GEMS Catering did a fabulous job with the appetizers for our open house. The food was delicious and the display was very appealing. Emily is a delight to work with and accommodated our every need. I was happy to share who catered to the many guests who asked. A huge thank-you to Emily and GEMS Catering for a job well done!
Taylor Rudy
The Liberty Venue team cannot recommend Emily and her crew enough. We utilized GEM’s Catering for our first Open House event at The Liberty Venue. Our initial catering arrangement fell through and Emily did not hesitate to step in and assure me our order would be ready for our event despite short notice! Our guests at the open house RAVED about how full and delicious the empanadas were. We will be ordering again in the future :)
Beth Mimnall
Emily and her team at Gem's Catering did a fantastic job with the delicious food for Penn Manor High School Cheerleading banquet! The attention to detail, pride, and enthusiasm that is put into her food is nothing but pure love. I heard nothing but positive feedback and "who made that yummy food" all evening! The food was hot and fresh, I would highly recommend Gem's for your next Catering needs!
J A.S.
GEMS Catering exceeds all expectations. Their attention to detail, delicious food, and impeccable service leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommend GEMS for any catering needs!
First Presbyterian Church - Lancaster PA
We use Gem's Catering regularly and love them - Good food, good service!
Christina M. Turley
EXCELLENT! Highly recommend. Emily was amazing to work with. We had our holiday party for around 90 folks at Hotel Rock Lititz for As One Management. Emily was able to work within our budget, help ensure dietary including vegan needs were met and provided the food quickly day of and with easy easy easy set up. The Chicken stole the show! We certainly we will use them again!! We were blessed that the small amount left over was easily packaged and taken to a local homeless shelter to help feed the local community in need.
Nick Shay
My husband and I used Gems Catering for a high-profile end of the year event for our theatre company. To say the least, we are very unhappy with the service and quality of food we were provided.We originally found Gems Catering on the approved catering list provided by the Lancaster Arts Hotel. I would highly urge Lancaster Arts Hotel to remove them from their list.Gems Catering was supposed to set up the food at the venue at 6:00PM. They showed up at 5:00PM, an hour early and despite our staff asking them to wait until 6, decided to still unbox and set up the food displays. The food arrived cold. When my mother in law asked if they had chafing fuel to heat the food, they rudely stated “this is the new age” and they had provided heat lamps. HEAT LAMPS KEEP HOT FOOD WARM, THEY DO NOT HEAT COLD FOOD UP TO APPROPRIATE EATING TEMPERATURE. During and after set up, they seemed to be in such a rush to get out although they had 2 hours before guests started to arrive for the event.About 40 minutes after they left, one of my staff tried bites of the food, and as expected the food was still cold. And now at this point has been sitting out at room temperature for 40 minutes. How can anyone expect to serve food like this at an end of the year gala?My husband called Gems Catering for recommendations on how we are supposed to warm this food up under these “new age lights” and they had no other recommendation but to say “move the lights closer to the food” he also brought up that they failed to deliver pretzel bites and cheese that was part of the order. Gems Catering basically told my husband there was nothing they could do.I did not like this so I had my husband provide me their number and I called. After letting Gems Catering know that I did not like the way they unprofessionally spoke to my husband, I continued to express how this food was cold, not getting heated under these lights as it was cold when it arrived, and I wanted the pretzel bites brought to the venue. They proceeded to tell me that they were no longer in the area and there was nothing they could do. Gems Catering is only a few minutes from the Lancaster Arts Hotel. So I assume they “accidentally on purpose” came to deliver the food an hour early because they had something else to do. Whether that was another food drop off, or something personal, there was no communication and it was highly unprofessional. If you have a client that is currently receiving food from your company you should be available if things come up.We had guests attending this event who live a kosher lifestyle and now, without the pretzel bites, there was one less option for them to enjoy, that we paid $50 for.As far as the food goes, most of the items we received seemed like they came from Costco. Hardly anything tasted home made, more so store bought and when you’re paying $1000+ for food to feed 50 guests, you expect a little more out of it. The spring rolls became soggy only after 40 minutes without proper heating, the empanadas were dry and cold, the chicken fingers were dried out and tasted of grease, and they forgot to bring honey mustard (that was also paid for) to accompany the chicken fingers.As I was speaking with Gems Catering on the phone I was told that they went “above and beyond” I replied saying that I did not agree with that statement at all.For anyone looking for catering, please use caution when choosing Gems Catering, as there are many other catering options in Lancaster County.I will be calling Gems Catering Monday, to speak to them AGAIN about getting some of my money refunded.
