Paella Time Authentic Tapas & Paella Catering

We had a terrific experience with Ralph and his team from Paella Time, starting with the first email inquiry through the menu selection and contract stage right up to the event. They are incredibly organized and responsive. We had 30 people for a backyard party and chef Daniel was fantastic as he prepared two large pans of paella (one with shellfish and one without). Would definitely use them again!

We wanted something different for our wedding and when it came to selecting a caterer from The Lighthouse's list of preferred vendors, we immediately went to paella and thought it'd be a fun and unique experience for our guests to witness and partake in.Initially, and this was well over a year before our actual wedding date when we had signed the contract, we had a guest count of 50 and our contract reflected this. This headcount of course changed over time, and as the months progressed, so did the direction of our wedding. We upped our guest count to 94 and also decided to hire our own bartenders for speciality cocktails in lieu of the sangria that Paella Time was providing as stated in the contract. All of this was mentioned two months before our big day, which I thought would be ample time to relay such changes, but we received some disgruntled responses from Ralph. We didn't get any updates or check-ins either which would have been appreciated given that other vendors that we've hired did.We also inquired about a tasting; however, this was never attended to. Our inquiry was disregarded and a tasting never happened so we went into our wedding blindly with high hopes that the food would be great.If there's one stressor I had in planning for our wedding, which for the most part, I've been really organized and stress-free, it was Ralph's way of responding. Ralph's style of communication is rather rough around the edges and it doesn't translate well via email/written communication. Even my wedding coordinator had the same sentiments. I flagged this over to The Lighthouse as I didn't want this to hinder our wedding day and the cooperation between Paella Time and the rest of our vendor team. On day of, everything seemed okay though which I was especially happy about.Additionally, all communication and updates are to be relayed to Tiffany via email which does take a while to digest/respond to given the length of information. There's a lot of back and forth and details can easily get lost in the mix. If there's one piece of feedback to better your business, it is to invest in a platform that allows for form responses. Having to write down info in-line with the email, changing the font color, etc is a lot of work and time consuming for a client. All in all, Paella Time delivered. They were prompt and set everything up according to plan. We tried the appetizers and they were all delicious! I personally enjoyed the meatballs (albondigas) and the ceviche - great tang though it could've benefited from a piece of bread or chip to soak and scoop up the fish.In terms of the paella, the windy weather did hinder cooking time so it was delayed in serving. I knew weather was a gamble, but some guests did complain about only getting the burnt scrapings on the bottom of the pan, and getting uncooked grains of rice. I know you're not going to please everyone, but perhaps allowing all guests to be served before offering seconds would've prevented this in addition to serving the same amounts to each guest. My husband and I got the mixed paella and loved it! The lemon complimented the flavors nicely and we got a mix of crisp and char from the bottom of the pan. We finished the little paella pan that was given to us. The salad was also dressed nicely and the artichokes were a pleasant add. We enjoyed our meal and also appreciated how your staff kindly served us and our parents/guests who weren't as mobile to go up to the paella pan for dinner. Thank you!Also, please send our regards to Jacob. He's been a fantastic server and felt more like a guest. Really enjoyed having him on the dance floor and letting loose once his shift was over. Thank you, Paella Time!

Professional staff, the set up and break down went smoothly, and they were on time. The food was delicious and they worked with the rental company so it was a one-stop shop. The only reason that they lost one star was that two of my uncut cakes were taken back with them which became an issue for our late night guests. The owner, Ralph, promptly resolved the issue and was responsive throughout the event process. Overall, I was pleased with product and service and everyone had a lovely time.

TL;DR: Paella Time catered my 130 person wedding - our guests loved the food, the service was impeccable, and all at a price that actually landed our wedding under budget. We loved our experience working with them, and would highly recommend them for all catering needs.Right from when we first reached out to Paella Time, Ralph and team were friendly, professional, and quick to respond. They clearly communicated the terms and costs, and were able to guide us on menu options and the different services they provided. Once we had signed, they were prompt with answering additional questions - even when we were asking things the day before our wedding, they were thorough and professional.On wedding day, the team was extremely punctual and showed up early to begin setup and prep for service. Our guests all got excited during cocktail hour as they could see and smell the big paella pots going. The paella itself was fantastic - several people got up for seconds, and we're extremely excited to have several bags of paella in our freezer. The beet salad was great as well, and they were happy to accommodate my family's dietary restrictions.The bartender they brought was super quick and very attentive - the line never got long, and she was always ready with a bottle of water for myself and the bride. They handled our specialty cocktails no problem, and even when we ran out of cups, they were quick on their feet and problem solved without missing a beat. Overall Paella Time did a fantastic job with our wedding, and we'd have them again in a heartbeat for any future event.

