Review: Atomic Catering

We used this company fall 2008 and were greatly disappointed. They sold us with Gourmet sliders and what we actually got at the reception was more like White Castle. They botched the beer and wine and didn't have the scotch my husband was looking forward to sharing with his groomsmen. The wait staff was actually very friendly but for as friendly as they were it could not make up for oversell of the event managers.

I cannot understand all the hype about this company. I have only heard good things about them, so imagine our disappointment, when months later I am still apologizing to our guests for the totally inadequate service (some people actually were served an hour after the first people had finished eating). That coupled with a complete lack of control from the "coordinator" made a total mess out of a very expensive wedding. If it were not for the event site, which was beautiful, this wedding would have been a complete disaster. I don't have enough room here to list all of the details they either missed or totally messed up so I totally feel your pain.

Disappointed Bride wrote:

We used this company fall 2008 and were greatly disappointed. They sold us with Gourmet sliders and what we actually got at the reception was more like White Castle. They botched the beer and wine and didn't have the scotch my husband was looking forward to sharing with his groomsmen. The wait staff was actually very friendly but for as friendly as they were it could not make up for oversell of the event managers.

How do you cancel an upcoming commitment with this caterer without losing your deposit? I don't like the reviews that I have read.

I can't believe people actually take the time to make up things like these comments on the internet. I have used Atomic Catering for Corporate and social functions for the last 5-6 years and they are always on point. The pricing is reasonable the food quality is great and the service is always friendly. How do you botch Beer and Wine. Doesn't it come out of a bottle????

Loyal Customer

Who was the event coordinator you were working with? Did you have a tasting first?

Disappointed Bride wrote:

We used this company fall 2008 and were greatly disappointed. They sold us with Gourmet sliders and what we actually got at the reception was more like White Castle. They botched the beer and wine and didn't have the scotch my husband was looking forward to sharing with his groomsmen. The wait staff was actually very friendly but for as friendly as they were it could not make up for oversell of the event managers.

Just because you people have had bad experiences doesn't mean everyone has. I have been using Atomic Catering since they were Atomic Grill. The staff is always on time, dressed to impress and prepared. The food is always good and fresh. They are reasonable in price and always are thinking of new menu ideas. I think that you guys should give them another chance and you wouldn't be disappointed.

Jason P wrote:

I can't believe people actually take the time to make up things like these comments on the internet. I have used Atomic Catering for Corporate and social functions for the last 5-6 years and they are always on point. The pricing is reasonable the food quality is great and the service is always friendly. How do you botch Beer and Wine. Doesn't it come out of a bottle????
Loyal Customer

Jason,
I only wish I was making this up. My daughter was married last May and the catering from Atomic was less than desirable. This was my only daughter and much preparation went into planning this event. We were assured that everything would be taken care of to our satisfaction and I was even advised to "leave it to the professionals," which I gladly did. Unfortunately, I wish they were at our wedding because the coordinator did not have a clue what he was doing. At one point, I went to the dessert bar and overheard one of our guests telling his daughter, "Sorry,honey, looks like slim pickins." The desert table was nearly empty with only a few biscotti sitting in the middle of the table. Even when it was full, there wasn't much on it; certainly not enough to feed 250 people. We were told at the end of the night, they would have a snack packed for the Bride and Groom who were staying on the grounds of the event and that we could take the rest of the late night buffet home. At the end of the night, everything was cleared away and not even a sandwich was packed for the bride and groom. Also, the time span it took to serve the first table and last table was an hour a half. Does that seem reasonable to you? And to top it all off, we were told we were responsible because people moved tables and the servers couldn't find them. When in reality, the caterer put the table numbers in the wrong places, and that's why they couldn't find people. Of course, when that was brought to their attention, they totally ignored the facts and continued to say we should take responsibility for it. Even our table was not where it was supposed to be and the ice-cold beer my husband requested was at the Father of the Groom's table. We didn't even know they had thought of it until we got the pictures back and saw it on the wrong table.
So, sorry to unload on you, Jason, but I just want to let anyone who may be interested in this caterer to know it did happen and I am not making it up.