Nick Shay
My husband and I used Gems Catering for a high-profile end of the year event for our theatre company. To say the least, we are very unhappy with the service and quality of food we were provided.
We originally found Gems Catering on the approved catering list provided by the Lancaster Arts Hotel. I would highly urge Lancaster Arts Hotel to remove them from their list.
Gems Catering was supposed to set up the food at the venue at 6:00PM. They showed up at 5:00PM, an hour early and despite our staff asking them to wait until 6, decided to still unbox and set up the food displays. The food arrived cold. When my mother in law asked if they had chafing fuel to heat the food, they rudely stated “this is the new age” and they had provided heat lamps. HEAT LAMPS KEEP HOT FOOD WARM, THEY DO NOT HEAT COLD FOOD UP TO APPROPRIATE EATING TEMPERATURE. During and after set up, they seemed to be in such a rush to get out although they had 2 hours before guests started to arrive for the event.
About 40 minutes after they left, one of my staff tried bites of the food, and as expected the food was still cold. And now at this point has been sitting out at room temperature for 40 minutes. How can anyone expect to serve food like this at an end of the year gala?
My husband called Gems Catering for recommendations on how we are supposed to warm this food up under these “new age lights” and they had no other recommendation but to say “move the lights closer to the food” he also brought up that they failed to deliver pretzel bites and cheese that was part of the order. Gems Catering basically told my husband there was nothing they could do.
I did not like this so I had my husband provide me their number and I called. After letting Gems Catering know that I did not like the way they unprofessionally spoke to my husband, I continued to express how this food was cold, not getting heated under these lights as it was cold when it arrived, and I wanted the pretzel bites brought to the venue. They proceeded to tell me that they were no longer in the area and there was nothing they could do. Gems Catering is only a few minutes from the Lancaster Arts Hotel. So I assume they “accidentally on purpose” came to deliver the food an hour early because they had something else to do. Whether that was another food drop off, or something personal, there was no communication and it was highly unprofessional. If you have a client that is currently receiving food from your company you should be available if things come up.
We had guests attending this event who live a kosher lifestyle and now, without the pretzel bites, there was one less option for them to enjoy, that we paid $50 for.
As far as the food goes, most of the items we received seemed like they came from Costco. Hardly anything tasted home made, more so store bought and when you’re paying $1000+ for food to feed 50 guests, you expect a little more out of it. The spring rolls became soggy only after 40 minutes without proper heating, the empanadas were dry and cold, the chicken fingers were dried out and tasted of grease, and they forgot to bring honey mustard (that was also paid for) to accompany the chicken fingers.
As I was speaking with Gems Catering on the phone I was told that they went “above and beyond” I replied saying that I did not agree with that statement at all.
For anyone looking for catering, please use caution when choosing Gems Catering, as there are many other catering options in Lancaster County.
I will be calling Gems Catering Monday, to speak to them AGAIN about getting some of my money refunded.
Nicholas S.
