Rockefeller Lodge & Party Time Catering

I can’t believe I haven’t written a review for the Rockefeller Lodge! It’s about time, we just celebrated our 2 year wedding anniversary this weekend so our wedding day has been on my mind. :kissy face: :winky face:
We had our wedding, the ceremony and reception, at the Rockefeller Lodge in February 2014. It was the most absolutely perfect wedding ever.
Debbie and Jonathan were a delight to work with through all the details of our wedding day, they definitely know their stuff and made sure all the important things were taken care of.
Our top priorities for our wedding day were for it to be fun (check) easy (Check) and have twinkly lights (CHECK!)… everything we wanted for our wedding day was provided by the Rockefeller Lodge: easy seating arrangements, they set everything up and took everything down (save the décor), food/​beverages provided by on site caterers and we were allowed to provide our own alcohol, the scenery is one of the most important aspects that sets the tone for the whole day and the Rockefeller Lodge does not disappoint. The garden with the gazebo was perfect for our ceremony surrounded by redwood trees. The interior of the lodge is quaint and lovely, a familiar scent of firewood lingers in the air (FUN FACT: The fireplace is built from rubble of the 1906 earthquake!), creaky wooden floors, and whimsical wooden filigree accent the Bar and the Wilkommen doorway.
The food was super delicious, I wish I had known they were going to box up the leftovers (how awesome is that!?) on my plate or I would have loaded it up even more. Gratefully we were able to actually enjoy the food on our wedding day too! That Chicken Marsala, pasta salad, scalloped potatoes, yum yum yum!
The price points are what really made our experience so worthwhile, we were planning our wedding on a budget and we were able to accommodate all of our needs and wish-​list items and then some since they are able to provide so many services (such as linens, seating, etc.) within one vendor… also, talk about the convenience of not having to call a «Chair person» or your «linen guy» when needing to coordinate your wedding day plans. Debbie and Jonathan are all you need to have a wonderful event, even if it’s an anniversary party, birthday, wedding, anything.
Needless to say, we really enjoyed our experience with the Rockefeller Lodge and appreciate the thought, love and care that goes into keeping the place running smoothly.

I attended a wedding here a few years ago and I fell in love with the place. We got married in February and we planned everything in 3 months. We had a small ceremony and had the officiant marry us there in front of our family and close friends. We had about 100 people and had all the tables full to the back of the room. There is more seating outside for more guests so its perfect for a summer wedding when it’s not to cold. Jonathon and Debbie were so wonderful to work with, they were on top of everything and answered every question We had. The place itself is beautiful inside, it may not look like it from the outside but it certainy has its spots for wedding pictures. There’s a small dance floor so when it got time for our first dance we decided to do it outside under the lights so everyone was able to see (you can’t really see from the back tables to the dance floor) it was perfect! And we ended up staying dancing outdoors. Everyone had a blast, food was delicious. Prices are very reasonable so if you’re planning on having a small wedding definetly come check this place out its perfect for any occasion.

We had our wedding on 09/​04/​2015. A friend of mine recommended Rockefeller Lodge. We visited the premises and my fiancé and I loved it. We met with Debbie and she was extremely welcoming. We decided have our wedding here and it’s the best decision we made. Debbie was very helpful. She recommends what you need, nothing extra. She doesn’t try to up sell. The venue is so beautiful, and indoor/​outdoor location. And they cater on the spot. The food was delicious. Our guests left bragging about the venue and the food. I definitely recommend Rockefeller Lodge to anyone looking for a wedding venue. And if you need catering, call Party Time Catering! Thank you Debbie and team for making our day so special!

We were looking at wedding venues and had been told about the Lodge by a friend. When we drove up, I didn’t think much or it. We walked in through the fence and got to see it, and WOW! I had no idea a place like that would be hidden away in the middle of San Pablo! We were planning on looking at other sites, but somewhere between leaving the venue the first time, and arriving back home, we had decided that Rockefeller lodge was perfect for us.
We had our wedding at the end of August. Debbie and Jonathon were great to work with and helped us figure everything out. There were some late changes in our numbers that caused a minor invoice issue, but nothing major and it was cleared up without much fuss.
The venue was beautiful! When we arrived the staff was making last minute adjustments to make sure that everything was how it was supposed to be. By the time our guests showed up, all was ready.
When we were told we would have to use the lodge for our caterer, we were a little skeptical. The food in the pictures looked nice, and the reviews were good, but we wanted to be sure. On top of it, my wife is a vegetarian, and we wanted to have food options that were both veggie friendly, and carnivore friendly. Most importantly, the food needed to be flavorful — we didn’t want to be serving rubber chicken or over steamed veggies. We didn’t need to worry. My wife and I don’t remember eating much, but the guests have told us the food was great and there was lots of it. We added in the chocolate fountain which our guests really loved!
We had about 90 people at our wedding. There was room for them to be dancing all night without feeling crushed or like they were in a giant warehouse, but there were also plenty of places for people to sit and talk if they needed a break for the party.
If you are looking for a place to hold your event, its worth the trip to San Pablo to check out Rockefeller Lodge.

