B.Lin Catering

DC folks. if you are looking for an alternative for dinner and are getting tired of the usual spots in A-​M, Dupont, Logan or Shaw/​U Street… well supper clubs are still worth the hype and definitely a nice change of pace from the norm!
We first experienced B. Lin Catering as a Unilocal*event last year (thanks Kim!) and it was one the most most memorable foodie events we had in 2015.
They announced their supper clubs to start of 2016 and we took advantage of signing up for the very first night.
We met some awesome new folks at the table we sat at and the 5 courses we had with a pan-​Asian/​Latin fusion twist to it were fantastic. Pairings were also done, and initially I thought it was going to be wine pairings but turned out it would be cocktails! The cocktails did pair well with the food but boy one or two of them were strong and I’m sure by the end of the evening, everyone was a bit more relaxed and buzzed. Sadly, I’m getting old and so definitely this meal and the cocktail pairings capped off my Friday night!
Considering they are a catering company, their menu is ever evolving and changes with the season so definitely check out one of their supper clubs this year!
It definitely isn’t just about the food but the whole experience.
Cheers!

First of, I would like to apologize for the delay in writing a review for this AMAZING team.
We hired B. Lin Catering over the summer for our very small and intimate wedding held in Maryland on August 22, 2015. I have to say that this was one of the best choices my now husband and I made for our wedding. As the bride, I couldn’t have been happier to have worked with such a friendly, super patient and professional team.
When we first got in touch with B. Lin Catering, I expressed to them what I was looking for and they immediately made me feel super comfortable to work with them and made the entire process of putting together a menu for 80 – 100 guest.
It was definitely a privilege to work with Ben, Arin, Maggie and Rich. There was a lot of emailing back and forth before the menu was created (Mexican Menu) and all the orders for the glasses, silverware, plates and etc were finalized. To each email Arin was always super attentive and responded very promptly. Maggie was also a great help and did a wonderful job too. Once, the hardest part was over which as I mentioned was putting everything together and closing on the menu we were then scheduled to go for our tasting where we then met Rich, Ben and Maggie in person. We enjoyed the food before the wedding and I have to say that there was hardly any modifications done at that time of the tasting because the food was excellent. Then, I knew that the food was going to be the best part of the wedding… and I was RIGHT! Our guest loved and enjoyed the food. We kept getting a lot of compliments on the food and it was so pleasant to hear your invited guest boasting about how wonderful the food was all night.
Overall, this team of young individuals along with the entire staff are truly an example of what a catering company should be. The entire serving staff including the bartender were super hospitable to my husband, my family and friends and I at the wedding. They helped a LOT, they did more than they had too. I have to point this out (a little true story)… I was impressed… I was so busy enjoying my wedding, but at one point I looked around and saw the staff helping to light our tiki torches. I was very appreciative of all of that and more.
To close, everything was so top notch and I am beyond happy with the outcome. My husband and I will be marrying each other through church on July, 2017 and we are looking forward to working with B. Lin Catering once again.
Lots of Love,
Alfredo and Scarleth Castro.

We used B. Lin for our 115 guest wedding and they were, to say the least, absolutely stellar!
We’ve been privileged enough to have sampled their dishes many a time before hiring them for the wedding, so knew without a doubt that the food was going to be just amazing. Absolutely no question, everything they make is delicious. Our friends and guests are still talking about how great the food was, 3 weeks later!
In working with Ben, Maggie and team for our wedding, we were blown away by how friendly, patient and easy going B. Lin’s team was. We we got our first draft invoice from Maggie, we were at about 160 guests. Maggie patiently worked through about 7 iterations of our menu/​invoice as our guest count fluctuated in the months leading up to the wedding. She never missed a beat and was so pleasant to work with– detailed oriented and professional. Both Ben and Maggie were knowledgeable and full of advice when it came to putting on an event, we were so appreciative for their expertise.
I wouldn’t hesitate to hire B. Lin for another event again, big or small, and would recommend them to all my friends and family!

