Traverse City
Gatherings

let us bring a taste ofUmbo

Buyouts, private dinners, and raw bars brought to your table — on the bay or wherever you’re gathering.

01

Raw Bar, To Go

A shucker, a mountain of ice, and oysters at your event. The showpiece that runs itself.

02

Private Dinners

Buy out the room for a seated dinner — a set menu built around the season and your table.

03

Catering

Tinned-fish spreads, caviar service, and coastal plates for gatherings of any size.

Catering Menu

Bring Umbo to you

Passed and stationed menus for a casual room, or plated and coursed family style to spark conversation. Mostly priced per person, and every package is a starting point we can tailor to your event.

to start

Raw Bar

Oyster Service min. 50 guests$15 / ppOne East Coast & one West Coast selection, accoutrements, and an on-site shucker. Additional shuckers billed hourly; smaller groups by inquiry.
Caviar Service min. 50 guests$20 / ppChef-selected caviar & accoutrements; tiered service available on request. Smaller groups by inquiry.
Grand PlateauMarketShrimp cocktail, clams on the half shell, crab claws, mussels escabeche, peel-n-eat crawfish, accoutrements.
passed & grazing

Appetizers & Displays

Passed Appetizers hot or cold$10 / ppPriced per selection, one hour of service. Choose from the cold and hot lists below. Rentals required to execute service are billed separately.
Upgraded Hot Selections+$5 / ppMini lobster rolls with chile jam, or mini crispy fried oyster rolls.
Charcuterie & Cheese Display$20 / ppOlives, jams, pickles, crackers & bread. Crudité and vegan spreads on request.
the main event

Dinner Service

Buffet Style$70 / ppBread & butter, plus one choice from each menu selection category below. Includes chafers and melamine plateware to run the buffet.
Three-Course Family Style$85 / ppBread & butter, one second course, one third course, and two fourth courses to cover dietary restrictions. The final course can be swapped in for any course except bread. Excludes rentals.
Five-Course Family Style$100 / ppBread & butter, one first or second course, one second or third course, one third course, two fourth courses, and a final course. Excludes rentals.
Individually Plated$120 / ppThe five-course menu, plated course by course. Same selections, excludes rentals, and may need additional staffing depending on final headcount.
Entrée Upgrades+$10–15 / ppSeared U10 scallops, beef short rib, or New York strip at +$10. Beef tenderloin or lobster thermidor at +$15.
to drink

Beverage Service

Local Wine & Craft Beer$25 / ppThree local beers and three local wines, water service, and a limited non-alcoholic selection.
Beverage Pairing$45 / ppA curated run of beer, wine, sake and spirits, paired course by course with our chef and beverage director. Every pairing is also available à la carte.
Full Open Bar$65 / ppA pair of signature cocktails, three beers, three wines, well spirits and mixers.
Coffee Service$8 / ppDrip coffee, creamer, sugar.
the particulars

Staffing & Rentals

Service Staff$45 / hrWe staff one server for every 8 to 10 guests and one bartender for every 50. Additional servers on request. Kitchen staff are covered by your food package; gratuity is charged with the event.
Buffet Rentals estimate~$25 / ppWhite china and standard flatware, one plate change, water glass and napkin, plus our chafers and shareware. Delivery billed separately.
Family-Style Rentals estimate~$35 / ppWhite china and standard flatware, two plate changes and two silverware changes, sharing platters and shareware, water glass and napkin. Delivery billed separately.
Plated Rentals estimate~$20 / ppWhite china and standard flatware, five plate changes, four silverware changes, water glass and napkin. Delivery billed separately.
Menu Selections

Build your courses

The lists your dining-style package draws from. Tell us what you are after and we will shape it around the season and your guests.

to begin

Breads & Spreads

BaguetteWhipped salted butter.
SourdoughSpiced honey butter.
FlatbreadRoot vegetable hummus.
Crudité & Vegan Spreads on requestAvailable by request with any package.
passed, cold

Cold Appetizers

Mini Caprese SkewersPesto.
Brie TartletsCaramelized onion.
Pita ChipsHummus spread.
Goat Cheese CrostiniSeasonal preserves.
Deviled EggsSmoked trout roe.
Smoked Salmon BliniDill crème fraîche.
Smoked Trout RilletteOn crostini.
Pickled Shrimp CevicheOn toast.
Beef TartareIn lettuce wraps.
Mussel EscabecheOn crackers with cream cheese.
passed, hot

Hot Appetizers

Corn FrittersPepper relish.
Mushroom AranciniFontina cream.
Steamed Baby BaoSmoked salmon.
Crab GougèresLemon aioli.
Dates Wrapped in BaconChile jam.
Grilled Beef SkewersPeanut sauce.
Lamb MeatballsYogurt sauce.
Mini Lobster Rolls+$5 / ppChile jam.
Mini Crispy Fried Oyster Rolls+$5 / ppAn upgraded hot selection.
first course

Crudo, Carpaccio & Cakes

Hamachi Crudo coldSeasonal accoutrements.
Beef Carpaccio coldLocal cheese and capers.
Burrata Salad coldSeasonal jam.
Crab Cakes hotTartar sauce.
Tempura Seasonal Vegetable hotAioli.
Crispy Meatballs hotSeasonal sauce.
second course

Salads & Vegetables

Simple Green Salad coldCitrus dressing.
Caesar Salad coldSoft egg.
Little Gem Salad coldGreen goddess dressing.
Roasted Root Vegetable Salad hotHerb yogurt.
Roasted Cauliflower hotTahini and lemon.
Roasted Broccolini hotChile crunch and sesame.
third course

Pasta, Grains & Potatoes

Ricotta GnocchiSeasonal accoutrements.
Mushroom DumplingsCorn butter and soy.
Pearl CouscousSeasonal vegetables.
Truffled RisottoLocal mushrooms.
Local PolentaParmesan.
Roasted PotatoesCaramelized onion relish.
fourth course

Entrées

Gently Smoked SalmonFennel soubise.
Oven Roasted SablefishLemon sauce.
Grilled ShrimpChile-garlic butter.
Boneless Chicken Legs PiccataGrilled or braised.
Marinated Lamb LoinGarlic toum.
Seasonal Vegetable & Tofu CurryRoasted.
Seared U10 Scallops+$10 / ppAn entrée upgrade.
Beef Short Rib or New York Strip+$10 / ppAn entrée upgrade.
Beef Tenderloin+$15 / ppAn entrée upgrade.
Lobster Thermidor+$15 / ppAn entrée upgrade.
final course

Sweets

Ricotta DonutSeasonal fruit jam.
Chocolate CustardGraham crumb.
Flourless Chocolate CakeMiso caramel.
Baklava DonutsSpiced honey sauce.

Raw-bar services have a 50-guest minimum; smaller groups by inquiry. Every package is a starting point, so tell us what your event needs and we will build around it. Pricing is per person and excludes rentals, delivery, and staffing except where noted. Rental figures are estimates on the base packages; add-ons raise the per-person price.

Umbo's oyster-and-pearl mascot carrying a pearl
Umbo · catering
Let’s Talk

Tell us about your gathering

Weddings, launches, birthdays, or a Tuesday that deserves oysters. Send us the date, the headcount, and the vibe — we’ll build the rest.

Start an Inquiry →