering at ERIA: Kitchen Access, Insurance and What to Plan

The meal should feel like it belongs to your event. You may already have a chef you love, a family tradition you want represented or a caterer who understands your dietary requirements. ERIA welcomes outside catering with approval and a certificate of insurance, so the menu can be a meaningful part of the experience.

The practical work is agreeing on how that caterer will operate in the space. Before you confirm a menu, connect the catering team with ERIA to review preparation, equipment, deliveries, service and cleanup. A clear brief helps everyone price the same event.

Kitchen access at Sausalito

The upstairs and ground-floor Sausalito spaces each have their own separate full commercial kitchen. Approved outside caterers can use the relevant kitchen with a certificate of insurance and a $200 kitchen access fee when kitchen use is required. Renting one floor does not automatically include the other floor's kitchen.

Ask the chef to confirm the equipment essential to the menu. Cooking equipment, refrigeration, holding space, cookware and specialty smallwares should be reviewed against the current inventory. A commercial kitchen is useful, but it should not be assumed to contain every item a particular chef needs.

For ERIA Marina, confirm the preparation and service arrangements with our team before promising your caterer particular equipment or kitchen access. The requirements should be recorded in the proposal for that venue.

Separate the food quote from the service plan

A per-person food price can mean different things. One quote may cover delivery only; another may include on-site preparation, serving staff and cleanup. Ask your caterer to spell out the menu, service style, staffing hours, tableware, equipment and removal of food or waste after the event.

ERIA's included bartender staffing does not automatically replace catering servers. The venue coordinator and the caterer's lead should agree who manages the meal, who clears tables and who handles the final kitchen handover. Additional staff and extended access are quoted separately.

What to send before the event

• Your caterer's name, contact information and certificate of insurance.
• The proposed menu, guest count and service style.
• Dietary requirements, with allergies clearly distinguished from preferences.
• Equipment, refrigeration, preparation and power requirements.
• Delivery, setup, service and cleanup timings.
• A list of what the catering team supplies and what it expects from the venue.

Share that information early enough for adjustments before vendors are committed. Do not schedule a delivery, early arrival or late collection until the venue has confirmed access. Other bookings and reset time can affect the available window.

If you would like ERIA to introduce a chef

We can connect you with a chef and develop a menu around your tastes and spending range. Catering planning tiers include $60, $80, $100, $120, $140 and $200 per person. These are budget starting points for a conversation, with the actual menu, staffing and additional charges confirmed in writing. Explore catering and bar references.

Frequently asked questions

Is outside catering included without an extra fee?

Outside catering is permitted with approval. The $200 kitchen access fee applies when kitchen use is needed. Your caterer's food, service staffing and other agreed extras are separate from venue rental.

Can our caterer also provide the alcohol?

All alcohol arrangements must go through ERIA. Outside liquor and outside bar providers are not permitted. Sausalito permits pre-approved wine with $45 corkage per 750ml bottle. Confirm Marina wine arrangements separately. Review the bar and corkage guide with our team before purchasing anything.

Can we request a culturally specific menu or dietary accommodation?

Yes. Tell us what you need so the right chef and service arrangements can be considered. Requirements such as certified kosher catering, severe allergies or dedicated preparation equipment need explicit confirmation with the caterer.

Who should coordinate the logistics?

For Sausalito and logistics, speak with Andrés. Vendor and partnership introductions can be arranged through the vendor page. Include your event date and venue in the message so it reaches the right conversation.

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