Elegant Fare

What Elegant Fare does

Elegant Fare Catering, LLC is a privately held, full-service catering and events company founded in 1982 and headquartered at 2575 Commerce Blvd., Cincinnati, Ohio. The company serves four primary customer segments across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Greater Dayton: wedding couples (its primary revenue driver), corporate clients (including University of Cincinnati, Fifth Third Bank, The Christ Hospital, and Prasco), social event hosts, and casual celebration hosts. Its core offerings are Wedding Catering, Corporate Event Catering, Social Event Catering, Casual Celebration Catering, the mobile "Elegant Fare Anywhere" service, and the transactional "EF to Go" takeout/delivery product. The company also operates Gatherings of Blue Ash, an owned flagship event venue with a 250-seat Great Hall, and maintains reciprocal partnerships with 25+ regional venues spanning museums, estates, parks, breweries, and performance halls.

Elegant Fare's revenue model is professional-services-based and quote-driven: pricing is not publicly disclosed and is tailored to menu selection, guest count, service level, and venue, billed on a per-event basis. Go-to-market is sales-led and event-driven, with each client assigned a dedicated catering/event consultant who guides them from inquiry through execution, supported by private tasting experiences for wedding clients. Distribution is exclusively direct, with no intermediaries, resellers, or digital marketplaces; services are delivered on-site at client-chosen or company-affiliated venues. Marketing relies on a content-rich website, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and an email newsletter, with testimonials and repeat corporate engagements as primary demand-generation assets.

There is no proprietary technology platform, software product, or AI/ML capability disclosed. Operations are people-intensive, centered on chef-crafted food, professional service staff, and consultant-led planning. The firm is structured as an Ohio LLC with no disclosed parent company, no institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no completed M&A. Founded by Anne Lisbin, it has operated continuously for over four decades and currently employs between 11 and 50 people.

Name

Elegant Fare

Legal name

Elegant Fare Catering, LLC

Website

https://elegantfare.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Elegant Fare is a Cincinnati-based full-service catering and events firm serving weddings, corporate clients, and social gatherings across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Greater Dayton, operating an owned venue (Gatherings of Blue Ash) and a 25+ venue partner network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Event Catering Services

NAICS

Caterers (722320), Special Food Services (7223)

SIC

Retail-Eating Places (5812)

akta.pro primary industry

Event Catering (Weddings, Social, Private Parties) (THAFAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Full-Service Catering (Off-Premise) (HSACAGAA), Wedding & Reception Catering (HSACAGAD)

Keywords

• Wedding catering services
• Corporate event catering
• Social event catering
• Off-premise catering
• Event venue management

Headquarters

HQ city

Cincinnati

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Wedding Catering Services: Full-service wedding catering including menu planning, food preparation, service staff, setup and cleanup. Primary revenue driver with dedicated event consultants guiding couples through the planning process.
2. Corporate Event Catering: Corporate catering services ranging from boxed lunches to gala celebrations. Includes menu options for meetings, conferences, employee appreciation events, and holiday dinners.
3. Social Event Catering: Catering for cocktail parties, birthday celebrations, anniversaries, graduations, bar/bat mitzvahs, and other social gatherings. Flexible service levels from delivery only to full on-site service.
4. Casual Celebration Catering: Intimate gatherings, backyard barbecues, holiday parties, and casual celebrations. 'Elegant Fare Anywhere' service for delivery or cook-on-site options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Elegant Fare is a full-service catering company providing upscale off-premise food preparation, service, setup, and cleanup for weddings, corporate events, social gatherings, and casual celebrations across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Greater Dayton. Offerings include dedicated catering/event consultants, chef-crafted customizable menus with dietary accommodations, professional service staff, and access to an extensive partner-venue network, supplemented by a mobile "Elegant Fare Anywhere" service, an "EF to Go" takeout/delivery channel, and the company-owned Gatherings of Blue Ash venue.

Product overview

Elegant Fare is a catering company offering a portfolio of catering services across multiple categories. The core offerings include Wedding Catering Services, Corporate Event Catering, Social Event Catering, and Casual Celebration Catering. These services are complemented by the Elegant Fare Anywhere mobile catering option and the EF to Go takeout/delivery service. The company operates primarily in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, providing full-service catering with professional staff, chef-crafted menus, and event coordination.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gatherings of Blue Ash: Event venue operated by Elegant Fare in Blue Ash, Ohio
• Elegant Fare Anywhere