My husband and I used Gems Catering for a high-profile end of the year event for our theatre company. To say the least, we are very unhappy with the service and quality of food we were provided. We originally found Gems Catering on the approved catering list provided by the Lancaster Arts Hotel. I would highly urge Lancaster Arts Hotel to remove them from their list. Gems Catering was supposed to set up the food at the venue at 6:00PM. They showed up at 5:00PM, an hour early and despite our staff asking them to wait until 6, decided to still unbox and set up the food displays. The food arrived cold. When my mother in law asked if they had chafing fuel to heat the food, they rudely stated "this is the new age" and they had provided heat lamps. HEAT LAMPS KEEP HOT FOOD WARM, THEY DO NOT HEAT COLD FOOD UP TO APPROPRIATE EATING TEMPERATURE. During and after set up, they seemed to be in such a rush to get out although they had 2 hours before guests started to arrive for the event. About 40 minutes after they left, one of my staff tried bites of the food, and as expected the food was still cold. And now at this point has been sitting out at room temperature for 40 minutes. How can anyone expect to serve food like this at an end of the year gala? My husband called Gems Catering for recommendations on how we are supposed to warm this food up under these "new age lights" and they had no other recommendation but to say "move the lights closer to the food" he also brought up that they failed to deliver pretzel bites and cheese that was part of the order. Gems Catering basically told my husband there was nothing they could do. I did not like this so I had my husband provide me their number and I called. After letting Gems Catering know that I did not like the way they unprofessionally spoke to my husband, I continued to express how this food was cold, not getting heated under these lights as it was cold when it arrived, and I wanted the pretzel bites brought to the venue. They proceeded to tell me that they were no longer in the area and there was nothing they could do. Gems Catering is only a few minutes from the Lancaster Arts Hotel. So I assume they "accidentally on purpose" came to deliver the food an hour early because they had something else to do. Whether that was another food drop off, or something personal, there was no communication and it was highly unprofessional. If you have a client that is currently receiving food from your company you should be available if things come up. We had guests attending this event who live a kosher lifestyle and now, without the pretzel bites, there was one less option for them to enjoy, that we paid $50 for. As far as the food goes, most of the items we received seemed like they came from Costco. Hardly anything tasted home made, more so store bought and when you're paying $1000+ for food to feed 50 guests, you expect a little more out of it. The spring rolls became soggy only after 40 minutes without proper heating, the empanadas were dry and cold, the chicken fingers were dried out and tasted of grease, and they forgot to bring honey mustard (that was also paid for) to accompany the chicken fingers. As I was speaking with Gems Catering on the phone I was told that they went "above and beyond" I replied saying that I did not agree with that statement at all. For anyone looking for catering, please use caution when choosing Gems Catering, as there are many other catering options in Lancaster County. I will be calling Gems Catering Monday, to speak to them AGAIN about getting some of my money refunded.
Joyce Gerstenlauer
Our catered food order was delivered 1 hour too early. The 6 dishes were cold & they said the heat lamps will warm the food up! It did not! I pray none of our 40 folks get sick. And- one complete 36 piece item was missing! Also missing 4 condiments pre-ordered. The saving grace was the nice small desserts!
I am employed in the nonprofit sector here in Lancaster County, and selecting GEMs Catering for our event with over 90 attendees proved to be an exceptional decision! Throughout the entire process, from initial planning to flawless execution, Emily showcased an incredible ability to collaborate within our budget while delivering outstanding cuisine. Her dedication to providing top-notch customer service was truly commendable. I wholeheartedly recommend GEMs for any gathering or meeting where delectable and thoughtfully crafted food is a must.
The Nomad Nation
We had the jerk chicken, rice and peas, plantains and cabbage. The food was delicious and plentiful! It was full of flavor. Highly recommend GEMS Catering!
Tracey Nguyen
Ordered catering for a company lunch, and everything was DELICIOUS. Emily was so kind and accommodating. We will be using her again for catering in the future. Thank you!
Beth Valentin
GEMS Catering was amazing to work with. I booked them for an alumni event on the campus of Thaddeus Stevens College. Emily was amazing to work with. She patiently answered all of my questions and accommodated last minute changes (I'm a little newer to handling ALL the aspect of larger event planning). We edited numbers from 100 up to 140 just days before the event - she even gave me EXTRA time to finalize my numbers!! The food was incredibly delicious and my guests loved it. I hope to continue to work with Emily in the future for various size events.