Great food, great service, great price!

My wedding was on March 21, 2009 and I started working with Barry at Atomic about one year prior. To start off, the food was amazing-Evan, our chef, made the most delicious stuffed mushrooms, crab Rangoon, chicken, lobster ravioli, and clam chowder...we are still getting compliments from our guests. He also threw in some clam cakes for free because he had leftover batter from another event the day before. This was an awesome surprise.
Second, the price was significantly cheaper than other catering companies that we looked into-clearly, without sacrificing the quality of food or service. Third, Barry Bowman was great to work with. Everything was set up and served just as I had wanted...and when there was a small glitch (the venue did not have enough chairs for the ceremony outside), Barry asked my husband, "What do you want us to do. I'll make it happen." Throughout the whole planning process, Barry was in constant contact with myself and the other vendors involved in the event. Mark, our party planner, was also attentive to us and easy to work with on the day of our wedding.
I could go on and on about how happy I am with choosing Atomic catering. I cannot wait until I have another event which needs catering so that I can work with Barry and Atomic again!!!

I used to work for Atomic and they do thousands of events a year. I know for a fact that they've caterered for Bill and Hillary , Barak Obama, John McCain, they cater for all the acts coming into PPAC, they're everywhere, catering everything. You don't get that big by scewing stuff up! I'm still in the food business and it sucks when you get people like this that just can't let something go! So they messed up your event...hey it happins, but is that any reason for you to keep going after them? Look at all these other postings, are all these other people wrong? Check out Citysearch, see what people have written about them there. You got your pound of flesh lady, move on!

I recently saw these posts on the internet. O have to say that worked for the last two summers. I moveed to California recently to work at a catering company in Napa. Atomic is a great company. How someone could slander a compnay like the woman from Pawtucket is unbelievable. Does she have anything better to do. I am sure that she is just a psycho bridezilla or another caterer that is jealous of the sucess of Atomic. I hear they are the largest catering company in RI. Hey lady from Pawtucket get a life.

Highly over-rated caterer wrote:

<quoted text>Get a life Lady!!!!!!
Jason,
I only wish I was making this up. My daughter was married last May and the catering from Atomic was less than desirable. This was my only daughter and much preparation went into planning this event. We were assured that everything would be taken care of to our satisfaction and I was even advised to "leave it to the professionals," which I gladly did. Unfortunately, I wish they were at our wedding because the coordinator did not have a clue what he was doing. At one point, I went to the dessert bar and overheard one of our guests telling his daughter, "Sorry,honey, looks like slim pickins." The desert table was nearly empty with only a few biscotti sitting in the middle of the table. Even when it was full, there wasn't much on it; certainly not enough to feed 250 people. We were told at the end of the night, they would have a snack packed for the Bride and Groom who were staying on the grounds of the event and that we could take the rest of the late night buffet home. At the end of the night, everything was cleared away and not even a sandwich was packed for the bride and groom. Also, the time span it took to serve the first table and last table was an hour a half. Does that seem reasonable to you? And to top it all off, we were told we were responsible because people moved tables and the servers couldn't find them. When in reality, the caterer put the table numbers in the wrong places, and that's why they couldn't find people. Of course, when that was brought to their attention, they totally ignored the facts and continued to say we should take responsibility for it. Even our table was not where it was supposed to be and the ice-cold beer my husband requested was at the Father of the Groom's table. We didn't even know they had thought of it until we got the pictures back and saw it on the wrong table.
So, sorry to unload on you, Jason, but I just want to let anyone who may be interested in this caterer to know it did happen and I am not making it up.

Get a life Lady!!!!!!

What some local venues have to say about Atomic Catering.

"Overseeing an historical site in Providence demands the best efforts on everyone’s part. We are proud to have worked with Atomic Catering over the years on numerous events ranging from political fundraisers to wedding receptions. In a word, Atomic catering has always demonstrated the very best in catering services. From pre-event planning and coordination, to outstanding food and event set up, to professional servers and client attentiveness, they always exceed our expectations.

