Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the difference between “full service” and “self service” catering?

A. “Full Service” catering means that you are hiring Joe Morley’s BBQ to provide catering services for your on-site event. These services include servers and laborers to fully prepare and transport your chosen menu to your location. Once we arrive we will set up a buffet line for your guests, run the buffet line until all your guests have been served, cut and serve the mud pie, and clean up and take down our area before leaving.

We will bring our own tables to serve from, however you will be responsible for tables and chairs for your guests.

A. “Self Service” catering means that you are purchasing prepared food only. Our menus include a complete meal from the main course to dessert along with paper products. Picking up your food or having it delivered at “self service” pricing means you receive the food fully cooked, prepared, and hot. However, you will be responsible for setting up the food and preparing your buffet line. This will involve putting meats, sides, sauce etc. into serving bowls and also cutting and serving the mud pie. If you receive the food in our insulated chests, you will also be responsible for returning the chests to us within 24 hours.

Q. Do I get to keep the leftovers?

A. Customers who purchase our “self service” catering menus are welcome to keep their leftovers. Joe Morley’s will retain any and all unused food and beverage at “full service” events. This is to ensure food safety according to Health Department regulations. Also, at our “full service” events we plan to bring more food than your guests should require. This is to allow for any last minute guest arrivals, and also to have more than enough for your planned guest count. Basically, we really don’t want your guests at the end of the line to have to be scraping the last few bits of food from our serving dishes – so we bring extra.

Q. How long do you need to set up?

A. Typically we can be set up in 15 - 20 minutes from the time we arrive. We will usually try to arrive around 30 minutes before your scheduled serving time. Obstacles like stairs, grass, stone/dirt paths, or small elevators can cause major delays in our ability to get set up quickly. Please let us know of any obstacles ahead of time so that we can plan accordingly. Events that require us to travel up stairs, over grass, or to hard-to-get-to spots, may incur additional charges.

Q. How long will Joe Morley's be serving?

A. For groups up to 200 people our “Full Service” events include one hour of serving time with the price of the meal. We will make arrangements to serve larger groups on a case by case basis. Groups for 200 and under can arrange for extended serving time to be billed at $100.00 per hour.

Q. Where will Joe Morley's be cooking the food?

A. All of our food is fully prepared at our Restaurant location in Midvale. Our meats are smoked for up to 14 hours over cherry wood in our custom smokers designed by Joe Morley. Real Bar-B-Q takes a long time to do it right, so we prepare it all ahead of time so your guests don’t have to wait once we arrive. As a side note, any other catering company that offers to cook “on-site” isn’t barbequing, they are grilling, and there is a big difference.

Q. How far will Joe Morley's travel?

A. Our “Full Service” pricing includes traveling anywhere in the Salt Lake Valley at no additional charge. Locations outside the Salt Lake Valley will generally be billed a $100.00 minimum travel charge, but we will work with you on a case-by-case basis. The farthest we can safely travel is around one hour in any direction from our location in Midvale.

Q. How far in advance can I place my order?

A. The earlier the better! We can take your order up to one year in advance. We are able to adjust your guest count up to 72 hours in advance.

Q. How late is too late to place my order?

A. If you are in an emergency situation we will do everything we can to take care of your catering needs, even at the last minute. Keep in mind that there are days that we will be booked to capacity and cannot accept additional orders due to extreme demand. The best policy is to call us as soon as you know you need food. We will put your name and date on the calendar, and we can work out the details as your event date approaches.

Q. What if I just need meat for our party?

A. Great! We will be happy to sell you any of our meats “by-the-pound.” Just call us for pricing and we will be able to recommend the quantities most appropriate for your event.
We can also provide ala carte pricing on BBQ Sauce, Beans, Potato Salad, Cole Slaw, Sandwich Buns, Dinner Rolls, Mud Pie, or Drinks.

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