Ellie Mulvenna
I cannot say enough great things about Emily and Gems Catering!! I had the pleasure of working with Emily to create an exceptional menu for my wedding! Emily and I kept in touch throughout the whole process and she quickly became a friend. The grazing table was an HUGE hit and Emily’s attention to detail created such a beautiful display. Everyone was raving about the food and everything tasted amazing. Not only was Emily and her team so helpful with cleaning up but they were also so kind and courteous. If you need a caterer for a wedding or any event you should book Gems Catering now, you won’t regret it!! :)
GEMS Catering did a fabulous job with the appetizers for our open house. The food was delicious and the display was very appealing. Emily is a delight to work with and accommodated our every need. I was happy to share who catered to the many guests who asked. A huge thank-you to Emily and GEMS Catering for a job well done!
The Liberty Venue team cannot recommend Emily and her crew enough. We utilized GEM’s Catering for our first Open House event at The Liberty Venue. Our initial catering arrangement fell through and Emily did not hesitate to step in and assure me our order would be ready for our event despite short notice! Our guests at the open house RAVED about how full and delicious the empanadas were. We will be ordering again in the future :)
Emily and her team at Gem's Catering did a fantastic job with the delicious food for Penn Manor High School Cheerleading banquet! The attention to detail, pride, and enthusiasm that is put into her food is nothing but pure love. I heard nothing but positive feedback and "who made that yummy food" all evening! The food was hot and fresh, I would highly recommend Gem's for your next Catering needs!
GEMS Catering exceeds all expectations. Their attention to detail, delicious food, and impeccable service leaves a lasting impression. Highly recommend GEMS for any catering needs!
We use Gem's Catering regularly and love them - Good food, good service!
EXCELLENT! Highly recommend. Emily was amazing to work with. We had our holiday party for around 90 folks at Hotel Rock Lititz for As One Management. Emily was able to work within our budget, help ensure dietary including vegan needs were met and provided the food quickly day of and with easy easy easy set up. The Chicken stole the show! We certainly we will use them again!! We were blessed that the small amount left over was easily packaged and taken to a local homeless shelter to help feed the local community in need.
My husband and I used Gems Catering for a high-profile end of the year event for our theatre company. To say the least, we are very unhappy with the service and quality of food we were provided.We originally found Gems Catering on the approved catering list provided by the Lancaster Arts Hotel. I would highly urge Lancaster Arts Hotel to remove them from their list.Gems Catering was supposed to set up the food at the venue at 6:00PM. They showed up at 5:00PM, an hour early and despite our staff asking them to wait until 6, decided to still unbox and set up the food displays. The food arrived cold. When my mother in law asked if they had chafing fuel to heat the food, they rudely stated “this is the new age” and they had provided heat lamps. HEAT LAMPS KEEP HOT FOOD WARM, THEY DO NOT HEAT COLD FOOD UP TO APPROPRIATE EATING TEMPERATURE. During and after set up, they seemed to be in such a rush to get out although they had 2 hours before guests started to arrive for the event.About 40 minutes after they left, one of my staff tried bites of the food, and as expected the food was still cold. And now at this point has been sitting out at room temperature for 40 minutes. How can anyone expect to serve food like this at an end of the year gala?My husband called Gems Catering for recommendations on how we are supposed to warm this food up under these “new age lights” and they had no other recommendation but to say “move the lights closer to the food” he also brought up that they failed to deliver pretzel bites and cheese that was part of the order. Gems Catering basically told my husband there was nothing they could do.I did not like this so I had my husband provide me their number and I called. After letting Gems Catering know that I did not like the way they unprofessionally spoke to my husband, I continued to express how this food was cold, not getting heated under these lights as it was cold when it arrived, and I wanted the pretzel bites brought to the venue. They proceeded to tell me that they were no longer in the area and there was nothing they could do. Gems Catering is only a few minutes from the Lancaster Arts Hotel. So I assume they “accidentally on purpose” came to deliver the food an hour early because they had something else to do. Whether that was another food drop off, or something personal, there was no communication and it was highly unprofessional. If you have a client that is currently receiving food from your company you should be available if things come up.We had guests attending this event who live a kosher lifestyle and now, without the pretzel bites, there was one less option for them to enjoy, that we paid $50 for.As far as the food goes, most of the items we received seemed like they came from Costco. Hardly anything tasted home made, more so store bought and when you’re paying $1000+ for food to feed 50 guests, you expect a little more out of it. The spring rolls became soggy only after 40 minutes without proper heating, the empanadas were dry and cold, the chicken fingers were dried out and tasted of grease, and they forgot to bring honey mustard (that was also paid for) to accompany the chicken fingers.As I was speaking with Gems Catering on the phone I was told that they went “above and beyond” I replied saying that I did not agree with that statement at all.For anyone looking for catering, please use caution when choosing Gems Catering, as there are many other catering options in Lancaster County.I will be calling Gems Catering Monday, to speak to them AGAIN about getting some of my money refunded.