Just had my wedding here a few days ago and I must say that it’s one of the best decisions that my husband and I made. It’s a beautiful venue and the food was delicious! I’ve seen plenty of our guests’ plates empty and people going back for seconds. The service staff were wonderful and very attentive.
Johnathan and Debbie were very flexible and easy to work with. The entire booking process was smooth. Any questions we had were answered promptly and whatever we needed, they were able to accommodate. It was the perfect place to hold our 90+ close friends and family. The price is very affordable and the menu options were pretty good. From the hors d’oeuvres to the entreés and the sides, it was just great!
Parking spaces are limited but it’s within a residential area so street parking won’t be so difficult to find. I never knew this place was here and I use to live right next to it, until we were looking for a venue within our neighborhood. Definitely a hidden gem. Simple, rustic and amazing!

It’s been said before, but I don’t know if it’s been said enough: The Rockefeller Lodge is a hidden gem.
We’ve been to the Rockefeller for numerous events over the years: a cousin’s cotillion, a bunch of Rotary Christmas parties, another cousin’s wedding, my friend’s grandma’s 90^th birthday (complete with Mariachi) – the whole spectrum.
When we had to choose a venue for our own wedding, the Rockefeller was near the top of the list. Yes, we checked out other venues. Yes, we had to consider cost. Sure, San Pablo isn’t a «destination» for a wedding. In the end, and after meeting with Debbie & Johnathan, we really felt comfortable and were glad that we picked the Rockefeller Lodge.
Venue: Homey and historic. This used to be John D. Rockefeller’s hunting lodge and has much of the same functional-​yet-​ornate architecture and décor of a home from the early 1900s. When you walk through the gates, you’re amazed at how hidden away, private, and woodsy the location feels. The inside of the building and the outside garden are already beautiful, so we didn’t even need decorations, aside from the flowers on the tables.
The outdoor area comfortably sat the 100 guests that came to watch the ceremony. We had the ceremony in front of the gazebo. Later in the evening, the gazebo became the location for a full photobooth with curtains, photographer, and a table for props. For dinner, we had 175 guests filling the main room, the adjoining room, and the outside tables. We have a big family and everyone was happy, even if they didn’t all get a close-​up view of the sweetheart table.
There’s plenty of space for dancing (or, for our wedding: the electric slide), which can happen both inside or outside (with heaters if it gets chilly).
Coordination: Debbie is a wonderful mix of friendly and «football coach.» She wants you to have a memorable day, but also needs you to do your homework and does a great job of breaking down exactly the things you’ll need do the job right. Johnathan works a lot with the brides and did a great job of keeping my wife-​to-​be from becoming a bridezilla. He is also great about answering those last minute, panicked phone calls and coordinating the rehearsal the day before. No question is too stupid for him. They were always very personable, didn’t make you feel bad, but also made sure you were on track and doing your homework, because it’s a very big day and they want you to be successful.
Food: They say that nobody remembers the food at a wedding. Not true – you’d remember if it was bad. After the wedding, we were told by a lot of our guests that they loved the jalapeño poppers (who doesn’t?!), the tri-​tip, the fish, and the pasta salad. Robert (one of the in-​house caterers) was great and even had a little plate of appetizers saved for us newlyweds since we were busy taking photos during the cocktail hour.
Drinks: The Rockefeller gives you the option to supply your own bar, which was a great money saver. If you mix enough dollar store green mouthwash with club soda, it kinda tastes like a mojito! The lady who tended the bar was friendly and patient and accommodating of our guests’ tolerance to alcohol.
Overall, we were blown away by our experience at the Rockefeller Lodge, and we won’t ever forget it. We’re looking forward to our next celebration at the Rockefeller Lodge. Thank you!

I’d give it six stars if possible. The Lodge is beautiful, the food tasty and the entire staff professional. If you are planning a party or wedding this is the place to go!

