Philadelphia & South Jersey✦Est. 2016✦Soul food & full-service catering✦Weddings · Corporate · Nonprofit · Community✦20–300 guests✦856-500-3111✦ Philadelphia & South Jersey✦Est. 2016✦Soul food & full-service catering✦Weddings · Corporate · Nonprofit · Community✦20–300 guests✦856-500-3111✦
Full-Service Catering · Philadelphia & South Jersey

American cooking with a soul food signature.

Paynter's Platters is a family-run, full-service caterer. Soul food is our signature, and our menus cover the full range of American cooking: fried classics, holiday spreads, seafood, and global fusion. Whatever your guests love, we can prepare it, and we serve it with real hospitality.

Request a Quote → Explore the Menu
Est. 2016Family-run
20–300Guests per event
Soul food +All cuisines
Chef Ryen, founder of Paynter's Platters, smiling in his black and red chef jacket
Chef Ryen · Founder & Executive Chef
Golden fried catfish in a chafing dish on black linen with eucalyptus
Golden fried catfish · From a real Paynter's event
01 / The Standard

Rooted in soul food.
Dressed for the occasion.

We began in 2016 cooking the food we grew up on. Word traveled, from family tables to boardrooms to wedding receptions, and today we're a full-service team cooking soul food, American classics, and fusion menus for every kind of event.

No. I · The Flavor

Soul food, and beyond

Fried catfish, rosemary chicken, baked mac & cheese, candied yams and greens, plus American classics and fusion dishes from any cuisine your celebration calls for.

No. II · The Look

Made to be seen

Every buffet arrives presentation-ready: polished setups, fresh garnish, and a spread your guests will photograph before they make a plate.

No. III · The Service

Handled, start to finish

Setup, service, and cleanup by a professional team, so you and your guests can simply enjoy the day.

02 / The Table

Real spreads, from
real events.

Straight from our kitchen to tables across Philadelphia and South Jersey.

i.The full buffet spread with warm rolls on black linenThe full spread
ii.Baked mac and cheese ringed with kaleBaked mac & cheese
iii.Rosemary roasted chickenRosemary chicken
iv.Candied yams beside red sequin runnerCandied yams
v.Fresh garden saladGarden salad
03 / What We Cater

Full-service, for
every occasion.

From an intimate dinner for twenty to a three-hundred-guest reception, you get the same thing: soul food done right, any dish you ask for, and a team that arrives on time and ready.

Styled wedding catering spread with red accents

Weddings & celebrations

Receptions, showers, and milestone moments, plated or served buffet-style with an elegant, styled presentation. Soul food classics or a fully custom menu, composed with you.

Custom menusStyled & servedPlated or buffet
2Corporate luncheon buffet line

Corporate & government

Executive luncheons, conferences, and office events for teams and agencies across the region.

Buffet or platedDietary optionsOn-time setup
3Community event catering

Nonprofit & community

Fundraisers, galas, Pride events, and neighborhood gatherings, from intimate to large-scale.

Scales 20–300Sponsor-friendlyCommunity pricing
Chef Ryen of Paynter's Platters, arms crossed in his black chef jacket with red piping
Meet the chef

Hospitality is
the whole point.

"Feed people well and treat them like family. Everything else takes care of itself."

Paynter's Platters began in 2016 with the food Chef Ryen grew up on. Soul food is the heart of the menu, but Ryen leads a full-service team that cooks everything from Southern and American classics to fusion dishes and fully custom wedding menus, and handles the setup, service, and cleanup so you don't have to.

If there's a dish your family loves, tell us. If it isn't on the menu, we'll build it for you.

Chef Ryen, Founder
2016Serving since
20–300Guests per event
Philly & SJWhere we cook
04 / Good Company

Trusted at tables
across the region.

We're honored to be a go-to caterer for government offices, nonprofits, corporations, and community leaders throughout Philadelphia and South Jersey. A few of the organizations we've had the privilege to feed:

Philadelphia 76ers Major League Baseball events Office of the Speaker of the PA House Councilmember Rue Landau William Way LGBT Community Center Mazzoni Center The Attic Youth Center University City Science Center Philadelphia Foundation Philadelphia Insurance Club ChatterBlast Media Camden City Pride Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany Siloam Wellness Helping Hand Fire Company

In the news

ABCCBS / KYWFOX 29NBC 10PGN

Featured for culinary excellence, community engagement, and service to organizations across the region.

Awards & recognition

✦

Philly Black Pride 250 Changemakers Honoree

✦

Recognized by Philadelphia City Council for community leadership

✦

Recognized by Councilmember Kenyatta Johnson for service & impact

Any size, any place

From executive luncheons and conferences to nonprofit fundraisers, weddings, and large-scale celebrations. Whether it's 20 guests or 300, everyone receives the same care, flavor, and flawless execution.

Community impact
Food is how we say "welcome."

We believe food is one of the most powerful ways to bring people together. That belief drives ongoing partnerships with nonprofits, LGBTQ+ community centers, schools, and neighborhood initiatives across Philadelphia.

belonging

Pride & welcome

Catering Pride celebrations and partnering with community centers so everyone has a seat at the table.

care

Meals in hard times

During COVID-19 we served free meals to senior citizens in need, and we carry that spirit forward year-round.

giving

Holiday giving

Holiday meal initiatives, on our own and with the William Way LGBT Community Center, for neighbors who need them most.

We're proud to serve not only exceptional meals, but also the communities that inspire us every single day.

How it works

Booked in three simple steps.

I.

Tell us about it

Guest count, occasion, date, location, dietary needs, and the food you have in mind.

II.

We compose your menu

Soul food classics or a custom spread, priced and portioned for your crowd and budget.

III.

We handle the day

Setup, service, and cleanup by our team. You simply arrive and enjoy your guests.

Request a quote

Tell us about
your event.

Share the basics: occasion, guest count, date, location, and the food you're dreaming about. We'll follow up with menu ideas, availability, and a quote.

Best forweddings · corporate · nonprofits · dinners
Menusoul food specialty · all cuisines
Scale20 to 300 guests · Philly & South Jersey
thank you kindly

Request sent.

Your inquiry is on its way to our kitchen. We'll follow up soon with menu ideas, availability, and a quote. We can't wait to cook for you.

Come hungry.Leave happy.

Bring Paynter's Platters to your next event: soul food, full-service catering, and hospitality that makes every guest feel at home.

Request a Quote →