Products and services

• Wedding Catering Services

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Gatherings of Blue AshcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany-owned flagship event venue. Elegant Fare manages all catering and event services at this Blue Ash location featuring a 250-seat Great Hall, AV systems, and full-service bar. Serves as primary owned venue for weddings, corporate events, and social gatherings.
• Cooper Creek Event CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBlue Ash event venue partnership. Upscale venue overlooking Blue Ash Golf Course with capacity up to 300 guests, featuring ballroom, bridal suite, full-service bar, and stone fireplaces.
• Drees PavilioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCovington, Kentucky venue partnership. Located in Devou Park with panoramic views of Cincinnati and Covington skylines. 10,000 sq ft pavilion with outdoor terrace, gazebo, and 200+ guest capacity.
• Taft Museum of ArtminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCincinnati downtown venue partnership. Historic house museum with elegant indoor/outdoor spaces for weddings and corporate events. Capacity 50-100 seated guests.
• Newport AquariumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNewport, Kentucky venue partnership. Unique underwater-themed venue for weddings and corporate events. Riverside Room with Cincinnati skyline views. Capacity up to 1,500 for full aquarium buyout.
• National Underground Railroad Freedom CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowntown Cincinnati venue partnership. Museum venue with Grand Hall (350 capacity), theater space, and riverfront terrace for corporate and social events.
• Cincinnati Music Hall and Corbett TowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDowntown Cincinnati arts venue partnership. Historic Music Hall Ballroom (700 seated) and Corbett Tower (220 seated) for large-scale events and weddings.
• Stone Valley MeadowsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFranklin, Ohio venue partnership. Custom barn-inspired event facility on 13 acres with 11,000 sq ft main barn, bridal suite, groom's barn, and meadow ceremony space. Capacity 280+ guests.
• Groesbeck EstateminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian Hill area venue partnership at Cincinnati Nature Center. English manor estate with Tritsch Terrace (120 guests), indoor spaces, and Haile Pillar Garden ceremony site.
• Glen Helen Nature PreserveminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerYellow Springs venue partnership. 1,125-acre nature preserve with Vernet Ecological Center, Birch Manor, and outdoor spaces for nature-themed events up to 150 guests.
• Venue Network (25+ Partners)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive network of venue partnerships across Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Dayton areas. Includes historic estates, nature centers, museums, performance halls, country clubs, and unique spaces. Long-standing relationships with dozens of top venues enabling comprehensive event coverage.
• Greenacres Arts CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndian Hill venue partnership. Historic Fleischmann Estate on 600 acres with Grand Tent, Formal Gardens, and historic house. In-season capacity 400, off-season 125.
• Pyramid Hill Sculpture ParkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamilton venue partnership. 300+ acre nonprofit sculpture park with ancient antiquities museum. Unique art-in-nature setting for weddings and corporate retreats.
• Rhinegeist BreweryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOTR Cincinnati venue partnership. Craft brewery space for events with historic character. Private events team assists with weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events, and cocktail parties.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Jeff Ruby's Catering & Events: Upscale Cincinnati-based restaurant and events group offering full-service catering and event venues in the same metro market as Elegant Fare. Directly comparable in segment (weddings, corporate, social) and service model (consultative, high-touch).

Broad incumbents

• Aramark: Global food service and uniform services company operating across sports, entertainment, business, and higher education. Competes in the broader corporate and institutional catering space and represents the scaled foodservice contractor alternative to regional players like Elegant Fare.
• Sodexo: Global food services and facilities management company with extensive corporate, healthcare, and education catering operations. Comparable as a broad incumbent offering institutional and event catering at a scale Elegant Fare cannot match.
• Compass Group: World's largest contract foodservice company, serving corporate, healthcare, education, and sports venues. Represents the upper bound of scale in contract catering against which regional caterers like Elegant Fare position on service quality and customization.
• Centerplate: Hospitality and catering provider specializing in sports, convention, and entertainment venues across the U.S. Comparable as a venue-anchored event caterer competing for the same corporate and large-event spend pool.
• Delaware North: Hospitality and food service company operating in sports, entertainment, travel, and gaming venues. Comparable as a large-scale event catering and venue hospitality operator that competes for high-volume corporate and event spend.

Regional players

• Abigail Kirsch: Long-established upscale NYC caterer operating exclusive venue partnerships (e.g., The New York Botanical Garden, Brooklyn Museum). Same upscale full-service catering model and venue-network strategy as Elegant Fare, but in the New York metro market.
• Catering by Michaels: Upscale Chicago-based full-service caterer for weddings, corporate, and social events with multiple venue partnerships. Mirrors Elegant Fare's model of consultant-led service, premium menus, and venue network leverage in a different regional market.

Others

• Cooper Creek Event Center: Blue Ash, Ohio upscale event venue and direct Elegant Fare partner. Comparable as a venue in Elegant Fare's distribution network; represents the kind of venue partnership that drives the caterer's regional footprint rather than a direct competitor.
• The Knot Worldwide: Wedding planning marketplace (The Knot, WeddingWire) that aggregates regional caterers and influences wedding booking decisions. Comparable as an enabling/threatening channel that controls lead generation and price discovery for wedding caterers like Elegant Fare.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/elegant.fare
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elegant-fare-inc
• Instagraminstagram.com/elegantfare
• Xx.com/elegantfare

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Elegant Fare