Attention brides on a budget!
Are you looking for a venue for a max of 100 people in the Bay Area? You have to go SEE Rockefeller Lodge.
Last year, I was a bride on a budget in the East Bay. So many places were so expensive, and I was super familiar with the area since I’m not originally from up here. Anyway, I got on Unilocal and I Googled like a mad woman, and I found Rockefeller Lodge. At first when I looked at the website, I was like, there is no way this place is this cute. My husband and I made an appointment to go see it, and it is better than the pictures on the website.
4 star review for the following
1) Debbie was our wedding coordinator at the site. From the first time we met, to our various meetings before and after the event, she was calm, courteous and so informative. She is not an upseller. She will give you what you need.
2) The venue is beautiful. You would never think such a beautiful place exists across the street from a baseball field. Parking is ample for guests. Guests also have a choice to hang out outside or inside. Either way its beautiful.
3) The food was good. All of my guests loved it. They especially loved the appetizers.
4) Service is great. Everyone at the Lodge was so helpful on the day of, and it made my wedding planner happy.
5) You can bring your own booze! All you have to do is pay for a server to hang out behind the bar!
6) All of our pictures were great at the Lodge, and our guests found it comfortable and beautiful with the twinkling lights.
7) The price is right. I was not in a position to break the bank. There are many options for you to keep it affordable, and you can pay it off little by little. The deposit isn’t too bad either.
The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the DJ has to set up inside the venue. It is kind of an awkward set up. My family and friends were so hot from dancing inside that we had to dance outside, which was fine but a little awkward.
I would have my reception here again! It is beautiful and a steal!

I am so thankful that we found this place! They were wonderful to work with and I loved the look of the venue. We had about 70 people and it felt great. I really wanted to find a venue where I was not going to spend hours setting up tables and breaking down afterwards and this fit the bill! Wedding are what they DO here, and from my first meeting with Johnathan I had complete confidence in him and the rest of the staff.
I was able to make small changes to the food items (veggie lasagna with more cheese and less veggies for example) and even added baked brie for a per person cost.
We really were able to come in, put out our decorations and then just focus on getting ourselves ready. They have so many lush green areas that just look amazing for photographs. I was so happy to have the wisteria blooming for our day.
I couldn’t’ be happier with how my wedding went, and picking the right venue is a big part of that!

I got married at the Rockefeller Lodge 1 week ago, and I couldn’t be happier with my experience! We wanted a more rustic, intimate feel to our wedding, and this venue fit the bill perfectly. Furthermore, they are very budget friendly! We opted to have our wedding on a weeknight, and only had to pay for catering, no room rental! That saved us about $ 1500+ right there! We were a little concerned when we learned that Debbie and Jonathan would be out of town the day of our wedding, but our replacement coordinator Janet stepped up and knocked it out of the park! She was a great bartender, and very helpful! The Lodge is so romantic and picturesque, perfect for pictures! Everything turned out great, and all of our guests were mentioning to us what a wonderful time they had, and how surprised they were to find such a nice place in the middle of an admittedly not great neighborhood. It’s like a little oasis! If you are a budget-​conscious bride or groom, looking for some place unique but classy to get married, I recommend the Rockefeller Lodge. No regrets from this bride!

I am so, so, so glad I had my wedding here. San Pablo doesn’t immediately jump to mind when it comes to wedding locations, but this venue is perfect. We wanted something outdoorsy with an indoor component since it was the winter and could easily rain on our wedding date (02/​23/​2013), and the lodge was the perfect solution. They have a tent set up perfectly to the side of the venue for months during the winter and they can put it up quickly even if it rains quickly in the more traditional months (which happened to an acquaintance of mine in 2010) The tent is a pretty area with a traditional podium set-​up, so your pictures would still turn out beautiful.
And you should just see this place lit up at night. My friends told me a few of them walked out with their significant other and had a little moment under the gazebo, with the trees surrounding them and the sparkling lights twinkling off the lodge overhang. My brand new husband and I took a moment to sit outside there, ourselves, and just… wow. It really was breathtaking.
Both Jonathan and Debbie are very helpful during the whole process. The rates are super cheap, too!
The only downside (for some people) is you have to use their catering and they don’t do taste tests beforehand, but their food is delicious. My photographer has been there multiple times and said they had some of the best food she’s has at weddings, and all of our guests liked the options. It’s buffet-​style with quite a few different salads and cars and entrees, as well as bread and fruit options, as well. And that was just for the cheapest option!
This venue was SO comfortable with the 60+ people we had attending. On a sunny day, it could easily comfortably fit 120. If it’s rainy season, you may want to keep it at around 100.
Honestly, I love this venue. I’m in love with it. I hope to be renewing my vows there in another 10 years.

My Mother had a wedding reception here 12 years ago and I had mine at Rockefeller on 10−13−12. This location is magical I loved every minute of my reception. The staff was amazing. Debbie & Johnathan have been in party planning business for a long time. Trust me if you choose Rockefeller as your venue for any event you will be greatly satisfied.

Really great location to have a wedding. It was super affordable and food was awesome. The staff were so professional. Only downside is having the music indoors and dancing outdoors. The speakers have to go in front of the glass door, so the sound doesn’t project well. But I would have an event there again any day. Loved it!!!

The redwood garden at the lodge makes for a surprisingly intimate wedding venue for the neighborhood this is in.