Paella Time was great. Even though the chef was delayed due to an accident on the bridge, the team was so efficient and everything was served on time. The food, from the tapas to paella, was simply delicious, and very generous servings. The servers were very efficient, professional and pleasant. I couldn't be happier with everything, and my guests were very impressed. I've shared your contacts with several of them.Thank you again for the excellent service and quality of food. I am so glad I found your company and I hope to have the opportunity to have you back again.

The food was good, and the servers at the actual event were so nice and helpful. The guests were so impressed with the nice display and the party went off very nicely. But in the end there were a few things I was unsatisfied about and it's like....man....it left not a great taste in my mouth.My son cannot eat paella. He has some allergies and dietary restrictions. So for him and several kids, I had ordered macaroni and cheese.Well, they forgot the macaroni and cheese we had ordered. It wasn't until guests were halfway served that my mom asked me....what about the mac and cheese for the kids? They offered to order pizza right then and there but I declined because pizza just makes the party less classy. It just wasn't a good look. Plus my son doesn't like pizza and he wouldn't have eaten it. It would have gone to waste. He ended up going hungry that night. Such a shame given I was the host and had paid thousands for this company to come and do the one job of providing food.It could have been ok except that afterwards, when I emailed, they said well we offered you pizza and you didn't take it. Yes...but that's not what I ordered and paid for!!! I didn't want to make a big deal out of it because I wanted to just have good memories of the event but honestly it truly left a bad taste in my mouth how it was handled afterwards. They should have offered something back given they don't do what was in the contract. Just because I was offered something else....which did not meet my needs....doesn't mean the contract was fulfilled.Additionally they forgot additional tables and said oh someone else packed the van....so I had to go and provide tables and tablecloths for those serving tables myself. I ran back and forth finding and providing a few items they forgot.Furthermore they really really recommended we pay tip in advance. I did...and I paid each person the top of the range of their suggestion. And in the end...it was like man....I paid you guys a good tip and I wasn't even taken care of....and the post party management of my situation was so disappointing.My friend later asked me for a recommendation and I told her my story and she decided not to go with them. It is unfortunate because I really wanted to like them.

We hired Paella Time to cater our wedding in Oakland, and everything about them was AMAZING. From the planning stages, Ralph and Tiffany were super responsive, helpful, and accommodating with our requests. It's hard to write this review, because everything about Paella Time was just on point. From the food, to the friendliness of the staff, to the efficiency of set up/clean up. I cannot stop hearing from guests how amazing the food was and how much they enjoyed it. It makes my (now) wife super happy that we chose Paella Time for our Big Day. I highly recommend anyone looking for a caterer to go with them. I'm actually trying to convince my company to use them for our events...thanks again for making our vision for our wedding come alive. Oh and there was plenty for seconds and leftovers ;)

What was supposed to be a big back yard birthday party, catered by Paella Time, turned out to be a mini storm indoor party for us... while they cooked under the rain outdoor. I found Paella Time through Yelp, and I went on a blind trust that this is the company I want to cater for my party. I was doubtful, anxious... that they may not deliver what I envisioned. However, Giovanni & Tiffany were the best!!!! He adapted to the mini storm with his tent, and they were professionals! Great service: clean, food safety & cleanliness was on point. I felt bad that they had to be out in the rain, but both Giovanni & Tiffany were in their element and happy that we were all having a great time! I look forward to more back yard parties with Paella Time!

After finding Ralph online, we decided to hire him for a birthday party at our house. He was very helpful with his communication leading up to the event. The night of the event, Chef Daniel came and prepared a DELICIOUS meal for our guests! We chose the seafood paella and everyone was beyond impressed! It was a really unique experience that we all enjoyed. Would definitely recommend!

Ralph and his team at Paella Time were amazing! What a successful party for 70 people who are still raving about the Paella cooked and served on site. Highly recommend Paella Time for your next event!