B. Lin catered our 150-​guest wedding last month, and did a stellar job from beginning to end. I can’t say enough about how professional and thoughtful they were, from working with us patiently to fit within our budget (even sending us suggestions for websites so we could buy our own linens, which turned out to be more economical than renting them!), to holding two tastings for us so we could refine the menu, to packing up all the leftover food without being asked, so friends and relatives could take it home. Not to mention the most important thing — the food was delicious! We opted for a Peking duck carving station, and I am picky about that particular dish, but they did it perfectly. (The one hiccup was that it took a while to get all the guests through the buffet line, but that was our fault for not taking their suggestion that they pre-​wrap the duck in the pancakes.) And the bulgogi quesadillas in particular had my friends swooning. Also, though we didn’t have them at the wedding, their pork belly baos were what initially got us hooked — we happened to try them at a stand Ben set up at the Funk Parade on U St. in May, and they were so good I started chatting with the guy who was making them. I’m so glad I did. Ben and Maggie, our chief coordinator, were so wonderful to work with and really went above and beyond — I’d recommend them to anyone.

Ben and Arin of B. Lin are absolutely the best you can get. We used their catering services for our wedding this month and the food was spectacular. Guests complimented us on our food over and over!!! Not to mention Arin’s help, patience, and down right detailed personality make for the best possible customer service leading up to the big event!
They are AMAZING!

B. Lin Catering was fantastic. They were very professional. Everyone kept asking who provided the catering the food was so good. The only down side is the food was so good I didn’t get a chance to get more :)

It was a pleasure to work with B. Lin for our catering needs for our wedding this month. They are attentive, professional, and easy to work with. They really listen to your needs and work to fill them. The food is wonderful, unique, fresh, and just what we’d hoped for. I like that I was able to loop in local farmers that I have a relationship with to help provide the produce for the veggie dishes at our reception. B. Lin helped us stick to our commitment for a low impact/​green reception – less animal products + options for vegans/​vegetarians. I appreciated that.
B.Lin’s staff is really efficient. During the service, it was like the servers weren’t even there — little ninjas making sure everything was running smoothly, efficiently, and cleaning up as they went. All-​in-​all, it was great to work with them. I had no stress about anything regarding the event on the day of. Their business continues to grow because they really care about what they do and do a good job at it. I wish them all the best as they serve others at their events in the DMV in the years to come.

I used B. Lin for my birthday party on a boat. Maggie was super nice, helpful, and patient. She helped me set and reset the menu as party planning evolved. She and her staff (3 servers for passed hor deouvres and prep chef) provided excellent service on the day of my party. Food was fantastic! (there was no food tasting prior to the party so I was going on Unilocal comments that food was great). It all looked and tasted amazing! My guests and I were very impressed with the whole package. I would definitely use B. Lin again for another event.

I’ve heard great things about B. Lin Catering from friends and food-​lovers, so I decided to try out their Supper Club this past weekend. People were right! The food was amazing and the service and staff went out of their way to make the dining experience fantastic for everyone.
B.Lin just took on a new chef, Rich Viernes, who knocked it out of the park with his cooking! I was so impressed. His pork was perfectly tender and the rustic apple sauce had the perfect amount of spice and kick. My favorite dish though was the duck breast with a delightful apricot scallion glaze. Nom! Nom!
Overall, I would definitely recommend B. Lin to anyone wanting fantastic, high-​quality food mixed in with great service and a friendly, accommodating staff. Five Stars!