Service: ¹⁰⁄₁₀ stars. They soothed my mother in law, quickly changed the seating arrangements when it became clear we needed to all sit inside, arranged all the drinks and food incredibly well, were so accommodating with our decoration needs, and were a pleasure to be around.
Food: ¹⁰⁄₁₀ stars. Bonus to any place that has gourmet Mac and Cheese on the menu. Prices start at 17 per person. With drinks and dessert service ours ended up being about 25 a person – so reasonable! And they do cleanup!
Pricing: They had a second wedding scheduled the day of ours (ours was in the morning, theirs at night) so they WAIVED the rental cost. On a Saturday. So we only paid for food. ¹⁵⁄₁₀ stars.
Venue: ¹⁰⁄₁₀ stars. Tons of parking. Very quiet and peaceful. Two fountains, lots of greenery, ability to sit inside or outside, perfect for small weddings like ours (50) but able to accommodate much larger groups of people, fireplace for ambiance, beautiful old-​timey bar, gazebo, patio, sparkling lights – so gorgeous. Lots of places for gorgeous photos.
Thank you Rockefeller Lodge for making our beautiful wedding possible.

EXCELLENT staff, food, hospitality, and overall site. We were just married here on July 7, 2012 and this place was great! They were very flexible and understanding and worked with us throughout the whole process of planning our ceremony and reception. We will definitely use this place again and recommend them to anyone else we know!

I would like to thank Jonathan and Debbie!
I had an event there this past Friday and it turned out just lovely! I worked mostly with Jonathan and he was really on top of things. The lodge is very nice and the staff was very out of the way, but there when we needed them. The grounds at the lodge are nice they could use a bit of updating inside to the restrooms but over all you get a bang for you buck, from the garden alone.
My only wish was for longer hours, having to end the music at 10pm is kind of a bummer and it would have been nice to have to leave the place by midnight and end the party at 11pm.

My mom got married here back in 2004 I think, so it’s been a while, but I was recently reminded of the experience and felt the need to add my tid bit.
The place is cute, small, lends itself well to a low key and small wedding. You can’t throw rice, so we had people throw bird seed — it was cute. There are plenty of spots for photo opportunities, and it’s pretty in the garden at night.
My two complaints are as follows:
They painted the inside of the venue the day before the wedding. It still had the odor of fresh paint. It wasn’t too bad, but a bit annoying, plus they didn’t want us to tape any decorations up as a result.
They make you use their catering, and the catering service was TERRIBLE. The food was decent enough, but at one point they actually TURNED AN ENTIRE TABLE OF GUESTS AWAY from the food table saying that it wasn’t their turn yet. Their staff then proceeded to EAT THE FOOD. I’ve worked for a catering company before as a server, I get that your people get hungry, but it is never acceptable to turn guests away in favor of feeding your staff. Guests went hungry while their people pigged out. Unacceptable.

Now that our wedding date has been set, Gayle and I have started to look for the right venue. All we’re really looking for something cozy and pretty and within easy driving distance of the Bay Area. We also expect that our wedding will just include immediate family and a few friends. Plus, we’d rather spend our money on a nice trip to Europe than splurge on a «destination» wedding.
Gayle and I took a drive yesterday and visited several places, including the Rockefeller Lodge. The Lodge and grounds are very pretty, cozy, and well kept. My web research also indicates that this historical location is a very good value for the money.
However, we just couldn’t get past the neighbourhood, especially the outside noise and music that could and probably has interrupted a very special ceremony. We also wondered about the safety of our parents in trying to find this place or navigate their way out at the end of the celebration. And that is very much a part of our «package».

I attended a friends’ wedding reception here last night. They seemed very pleased with the process of reserving the location and planning their party and, as a guest, I thoroughly enjoyed my evening. The ambiance is lovely, with a large fireplace in the entrance and hard wood floors. The food was delicious and the service was great. I don’t always expect delicious food at weddings but their’s was actually very good, especially the appetizers and scalloped potatoes. There are separate areas for the bar, live music/​DJ, and dining but everything flows well from one space to the other. It maintains a cozy feel even with room for 80+.
It was too cold for us to utilize the outdoor areas but I’m sure they are nice during warmer weather.
Most likely a symptom of an old lodge, the floors are a bit uneven from one end of the lodge to the other. I just took this as a test. If you can make it safely from the dining area to the bar, then you can get another drink.

«The Rockefeller Lodge is simple yet elegant.»
The Rockefeller Lodge by far met my expectations. Debbie the manager and the staff are so easy to talk to. My guest raved about how usually at weddings you never have a great wedding with great food, so they ranted about how wonderful the food was! The staff was so courteous, and at the wedding you didn’t even realize they were there…
The lodge is great especially if you are on a budget and want a simple wedding. For the ceremony and reception can easily say I spent a little over or about $ 5000. Everyone loved it! My wedding day turned out perfect! I loved every minute of it!