As a venue operator, I’m in a unique positions to see all kind of vendors come in and out of our facility and without a doubt, Atomic ranks as one of our best! Anyone seeking a caterer who will give them an outstanding value, creatively prepared food and set ups, a professional, courteous staff and an unparalleled focus on customer satisfaction, should not only consider Atomic, but make every effort to secure a spot on their very busy calendar."

Director of Operations
Roger Williams Casino
__________

"We continue to notice your diligent service and continued commitment to both your clientele and respect for our facility here at Save The Bay.

We are happy to be able to include you in our Approved Caterers list because of your commitment to excellence and attention to detail within the scope of the events you participate in at our building.

We want you to know that we are very pleased with the quality of service your company provides. We sincerely appreciate your responsiveness and the way you conduct business. We have recommended your company to others because of our satisfaction with your service. We look forward to doing business with you for years to come.

Thank you again for your continued efforts.

Sincerely,
Save The Bay
Senior Director of Operations
__________

“We have nothing but praise for Atomic Catering. They have catered dozens of events for us here at Roger Williams Park Zoo, including our annual holiday parties for several years. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. The food is always fresh, expertly prepared, and delicious. We look forward to continuing our professional friendship for years to come.”

Director of Events
Roger Williams Zoo
__________

Hi Barry!

Just wanted to say were extremely happy with Atomic Catering! We actually didn’t eat much that day, because we were on the dance floor most of the night but our guest couldn’t stop talking about the food! They all loved the set up and loved the fact that food was out non stop all through the night. The team was excellent and we could’nt have been happier!

It was a pleasure working with you and will definitely reccomend you service to out friends!

Atomic Catering was completely flexible and up for any challenges that I presented...and there wasn't anything that they weren't willing to do! This catering company sought out the same vision that I had for my event and they worked with me to create an innovative menu. We ended up with delicious, gourmet, tapas style foods that impressed our guests. Throughout the planning process, communicating with Atomic Catering was easy and convenient and my concerns were always addressed quickly. The serving staff of Atomic Catering is friendly, helpful and a pleasure to work with. There isn't a better team to have working for you on your special day!

Hi Barry,

Everything was perfect! We had a gorgeous day, everything went very smoothly, and everyone had a great time! The setup was just what we had talked about. The food was great, the staff was friendly and attentive, and we loved the linen colors. We are so pleased with the way the day went, and had an absolutely wonderful time!
Thank you for all of your help along the way, and please thank the staff again for the great job they did at our wedding.

Barry,

Many thanks to you and the staff of Atomic for a flawless afternoon. From beginning to end, you have been so wonderful to work with; planning stage right through to set-up, service and clean-up. Erica was terrific on Saturday as was the whole crew; nary a dirty dish in sight for more than 2 seconds! Food was sensational, so many compliments and the Atomic chips made their usual hit at the bar (even figuring out what went on the German Station, it was a big hit). You all added to our wonderful day and I’m so grateful

Hi Barry,
Thanks for your email. The food was delicious (all the guests commented on this especially), the service was awesome, and the room looked perfect! The servers kept asking if everything was okay, and our parents were even approached to make sure that their needs were being met as well. Everyone was polite and helpful, including yourself throughout this whole process. Please post this email on your website to recommend your company for other events - excellent & highly recommended!

Barry,
Everything went absolutely perfect! Your staff was great and everyone had the best time. Thanks so much for everything. Hopefully we'll work together again in the future.
Take care,

Hi Barry,

Everything went very well and day went very smoothly. I think the only issue was with the cupcake frosting color which was a little disappointing, but in the grand scheme of things not a huge deal. Thanks for everything.

Hi Barry,

We had such a great time on Saturday and got a million compliments on the food! Everything was flawless…We were extremely pleased with the professional attitude of the wait staff and manager - thank you so much. Thanks again for making our wedding a success!