Last night was my first experience with B. Lin Catering, through their local supper club. Being a small town girl in a big city, I love the idea of a home-​cooked meal, in an intimate setting, with a bunch of people who quickly become your friends. Often this experience is rare in a trendy city with overpriced food and rushed service. But the minute the door opened to enter the house for the B. Lin Supper Club, was the minute I felt warmly welcomed and relaxed. We were greeted by a friendly young woman who took our names and ushered us into a cool dining room (summer), filled with smiling chatting people who in turned greeted us as we walked in. Low lighting and candles added to the ambiance. Taking a seat, we entered into easy conversation with the people sitting next to us, and began to pour some wine. One of the great parts of the evening was sitting nearby to the friendly chefs, who were busy preparing our 5 course dinner. After announcing the menu, and explaining the seasonal ingredients, they warmly welcomed people to come up at their leisure and say «Hi,» in order to get a closer look at what they were preparing.
Having felt like the night was already a success, we were about to be blown away by the food! Oh.My.Goodness. B. Lin’s newest chef, Rich Viernes’ cooking is artistry. The aromas coming out of the kitchen were so amazing that it was hard to pay attention to the conversations at the table; the presentation of the food was beautiful (one course even came with seasonal edible flowers!); and the freshness and flavor of the food was incredible. At the end of the meal, we all looked at each other and shared a contented smile. Success. My advice to other Unilocal-​ers: If you get the chance to share in this experience; take it.

We are SO happy with our recent experience with B. Lin Catering! Arin was so easy and enjoyable to work with during the months leading up to our wedding day, and all of our wedding guests raved about how delicious the food was. And the staff really went above and beyond the contract and even helped with things like setting up and taking down decorations. Overall, they really tried hard to make our Big Day as perfect as possible. We would definitely recommend this exceptional caterer and will use them again the next chance we get!

B. Lin Catering is phenomenal! We worked with Ben and Arin to cater our wedding in March and were so impressed by their business. We heard about Ben through a friend and love his business model. He cares for the DC community and serves it through his hiring and his generous donations. This is one of the main reasons we decided to go with B. Lin Catering. But it also doesn’t hurt that this is the best food we have ever tasted!
The food was amazing. For the appetizers we had the jerk spiced shrimp skewers, butternut squash wontons, mini half smokes, and cheese & veggie plates. The entrees included smoked beef brisket, pan-​seared cod, smoked gouda mac & cheese, roasted asparagus, and roasted garlic mashed potatoes. Everyone loved it. Friends and family are still raving about the food and many say the mac & cheese was the best they have ever tasted. Arin made sure we ordered enough for all our guests and even packed up the left overs for us to take home!
Arin and Ben worked with us from beginning to end, helping us decide exactly what food to order and how much. They set up a tasting with us to ensure the food tasted exactly how we wanted it. They were willing to cater each dish to our liking and continued to ask us for suggestions throughout the process. She even helped us figure out ways to cut costs and still get the same finished product.
On the day of the wedding, their staff served us with grace and professionalism. They helped make our wedding day exactly how we envisioned. We couldn’t imagine a better caterer!

We had the opportunity to work with Ben and Arin for our wedding in DC in March 2015. The food and service were superb! Our guests raved about the food throughout the event and after. Ben’s cooking is truly inspired.
I had come to know Ben through his supper club and was excited to learn that he also catered larger events. We reached out to several other caterers but felt that the menu options they provided did not capture the feel we wanted with our food (comfort foods to match a laid-​back, fun, family reunion vibe at the reception). Once Ben heard what we wanted, he set out to craft a custom menu that included the following items:
HORS D’OEUVRES
BBQ pulled pork lumpia
Mini Creole Crab Cakes
Roasted Garlic Tomato Bisque
Roasted Brusssels Sprouts
ON THE TABLE
Jalepeno Cheddar Cornbread
Cranberry Spinach Salad
BUFFET
Braised Collard Greens
Seasonal Roasted Veggies
Southern Fried Chicken
Smoked Beef Brisket
Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese
Both Ben and Arin were available via email throughout the process, answering our many questions as we settled on the menu. Arin in particularly was incredibly responsive and organized and went out of her way to meet our requests. As an example, she helped procure stands and trays for our dessert display (which was provided by another vendor) and the B. Lin team assisted with the dessert set-​up during the event.
THE WEDDING DAY
Ben, Arin and their staff provided superior service at the wedding. It was their first time catering an event at that particular venue, but you would not have known it, as everything went smoothly. A few standout moments:
*A sampling of our hors d’oeuvres appeared in my bridal suite about 30 minutes prior to the ceremony. I hadn’t realized how hungry I was and my bridesmaids and I had the chance to enjoy the delicious bites without even asking for them!
*Arin appeared once or twice at our table during the reception to make sure that everything was running smoothly. I appreciated her thoughtfulness and how well she and her staff integrated with our wedding coordinator and her team.
*As soon as the reception was over, we had a box of food waiting for us to take back to our hotel.
Overall, I highly recommend you consider B. Lin Catering for your next event (wedding, party, gala), but particularly your wedding. You’ll get a customized, thoughtfully crafted menu, delicious food and top-​notch service, all at a reasonable price.