My husband and I used Gems Catering for a high-profile end of the year event for our theatre company. To say the least, we are very unhappy with the service and quality of food we were provided. We originally found Gems Catering on the approved catering list provided by the Lancaster Arts Hotel. I would highly urge Lancaster Arts Hotel to remove them from their list. Gems Catering was supposed to set up the food at the venue at 6:00PM. They showed up at 5:00PM, an hour early and despite our staff asking them to wait until 6, decided to still unbox and set up the food displays. The food arrived cold. When my mother in law asked if they had chafing fuel to heat the food, they rudely stated “this is the new age” and they had provided heat lamps. HEAT LAMPS KEEP HOT FOOD WARM, THEY DO NOT HEAT COLD FOOD UP TO APPROPRIATE EATING TEMPERATURE. During and after set up, they seemed to be in such a rush to get out although they had 2 hours before guests started to arrive for the event. About 40 minutes after they left, one of my staff tried bites of the food, and as expected the food was still cold. And now at this point has been sitting out at room temperature for 40 minutes. How can anyone expect to serve food like this at an end of the year gala? My husband called Gems Catering for recommendations on how we are supposed to warm this food up under these “new age lights” and they had no other recommendation but to say “move the lights closer to the food” he also brought up that they failed to deliver pretzel bites and cheese that was part of the order. Gems Catering basically told my husband there was nothing they could do. I did not like this so I had my husband provide me their number and I called. After letting Gems Catering know that I did not like the way they unprofessionally spoke to my husband, I continued to express how this food was cold, not getting heated under these lights as it was cold when it arrived, and I wanted the pretzel bites brought to the venue. They proceeded to tell me that they were no longer in the area and there was nothing they could do. Gems Catering is only a few minutes from the Lancaster Arts Hotel. So I assume they “accidentally on purpose” came to deliver the food an hour early because they had something else to do. Whether that was another food drop off, or something personal, there was no communication and it was highly unprofessional. If you have a client that is currently receiving food from your company you should be available if things come up. We had guests attending this event who live a kosher lifestyle and now, without the pretzel bites, there was one less option for them to enjoy, that we paid $50 for. As far as the food goes, most of the items we received seemed like they came from Costco. Hardly anything tasted home made, more so store bought and when you’re paying $1000+ for food to feed 50 guests, you expect a little more out of it. The spring rolls became soggy only after 40 minutes without proper heating, the empanadas were dry and cold, the chicken fingers were dried out and tasted of grease, and they forgot to bring honey mustard (that was also paid for) to accompany the chicken fingers. As I was speaking with Gems Catering on the phone I was told that they went “above and beyond” I replied saying that I did not agree with that statement at all. For anyone looking for catering, please use caution when choosing Gems Catering, as there are many other catering options in Lancaster County. I will be calling Gems Catering Monday, to speak to them AGAIN about getting some of my money refunded.
