Restaurant catering is offered in most dining establishments, since they already have a licensed kitchen staff.
It makes sense for most restaurants to sell catering items because it will provide added revenue for the business.
Restaurants already employ prep cooks and chefs and already have to pay rent or mortgage, so the more revenue they can generate to offset their overhead, the more profitable they'll be.
Cakes, party platters, and other catering items can be prepared during slow times of the day in between meals services.
Since restaurant chefs are already adept at devising menus, creating a catering menu is a relatively easy process for them.
They're already established and set up with food vendors and suppliers, so ordering food for catering jobs is very simple.
Little special equipment is needed for restaurants to turn out quality catered items.
All that is required are some platters, special packing materials, and added refrigerator space.
If the restaurant does not have a separate party room for on-site parties, the owner might offer to rent out the entire restaurant for the parties.
Often they will do this only during slow times of the week or year or they will charge the equivalent of a weekend night's business.
If the restaurant has a separate space for parties, they are usually more likely to have a more sophisticated catering program, including an in-house event person.
The national restaurant chains are part of this segment of the business also, and they can afford to advertise on television.
For example, Red Lobster sells platters of shrimp and other seafood that can be ordered by phone and picked up.
If a restaurant is known for its great gourmet sandwiches, salads, fried chicken, or brownies, it probably offers platters of these items for office and in-home parties.
Sometimes the dishes for which a restaurant is known for, unfortunately do not travel well, so the restaurant cannot offer its house specialties for off-site events.
Soufflés, french fries, and other delicate and intricate dishes that are not designed for catering will not be sold for off-site enjoyment.