Gastronaut
Gastronaut is a privately held San Francisco catering company founded by ex-Google executive chefs, offering custom menus for corporate events and social gatherings on a quote-based, direct-to-consumer basis; operations are currently paused per the company website.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersSan Francisco, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Gastronaut does
Gastronaut is a privately held, San Francisco-based catering company founded in 2010 (firmographics also list 2008) by former Google executive chefs Mirit Cohen and Nathaniel Keller. The company operates a single location at 5919 3rd Street in San Francisco's Bayview District and delivers custom, on-site culinary experiences for two end markets: corporate clients (daily office lunches, business meetings, conferences, team events) and social event hosts (weddings, birthday parties, holiday celebrations, themed gatherings such as Star Wars or Simpsons parties). Menus are bespoke and built per client, drawing on globally-inspired cuisines and signature items such as Reuben Egg Rolls, Duck Rillette Moon Pies, and Caprese Pipettes.
The underlying operating model is labor- and event-driven rather than technology-driven: there is no proprietary software platform, no app, no API, and no disclosed integrations; the entire stack consists of a WordPress website, social media accounts, and a Yelp listing. Revenue is generated exclusively through professional-services catering engagements priced via per-event quotes (no public pricing), distributed through a direct-to-consumer sales motion that relies on word-of-mouth referrals, the company website, and earned media. Named enterprise visibility is anchored on a Twitter HQ testimonial and a Google reference from the founders' prior employer, while the broader book of business is a long tail of one-off corporate and social events serving groups up to a few hundred guests.
Customer acquisition has historically leaned on earned media (Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, 7x7 Magazine, UrbanDaddy, 2010-2011) and a Yelp/reviews presence, with no disclosed paid acquisition, no partnerships, and no institutional funding. The company is bootstrapped (Gastronaut, LLC, California), with no venture capital, no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no M&A history. As of the most recent website state, the company states it has "gone back into startup mode and is no longer accepting requests, until further notice," indicating a material contraction or operational pause relative to its 2010-2011 peak activity.
Gastronaut firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Gastronaut
- Legal name
- Gastronaut, LLC
- Website
- https://gastronautsf.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Gastronaut is a privately held San Francisco catering company founded by ex-Google executive chefs, offering custom menus for corporate events and social gatherings on a quote-based, direct-to-consumer basis; operations are currently paused per the company website.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Gastronaut is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- San Francisco
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Gastronaut business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Catering Services: Gastronaut generates revenue through custom catering services for corporate events (lunches, meetings, conferences) and social events (weddings, birthday parties, holiday celebrations). They create bespoke menus tailored to each client's preferences and event requirements, with pricing quoted on a per-event basis.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Gastronaut product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Gastronaut is a San Francisco-based catering company that designs and delivers custom, globally-inspired culinary experiences for corporate events (lunches, meetings, conferences) and social gatherings (weddings, birthdays, holiday parties, themed events). Each event is supported by a bespoke menu tailored to the client's preferences, dietary needs, and event scale, with execution capabilities spanning intimate dinners to events serving hundreds of guests.
Product overview
Gastronaut is a catering company offering two primary service lines: Corporate Catering Services and Social Event Catering. The company specializes in creative, globally-inspired culinary experiences for businesses and social gatherings, with menus that reimagine classic taste combinations and feature innovative dishes. Services are customized per client and include themed events, seasonal menus, and specialty cuisine offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Corporate Catering Services Customized lunch and meal catering for companies, featuring globally-inspired menus with creative dishes such as Reuben Egg Rolls, Duck Rillette Moon Pies, and Caprese Pipettes. Includes daily corporate meals and business lunch menus themed around different cuisines, for tech firms, startups, and other businesses.
- Social Event Catering Catering services for social events including weddings, birthday parties, cocktail parties, holiday celebrations, and themed events (e.g., Star Wars Party, Simpsons Party). Menu offerings range from passed appetizers to full plated dinners with diverse cuisine options including Thai, Indian, Mediterranean, and Mexican.
Companies that use Gastronaut
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Gastronaut technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Gastronaut partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Gastronaut competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wedgewood Weddings & Events: Multi-state wedding and social event catering operator. Comparable to Gastronaut's social events offering, but operates at significantly larger scale with dedicated venues.
- Bon Appétit Management Co. Large-scale corporate foodservice and catering operator serving Bay Area tech campuses and corporate clients. Comparable on the corporate catering side, but at much greater scale and as part of a broader foodservice portfolio.
Emerging players
- Culinary Eye Catering: Premium off-premise caterer in Portland, OR, focused on corporate and social events with creative menus. Comparable to Gastronaut on creative menu approach and event services, with regional non-overlap.
Direct peers
- McCalls Catering & Events: San Francisco-based full-service caterer for corporate and social events with a long operating history. Comparable to Gastronaut on market, service model, and customer segments.
- Off the Grid: Bay Area event catering and food truck collective serving corporate events and large gatherings. Comparable to Gastronaut on geography and event services, with a different curation model.
- Paula LeDuc Fine Catering: Established Bay Area premium caterer serving corporate and social events with custom menus. Most directly comparable to Gastronaut on geography, customer base (Bay Area tech and affluent social events), and high-end positioning.
- Taste Catering & Event Planning: San Francisco caterer specializing in corporate and private events with custom menus. Directly comparable to Gastronaut on geography, customer mix, and bespoke menu approach.
Regional players
- Birk's Restaurant: Long-running Bay Area restaurant and banquet/catering venue. Comparable to Gastronaut on San Francisco corporate event catering, though anchored to a fixed venue rather than off-premise.
- Zinc Cafe & Market: California-based cafe and catering operation with a focus on fresh, locally-sourced menus akin to Gastronaut's Cafe 150 heritage. Comparable on culinary philosophy and regional market, with limited direct overlap.
Others
- CaterTrax: Catering management software platform used by corporate and independent caterers. Adjacent to Gastronaut as enabling technology for catering operations, not a direct competitor.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat2 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Gastronaut social profiles
Digital presenceGastronaut financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Gastronaut leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Gastronaut funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Gastronaut M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Gastronaut
What does Gastronaut do?
Gastronaut is a San Francisco-based catering company that designs and delivers custom, globally-inspired culinary experiences for corporate events (lunches, meetings, conferences) and social gatherings (weddings, birthdays, holiday parties, themed events). Each event is supported by a bespoke menu tailored to the client's preferences, dietary needs, and event scale, with execution capabilities spanning intimate dinners to events serving hundreds of guests.
Is Gastronaut a public or private company?
Gastronaut is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Gastronaut founded?
Gastronaut was founded in 2010. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Gastronaut based?
Gastronaut is headquartered in San Francisco, United States, in the North America region.
How does Gastronaut make money?
One revenue line is on record: catering Services.
Who are Gastronaut's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wedgewood Weddings & Events and Bon Appétit Management Co.. Culinary Eye Catering is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are McCalls Catering & Events, Off the Grid, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering and Taste Catering & Event Planning. Regional players are Birk's Restaurant and Zinc Cafe & Market. CaterTrax is listed as an others.
Does Gastronaut have an API?
No public API is recorded for Gastronaut.