Dining & Food

Events at Columbia Law School are typically coordinated by Special Events, Faculty Affairs, faculty assistants, center and program coordinators, or administrative department staff. Third-party events are coordinated by the designated CLS liaison. 

  • Event Support: Contact [email protected] and see Event Planning for guidance and coordination.
  • Food deliveries: No contract required. You may pay by P-Card if the food is delivered to and consumed on campus.
  • Catered events: Submit a CU Event Contract request when a vendor contract is needed. Events exceeding $25,000 require additional bids. Refer to the On-Site vs. Off-Site chart below to determine when a contract is required.
  • Gift cards: Not reimbursable. The IRS treats cash and cash equivalents, including gift cards and certificates, as taxable income. This includes Grubhub and Uber Eats gift cards.


Faculty–Student Events
To support academic enrichment and meaningful engagement with students, full-time faculty are encouraged to host one student lunch during the semester or, alternatively, a semester-end gathering. Review the Dean Expense Reimbursement Policies for applicable thresholds and limits.

Organize Events

Catered events held on-site or off-site may require a contract. Refer to the On-Site vs. Off-Site chart below to determine when one is required. If a contract is needed, request a CU Event Contract in advance of the event following the steps below. 

  • Signatory authority: Only an individual with signatory authority for The Trustees of Columbia University in the City of New York may sign contracts.
  • Timing: Submit contract requests to [email protected] at least 30 days before the event.
  • Payment: Submit payment requests for contractual obligations as soon as possible to ensure the vendor is paid within the agreed-upon Net 30 payment terms and to avoid payment delays.

No Contract Required
If the event does not require a contract, submit an Invoice Payment Request with the following, as applicable:

  • Official invoice from the vendor
  • Certificate of Insurance (COI)
  • NYS Liquor Permit (for each day of the event if alcoholic beverages are served)
  • One (1) competitive bid for catering over $25,000

Catered Events: On-Site vs. Off-Site

Request CU Event Contract

Submit a request to [email protected] with the subject line: 
CU Event Contract Request - [Vendor Name] [Event Date]

Include all required information and supporting attachments; the Business Office will contact you if any questions arise. Once your contract request is processed and approved, you will receive the executed contract. Attach it when you submit the Invoice Payment Request.

Required Information
  • Vendor name
  • Vendor email
  • Date of event
  • Description of event
  • Number of attendees

Required Attachments

Submit the following documents, as applicable, with your request:

Quote / Proposal

Competitive Bid
One (1) competitive bid for catering over $25,000

NYS Liquor Permit
Required for each day of the event if alcoholic beverages are served.

Certificate of Insurance (COI)
Required for all contract-based services and any services performed on campus.

Letters of Credit

Columbia Law School typically issues Letters of Credit to nearby preferred vendors for:

Paid by P-Card

  • On-campus refreshments for TA sessions and in-class faculty–student events
     

Paid by invoice

  • Sit-down events at Local Preferred Venues
  • Alcohol from Local Preferred Vendors
  • Columbia Bookstore purchases

Recurring use: Letter of Credit Template*

To request a recurring departmental Letter of Credit Template, email the Business Office at [email protected] with the subject line "Letter of Credit Template" and include:

  • Full name
  • Department name
  • Mailing address
  • Email address
  • Phone number


One-time events: Letter of Credit*

For occasional or one-time events, email [email protected] with the subject line "Letter of Credit" and include:

  • Vendor name
  • Name of the person making the purchase
  • Department, center, or program
  • Faculty name and UNI (if applicable)
  • Purpose of the event
  • Event date
  • Location
  • Number of attendees (if there are 10 or fewer, list each attendee's full name)
     

*Only authorized employees may issue Letters of Credit on behalf of Columbia Law School.

This list may change at any time, and vendors may opt out, including after a change in ownership or management. You may also use a vendor that isn't on the list if it is willing to invoice. Before engaging the vendor, confirm that it has completed vendor onboarding and is registered to receive payment.


Ethiopian/Caribbean Cuisine

Freda's Cuisine (646) 438-9832
Massawa (212) 663-0505

French Cuisine

Le Monde (212) 531-3939

Greek Cuisine

Symposium (212) 865-1011

Indian Cuisine

Manhattan Valley (212) 222-9222
Roti Roll (Bombay Frankie) (212) 666-1500

Italian Cuisine

Pisticci (212) 932-3500
Famous Famiglia (212) 865-1234
V & T Pizzeria (212) 666-8051
Lido Harlem (646) 490-8575

Mediterranean Cuisine

Marlow Bistro (212) 662-9020
Samad's Gourmet (212) 749-7555

Southern Cuisine

Dinosaur Bar-B-Que (212) 694-1777

Supermarket

Westside Market (212) 222-3367

Wine & Liquor

International Wines & Spirits (212) 280-1850
Martin Brothers Wines & Spirits (212) 222-8218