Love At First Bite Catering has operated out of Huntington Beach since 1982. Its own site states a leadership transition took place at some point after founding — current owners John and Stacy LaBrake took over from founders Cindy and Steve Vatcher when the Vatchers moved out of state — though no date for that handover is published, so it isn't possible to say how much of the business's review history spans each ownership.
Of the six caterers in this guide, Love At First Bite publishes the most detailed wedding-specific pricing: a 21-page Social Menu names three tiered wedding/social packages — Serendipity, Love Actually and Ever After — each priced across delivered-buffet and staffed-buffet service at three guest-count bands (50–74, 75–99, 100+). Delivered pricing runs $22.95 to $45.95 per person across the three tiers; staffed pricing runs $32.95 to $55.95 per person. Sit-down plated service is available at every tier but is listed as "inquire" rather than a posted price. All three packages carry a 50-guest minimum and include buffet tables, linens, a beverage/coffee station and event staff; staffed service includes 4 hours of coverage, delivered buffet includes 2.
A four-tier hosted bar runs $22.95 to $32.95 per person; a support-bar option, where the client supplies the alcohol, runs $6.95 to $14.95 per person plus a per-guest corkage fee that's waived entirely with full catering. Wedding cakes are made in-house starting at $4.50 per person. A $500 non-refundable deposit reserves a date, and a 20% operational fee applies to staffed and delivered-buffet events; gratuity is not included and is pooled among staff. Delivery is priced by distance band — $55 within 10 miles, $65 within 15, $75 within 20. One inconsistency worth flagging: the business publishes two different final-balance deadlines, 10 days before the event in its menu PDF and 14 days in its FAQ.
The business lists 36 named partner venues across Orange and Los Angeles counties and states it is a preferred caterer for City of Newport Beach venues. Its published credentials include Best Small Business in Huntington Beach (2019 and 2024), a Top 5 Wedding Caterer placement on the Orange County Hotlist, and Best of Zola Vendor (2023 and 2024).
Huntington Beach caterer since 1982 with the most detailed published wedding-package structure in this guide — three tiered packages (Serendipity, Love Actually, Ever After) from $22.95 to $55.95 per person, a $500 deposit, and a four-tier hosted bar.
I had Love at First Bite cater my wedding back in May and I cannot say enough good things. I literally cannot stop thinking about the lemon ricotta crostini — I still get comments about it from friends to this day.
The chicken fajita bar with flank steak as an option and cheese enchiladas with grilled veggies was perfect! No one went hungry, that is for sure.
From the prosciutto wrapped asparagus, mac and cheese bites and caprese skewers for appetizers to the pasta bar with amazing pesto and finally tiramisu and cheesecake bites — everything was so delicious and presented beautifully.
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Michele Leocadio creates restaurant content for Elev8ed Table. We decide who's featured on merit alone and never sell placement or ranking. Figures above are read from each business's own published materials and dated when the source is old.
