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Welcome to Cajun Cafe Chicago — where every dish is made with care, culture, and community in mind. Whether you’re planning a corporate event, private celebration, or community gathering, we’re honored to be considered for your special occasion. To ensure a smooth and successful catering experience, we’ve outlined our catering policies below. Please review them carefully.

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Booking, Payments & Deposits
To reserve your event date, a signed service agreement and a 50% non-refundable deposit are required. The remaining balance is due 14 days prior to your event. We accept electronic payments via credit card, ACH, or check through our secure payment platform. Late payments may result in a $75 fee. Rush bookings, defined as those made within 5 days of the event, will incur a $150 rush fee.

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Price Guarantees & Guest Count
Pricing is guaranteed once your final guest count and full payment have been received. The final guest count is due 14 days before the event and cannot be reduced after that point. If your guest count increases after this deadline, we will make every effort to accommodate the change, and any additions will be billed accordingly.

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Tastings
We offer tastings for prospective clients at a rate of $250 for up to four guests. The tasting includes a selection of small bites,  soup or salad, entrees and dessert. Tastings allow you to experience our culinary offerings and tailor your menu selections. If you choose Cajun Cafe Chicago to cater your event, the tasting fee will be credited toward your final invoice. If you choose not to book, the fee simply covers food, labor, and preparation.

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Service Charge, Gratuities & Taxes
A 20% service fee will be applied to all catered events. This fee covers administrative expenses, delivery and transportation, staffing and setup, insurance, fuel, and PPE.

 

Kindly note that the service fee is not considered a gratuity. If you’d like to show appreciation to our team, gratuities are always welcome and can be added during payment by credit card, ACH, or check— or given in cash to a manager on-site.

 

All invoices are subject to Illinois state and local sales tax (11.25%) unless a valid tax exemption certificate is submitted prior to final payment.

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Tax Exempt Status

If your organization is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, you must provide a valid tax exemption certificate at the time of booking in order for sales tax to be removed from your invoice. Without this documentation, all applicable taxes will be applied

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Delivery & Setup
Delivery and setup will be coordinated based on your office space or venue’s requirements and event schedule. To ensure timely service, please provide detailed loading dock or entry instructions at the time of booking. For full-service events, please allow adequate time for setup, breakdown, and cleanup in accordance with your venue’s guidelines.

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Additional Staffing, Rentals & Fees

Banquet Staffing:  Staffing fees vary based on your guest count, menu selections, and service needs. This includes servers, cooks, bussers, and outsourced bartenders.

 

Rental fees: apply when your event requires items such as tables, chairs, linens, glassware, chafing equipment, or specialty service ware. These will be quoted based on your event’s needs.

 

Commission Fee: Some venues require a catering commission fee, typically ranging from 10% to 25%, which will be added to your invoice if applicable.

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Cooking On Site: If your event requires on-site cooking, the venue must meet our spacing and power requirements. On-site cooking is billed at $175 per hour with a two-hour minimum.

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Dietary Restrictions & Food Safety
We take food safety seriously and do our best to label food items that contain common allergens such as dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, tree nuts, sesame seed, peanuts, fish, or shellfish. However, cross-contamination may occur. Cajun Cafe Chicago is not responsible for allergic reactions at drop-off or full-service events. For liability and safety reasons, we do not serve, or handle food prepared by outside sources. Any food taken off-site becomes the client’s responsibility, and we cannot be held liable for foodborne illness once the food leaves the event premises.

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Cancellations & Refunds
We understand that plans can change. All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing to sales@cajuncafechicago.com.

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If a cancellation is made 30 or more days prior to the event, the 50% deposit will be retained.

 

For cancellations made between 14 and 29 days prior, 75% of the total payment is retained.

 

For cancellations made 7 to 13 days prior, 100% of payment is retained.

 

Cancellations within 7 days of the event are non-refundable, and full payment is due.

 

If Cajun Cafe Chicago must cancel for any reason, you will receive a full refund (excluding any non-refundable purchases), or we will work with you to reschedule based on availability.

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COVID-19 Considerations
While we follow all local and federal public health guidelines, Cajun Cafe Chicago is not responsible for cancellations, restrictions, or limitations due to COVID-19 outbreaks, government mandates, or venue closures. We will make every effort to reschedule your event when possible.

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Photo Release
By booking with Cajun Cafe Chicago, you consent to having portions of your event photographed or recorded for marketing or promotional use. If you do not wish to be included in any media, please notify us in writing before the event date.

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Our Commitment
Cajun Cafe Chicago is fully licensed, insured, and compliant with all Cook County food safety regulations. Our team is committed to professionalism, hospitality, and delivering a memorable culinary experience rooted in culture, tradition, and community.

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Ready to Book?
We’re excited to serve you! ​Reach out to us anytime at sales@cajuncafechicago.com