My husband and I used Gems Catering for a high-profile end of the year event for our theatre company. To say the least, we are very unhappy with the service and quality of food we were provided. We originally found Gems Catering on the approved catering list provided by the Lancaster Arts Hotel. I would highly urge Lancaster Arts Hotel to remove them from their list. Gems Catering was supposed to set up the food at the venue at 6:00PM. They showed up at 5:00PM, an hour early and despite our staff asking them to wait until 6, decided to still unbox and set up the food displays. The food arrived cold. When my mother in law asked if they had chafing fuel to heat the food, they rudely stated "this is the new age" and they had provided heat lamps. HEAT LAMPS KEEP HOT FOOD WARM, THEY DO NOT HEAT COLD FOOD UP TO APPROPRIATE EATING TEMPERATURE. During and after set up, they seemed to be in such a rush to get out although they had 2 hours before guests started to arrive for the event. About 40 minutes after they left, one of my staff tried bites of the food, and as expected the food was still cold. And now at this point has been sitting out at room temperature for 40 minutes. How can anyone expect to serve food like this at an end of the year gala? My husband called Gems Catering for recommendations on how we are supposed to warm this food up under these "new age lights" and they had no other recommendation but to say "move the lights closer to the food" he also brought up that they failed to deliver pretzel bites and cheese that was part of the order. Gems Catering basically told my husband there was nothing they could do. I did not like this so I had my husband provide me their number and I called. After letting Gems Catering know that I did not like the way they unprofessionally spoke to my husband, I continued to express how this food was cold, not getting heated under these lights as it was cold when it arrived, and I wanted the pretzel bites brought to the venue. They proceeded to tell me that they were no longer in the area and there was nothing they could do. Gems Catering is only a few minutes from the Lancaster Arts Hotel. So I assume they "accidentally on purpose" came to deliver the food an hour early because they had something else to do. Whether that was another food drop off, or something personal, there was no communication and it was highly unprofessional. If you have a client that is currently receiving food from your company you should be available if things come up. We had guests attending this event who live a kosher lifestyle and now, without the pretzel bites, there was one less option for them to enjoy, that we paid $50 for. As far as the food goes, most of the items we received seemed like they came from Costco. Hardly anything tasted home made, more so store bought and when you're paying $1000+ for food to feed 50 guests, you expect a little more out of it. The spring rolls became soggy only after 40 minutes without proper heating, the empanadas were dry and cold, the chicken fingers were dried out and tasted of grease, and they forgot to bring honey mustard (that was also paid for) to accompany the chicken fingers. As I was speaking with Gems Catering on the phone I was told that they went "above and beyond" I replied saying that I did not agree with that statement at all. For anyone looking for catering, please use caution when choosing Gems Catering, as there are many other catering options in Lancaster County. I will be calling Gems Catering Monday, to speak to them AGAIN about getting some of my money refunded.
Our catered food order was delivered 1 hour too early. The 6 dishes were cold & they said the heat lamps will warm the food up! It did not! I pray none of our 40 folks get sick. And- one complete 36 piece item was missing! Also missing 4 condiments pre-ordered. The saving grace was the nice small desserts!
Restaurantji Recommends
I am employed in the nonprofit sector here in Lancaster County, and selecting GEMs Catering for our event with over 90 attendees proved to be an exceptional decision! Throughout the entire process, from initial planning to flawless execution, Emily showcased an incredible ability to collaborate within our budget while delivering outstanding cuisine. Her dedication to providing top-notch customer service was truly commendable. I wholeheartedly recommend GEMs for any gathering or meeting where delectable and thoughtfully crafted food is a must.
We had the jerk chicken, rice and peas, plantains and cabbage. The food was delicious and plentiful! It was full of flavor. Highly recommend GEMS Catering!
Ordered catering for a company lunch, and everything was DELICIOUS. Emily was so kind and accommodating. We will be using her again for catering in the future. Thank you!
GEMS Catering was amazing to work with. I booked them for an alumni event on the campus of Thaddeus Stevens College. Emily was amazing to work with. She patiently answered all of my questions and accommodated last minute changes (I'm a little newer to handling ALL the aspect of larger event planning). We edited numbers from 100 up to 140 just days before the event - she even gave me EXTRA time to finalize my numbers!! The food was incredibly delicious and my guests loved it. I hope to continue to work with Emily in the future for various size events.
I cannot say enough great things about Emily and Gems Catering!! I had the pleasure of working with Emily to create an exceptional menu for my wedding! Emily and I kept in touch throughout the whole process and she quickly became a friend. The grazing table was an HUGE hit and Emily’s attention to detail created such a beautiful display. Everyone was raving about the food and everything tasted amazing. Not only was Emily and her team so helpful with cleaning up but they were also so kind and courteous. If you need a caterer for a wedding or any event you should book Gems Catering now, you won’t regret it!! :)