One of the things that makes The Loading Dock different from other venues is that we allow you to bring your own food and use the catering/prep kitchen, rather than hiring a caterer. While we do charge a cleaning deposit, that is fully refundable if you leave the space clean and no work is required on our part to make it ready for the next group. This option makes the space more affordable, especially for smaller gatherings like showers, family holiday events, and even smaller corporate celebrations.

We love our caterer and we hope you love working with them, too. But if a smaller event means you’re on a budget and want to bring your own snacks and appetizers, by all means, make use of that option. We can talk more about what you’re looking for when you book your tour. 

In the meantime, here’s a menu we used for a small networking event recently. It worked for about 30 people, and the recipes were a hit – highly recommend! Everything here is easy, make-ahead, budget-friendly, and scalable.

 

Ham and Provolone Sliders

Hawaiian rolls layered with sliced ham and cheese, lightly brushed with honey-mustard.
Serve cold or room temp for effortless service.
Make ahead: Assemble the day before; keep chilled.
Scalable: 1 pack of rolls = 12 sliders (for 30 guests, I did 24 sliders)

 

Stuffed Mini Peppers

Sweet mini peppers filled with herbed cream cheese or ranch cream cheese for a colorful, no-bake appetizer.
Make ahead: Up to 24 hours; store covered.
Scalable: A 1-lb bag gives ~20–25 pepper halves.

 

Homemade Chex Mix

Chex cereal, pretzels, peanuts, and bagel chips baked with a savory butter-Worcestershire seasoning.
Make ahead: 1 week airtight.
Scalable: Ingredient proportions double or triple cleanly.

 

Holiday Brownie Bites

Rich sheet-pan brownies cut into bite-size squares and dusted with powdered sugar or holiday sprinkles.
Make ahead: 2–3 days in airtight container.
Scalable: One sheet pan yields 40–60 bites (for 30 people I baked two boxes of Ghiridelli double chocolate brownie mix in a sheet pan and frosted them using a piping bag, topped with gingerbread-man-shaped sprinkles).

 

Mrs. Claus’s Winter Cosmo

(while you can’t bring your own alcohol to The Loading Dock, we’d love to help put together a signature cocktail for your gathering! This one was a big hit with our group)

This is a spin on the classic Cosmopolitan cocktail but using White Cranberry juice instead, perfect for upcoming holiday festivities.

Triple Sec
Vodka
White Cranberry Juice
Lime Juice
Simple Syrup
Club Soda
Garnish: Rosemary + fresh cranberries (serve with specialty ice cubes)

 

For more ideas or to inquire about your upcoming event date, click here! We can’t wait to see you.