We eat with our eyes first and truly that is where the feasting begins with B. Lin Catering. At the three different supper clubs I’ve been to, the food was arranged gorgeously (instagram-​worthy) but even then, the aesthetics are only the beginning…
One can taste the care and passion that goes into the food. I’ve never had a dish that was uninspired or plain. B. Lin’s food tantalizes the palette with such clever wit and character. It is as though the food puts forth a personality of its own – one that desires to impress and to satisfy – and succeeds.
Even beyond the food, the B. Lin team has consistently provided excellent service. The delightful chemistry within the B. Lin team is akin to that of a rowdy but loving family. I look forward to working with them all to cater my upcoming wedding. My guests deserve no less than the best, and with B. Lin there is no doubt that the food will be an absolute hit!

I cannot recommend this place enough! We hired B. Lin for an annual public charter school gala. I worked with Arin and she is a total rock star! She responded to emails within minutes which made it really easy to make last minute changes and plan a large school function. The food… what can I say about the food. It is 5 star amazing! I got dozens of compliments throughout the night with how delicious everything was. We got a cocktail type menu. The butternut squash wontons were a hit! There was plenty of food. The bartenders and servers were very attentive. We plan on using B. Lin from here on out and will even plan our date around their availability. That’s how great they are!

Supper clubs have been the rage for quite some time right now but that is a train that I had not jumped on… until now.
To be in the know for these type of events, you must sign up for their email blast where they will typically blast out a new menu and dates every month or so. Suppers usually sell out within 35 minutes so you have to be quick!
The boy and I were lucky enough to attend his East Asian themed Club last week which featured a five course menu that included: salmon furikake tostado, mandu, crispy pork belly bun, shio ramen and fresh tropical fruit topped with green tea whipped cream and caramel dust. It was as the French say… Magnifique!
Pricing was more-​than-​fair at $ 45 a head but what made it different from a regular restaurant was the location (a DC rowhouse) and the company. I enjoyed meeting the varied crowd of longtime locals, transplants, out-​of-​town guests, lawyers, artists, students, and more. Everyone was super friendly and more than happy to share their BYOB wares. There was no pretension, everybody was just happy to be there and eat good, quality food.
For the young and hip, there is no better place to be. Please put yourself on their mailing list and I hope to see you for dinner real soon! :)

This is a review for the Supper Club. I just attended the «All-​Things-​Smoked» dinner and it was delightful. From the quaint house, to the food, to the chef and staff– everything was lovely.
For the price, it was a great deal! And I say this because we got 5 quality courses and brought our own booze! It really seemed like Ben and his team put a lot of thought into each course– each unique and gosh darn good! Like others have said, the timing between courses was spot on. Our group spent nearly 3 hours there and time flew by. There was no rush and Ben was a very charming chef.
If you’re on the fence about attending one of these suppers, don’t hesitate and sign up now! Bring a few of your friends and get ready for delicious and fun night.
FYI, were told there was a liquor store across the street if you forget to bring your own. There was also plenty of parking in the neighborhood.

