Policies

Planning Your Event

Lakeside Catering is proud to serve the UC Merced campus community by offering a variety of high-quality menu options for events of all types and sizes. Our team is committed to delivering exceptional service and ensuring successful experiences for our clients. The following policies apply to all catering services.

Business Hours

Standard catering service hours are 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.
Events scheduled outside of these hours may incur additional labor charges.
Catering services are closed on Sundays.
Saturday events require a $750 sales minimum.
For further details, please contact us at catering@ucmerced.edu.

Advanced Notice Requirements

Lakeside Catering is committed to providing exceptional service to the UC Merced campus community. However, there may be instances when we are unable to accept additional event requests due to limitations in staffing, equipment, storage capacity, or a high volume of previously scheduled engagements. We strongly encourage early booking to ensure availability. All requests are subject to review and approval based on operational capacity at the time of inquiry.

• Standard Events: Submit and confirm at least 5 business days prior to the event.
• Large or Custom Events (over 100 guests or requiring a custom menu): Submit at least 10 business days in advance.

Requests submitted within the 5-day window, if accepted, are subject to a $25 or 25% rush fee, whichever is greater.

Minimum Order Requirements

All delivered orders must meet established minimums. Orders not meeting these requirements will incur a $25 or 25% service charge, whichever is greater.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations received within five business days of the event date are subject to the following fees:

• 5 business days prior: 25% of total food and beverage cost
• 3 business days prior: 50% of total food and beverage cost
• 2 business days or less: 100% of total food and beverage cost

Outside Food & Beverage

Outside food is not permitted at events catered by Lakeside Catering. We reserve the right to decline service if multiple food providers are involved.

Lakeside Catering is the exclusive provider for the following venues:

• UC Merced Conference Center
• California, Crescent Arch, Alpine, and Blue & Gold meeting rooms
• Private dining rooms at The Pavilion and Yablokoff-Wallace Dining Center

Guest Count Guarantees

Final guest count guarantees are required 5 business days prior to the event.

• Changes may not be accommodated after the guarantee is submitted.
• If a guarantee is not received, the original estimate will be used for billing.
• Changes to guest count within 3 business days, if accommodated, may incur a 25% surcharge for additional guests.

Payment Terms

Accepted payment methods include:

• UC Merced Chart of Accounts
• Check (payable to “UC Regents”)
• Credit Card or Cash (processed at the Cashier’s Office)

Payment can be entered during the online ordering process via CaterTrax. For credit card or cash payments, or inter-campus recharge between UC campuses, please contact our department for support.
If a deposit is required, our billing team will contact you with details. For mailed check payments, delivery must occur prior to or on the day of the event. Invoices are available via CaterTrax or upon request.

Equipment: Tables and Chairs

Lakeside Catering does not provide tables or chairs for guest seating or food service. Clients are responsible for securing appropriate furniture through:

• UC Merced Facilities Management
• Approved rental vendors
• Internal department resources

Catering will advise on table quantity needed. A $25 Long-Haul Fee applies if there is no convenient access (e.g., loading zone, elevator). Large setups may require additional delivery personnel at $15/hour, 2-hour minimum.

Custom Menu Requests

Lakeside Catering offers a wide variety of menu options; however, custom menus may be created upon request.

• A minimum of 2 weeks' notice is required.
• All custom menu requests are subject to a $50 special menu fee.

Please email your request to catering@ucmerced.edu for review and approval.

Dietary Restrictions

We are committed to accommodating dietary restrictions when provided with adequate notice. Please inform our team of any special dietary needs when placing your order. If you have questions, contact our office for assistance. Our staff is knowledgeable in managing dietary accommodations safely and appropriately.

Alcohol Service

Lakeside Catering is licensed to provide alcohol service for campus events. A UC Merced alcohol permit is required and must be approved prior to service.

Important notes:

• Bar service is required for all alcohol events.
• Alcohol may only be served during the approved time frame indicated on the permit.
• All open bottles are discarded at the end of the event.
• Unopened bottles must be retrieved from The Pavilion within 48 hours post-event; otherwise, they will be discarded.
• Bar service may be cancelled at full cost if a valid alcohol permit is not provided in advance.

Room Reservations & Deliveries

To reserve the Elizabeth Wallace or Pavilion private dining rooms, please submit a request via EMS. For all other locations, ensure access is granted to catering staff one hour prior to the event start time.
Clients are responsible for all Lakeside Catering equipment during the event. Charges will apply for any lost or damaged items at full replacement value.

Service Staff Rates

Service staff may be requested and are sometimes required based on event needs.

• Servers / Stewards: $30/hour per attendant (2-hour minimum)
• Chef Attendance: $75/hour (2-hour minimum); request must be made at time of order placement

Event Clean-Up

Please provide accurate timing for post-event clean-up. Our team will schedule clean-up within 3 hours of your event start time.
Events ordered through Lakeside 2Go are the sole responsibility of the event coordinator for clean-up and removal of all catering items.
Lakeside Catering does not provide waste removal or refuse services. For refuse assistance, please contact Facilities Management to submit a service request.

Contact

If you have any questions or require assistance, please contact Lakeside Catering at
catering@ucmerced.edu
We look forward to helping make your event a success.