I have to echo Kimberly’s sentiment in the review she posted 5 minutes prior. I first read the locale which she was reviewing and it instantly brought me back to the good olé days!
Gool olé days: anytime I choose to eat brisket
In fact, upon further inspection of Kimberly’s review and reliving her detailed account of shared memories past, my mouth wetted so much that I plucked a piece of gauze from the cabinet for which I’m using to steep my palette’s response.
B.Lin’s brisket was tender, flavorful, succulent, toothsome, and enlightening. The only issue I could find was that the mini brisket slider didn’t deliver enough savory goodness into my mouth, and I risked being uncouth taking 1 or 2 more.
So I did the network dance around the room, «ahh this looks nice, oh what’s this, hi my name is Mike — did you taste that brisket over there?» with hopes of returning in some minimal tawdry disguise to raid such delectable treats one time more.
The accompanying pork slider did not stand in the depth of the shadow of the brisket, with it’s own grand performance of flavors as well.
Now, I read that B. Lin has an underground supper club and feel as if cheated of some earthly delight. Investigation is due with proper haste.

I’ve only experienced Ben’s food through his catering business, and only through southern style meals. The mac and cheese is fantastic, and even heated up the next day, tastes like it came fresh out of the oven. The meal also came with brussels sprouts, which always excite me since these little balls of yum taste delicious when they’re toasted in the oven. I also like his unique take on collard greens, which are seasoned with a pleasant but unexpected slightly sour flavor (maybe vinegar).
I have not personally experienced Ben’s supper clubs, but they remind me of the puertas cerradas, or closed door restaurants in Buenos Aires. As in Buenos Aires, it sounds like Ben reveals the address and date of these closed door meals to an elite few.

I’ve had the pleasure of attending several of Ben’s underground supper club dinners and sampling much of his corporate lunch menus (perks of being engaged to someone who gets their lunch catered by B. Lin Catering almost every day!) I have never been disappointed by his creations! He is fantastic at pairing flavors and everything that I have tasted has true depth!
You can sign up for the supper clubs using a Google reservation link once you’ve been added to the mailing list (sign up on his website). The supper clubs are 5-​course tasting menus served in a chill atmosphere in his own private venue. Ben makes you feel at home and he has a really warm and welcoming personality. Everyone sits on one long table together and it’s BYOB. What I love is that Ben also personally introduces all of the courses so you get a sense of the thought and process behind the cooking. It’s a fantastic option for a date night! Overall, it’s a great night out anytime and every time I get that email in my inbox telling me about the next supper club, my tastebuds start salivating from the menu and I immediately RSVP. So, if you want to check out his cooking, definitely RSVP quick!
Menu highlights from the supper clubs that I have attended:
— Sake buttermilk wings with Japanese seven-​spice dry rub, served with mushrooms and edamame risotto — probably the most delicious wings I have ever tasted in my life. Crispy, juicy, sweet, spiced (not too spicy), and über-​flavorful. My only complaint was that there was only one. But, I guess when you have to leave room for 5 courses, you have to make the portions smaller.
— Yuca Purée — it was like mashed potatoes but better. Like sweet, smooth mashed potatoes raised to the next level.
— Asian Slaw with Peanut Sriracha Dressing — I’m not sure what’s in the dressing but it’s addictive. This slaw is amazing – finely chopped cabbages, carrots, onions, etc tossed in a nutty, sweet, spicy sauce.
I have also tasted Ben’s corporate lunches (second-​hand) from my fiancé’s leftovers and even day-​old, they are delicious. Some of my favorites are his spicy gumbo and korean tacos! Seriously, his spicy gumbo is the shhhhhizznits – it’s got so much depth of flavor. Also, the jerk chicken is ah-​mazing – moist, tender, and well-​seasoned. Ben is an EXPERT at marinating proteins and getting them to their perfect tenderness and flavor.
I have been super impressed by all of Ben’s dishes. The only thing I think he needs to improve on is his dessert. His orange habanero cinnamon flan was amazing at the second supper club I went to. But, at the first supper club, he served a take on strawberry shortcake that needed just a little something extra to pull it all together. I hear he’s working on his desserts though, so i“m excited to see what he’s cooking up next!